Black Friday Hello!!

Happy Black Friday everyone!! Did everyone have a fabulous Thanksgiving?  Ours was spent with family & very nice & quiet--good food all around.  I made the Brie Stuffed Mushrooms from Pioneer Woman's site & they were YUMMO-licious!!   Are any of  you out shopping today at all?  Not me, the crowds of people and general craziness is not worth any sale or deal I might find--yucko--makes me extremely nervous I tell ya!  So good luck to you that brave the shopping craziness today!  Hubby and I will be having a peaceful dinner & then seeing "Jersey Boys" which I'm really looking forward to--my kind of evening for sure :o)  Then on Sunday we'll be "hunting" our Christmas trees (2 real ones)--my favorite thing to do so I'll have some pics for ya next week!  So be safe, happy & have a relaxing weekend!!

NewsBitz:

-7 Kids College Fund NOW has all kinds of great High Hopes Stamps in stock right HERE!  Also SAVE 15% on ALL items in the Christmas Section of the store HERE(use coupon code "XMAS15") this includes all the lovely Sarah Kay,  Stampavie, Magnolia, Rachelle Anne Miller, Whiff of Joy, Penny Black & more Christmas stamps-Cuttlebug Embossing Folders too, so make sure & check that sale out!!!  And if you need a good idea for a crafter in your life nothing is better than a good ole Gift Certificate so they can stock up on goodies--get yours HERE!!  Any crafter would love that!!  (me too, hee hee)

-Pink Cat Studio is having a Black Friday promotion as well---if you spend $3 or more in the Digi Store OR Rubber Stamp stores you get a free digi image called the "Sugarplum Fairy" & she is super cute!!

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Life of Butterflies

My first card today is one I did using this week's SCS Sketch #256 which was a pretty cool sketch me thinks--I love the wavy center panel!  I pulled out my Lockhart "Chintz Butterfly" stamp out & embossed the butterflies & the sentiment (from PTI's "Life" set) with Stewart's Copper embossing powder & Versamark ink.  Sorry I forgot who the dp is by (maybe DCWV?)--I only had small bits of it left but I love it!  The center panel is suede paper (so yummy) that I embossed--lots of fun texture which I love!  I tied my bow with extra wide ribbons (a la my pal Becca Feeken), attached with Scor-Tape & added some Copper Bella Baubles to finish it off.

Here's a close-up of the butterfly with that fun copper embossing & then I added some stickles to the lower wings for a little extra sparkle!  You should try this sketch out--really fun!!

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Mistletoe & Mice

Is this not the cutest little mouse couple you have ever seen?  I just adore this image from Stampavie called "Mistletoe & Mice" that you can find HERE!  I used the Friday Sketcher's sketch from last week for my layout and all the dp is by DCWV and of course the image was colored with Copics.  I created some fun little mistletoe leaves with a MS leaf punch (I cut the ends to be round) and used PTI buttons for the berries.  Some stardust stickles for sparkle & a fun bow treatment finishes it off---a cute holiday card!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend & I'll see you back here on Monday!

Joy To The World!!

Hello friends & Happy Hump Day & Thanksgiving Eve to you all!  For those that celebrate Thanksgiving--are you traveling or having dinner at your house?  I'm thankful that my brother is having Thanksgiving this year, because I am woefully behind, hee hee.  I'm not a huge fan of Thanksgiving I have to admit (gasp--sorry but I'm not, lol)--it's more of a holiday to get thru to get to my favorite holiday--Christmas!  I do enjoy the food & being with my family, but if the holiday went away I wouldn't be sad about it!  And I am NOT a Black Friday shopper either (are u disappointed hee hee)--ugh--I hate massive crowds of people, totally gives me an anxiety attack--so going out spending hours waiting in lines & looking for parking is just not my cup of tea!  Instead, hubby & I are going to Washington, DC to see the Broadway show "Jersey Boys" on Friday---THAT I'm definitely looking forward to.  My parents are keeping the kids and we'll have a nice dinner & see a great show--I'm super excited!  Then we'll return home on Saturday to "hunt" down our 2 live trees that we put up along with 8 fake trees!  We get our trees from the same wonderful Xmas Tree farm every year & it's always fun--my favorite thing to do in the cold (umm..the only thing I enjoy doing in the cold, lol)!!  So I'll have lots of pictures for you next week!  I've got 3 trees up already, so 7 more to go along with the outside decorations---slowly getting there but enjoying each moment of it!!  So wherever you are & whatever you're doing for the holiday--I hope it's a safe, happy & joyful occasion for you & your family!!  (I will have posts up on Friday & Saturday for you that I've pre-posted if you're bored & want to stop by!)

NewsBitz:

-My Blog Candy Winner from the Magnolia-licious "Accessories Make the Card" Blog Hop is....Jessica G of "Jess' Obsession"!!  Congrats Jess!  Email me for details on how to claim your goodies :o)!!!!

-I will be having a Crafter's Holiday Open House on December 5th at my home from noon until 5 pm!! If you are in the area & would like to come I'd love to have you---just a fun way to meet other crafters nearby, chat & have some holiday sweets! I will be having a Mitten/Hat Giving Tree, so if you'd like to bring a hat and/or mittens for a child under age 12 that would be fab! I will be donating all of them to the local Shelter for Domestic Violence Sufferer's Children! If you think you'd like to come just email me and let me know, and I can send you my addy!! It's sure to be a fun time--so just drop by for an hour or three!!

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Joy To The World

My first card today uses quite a few Magnolia stamps from Magnolia-licious that I've been wanting to use together for awhile now to make a Christmas card!  I paired up this "Tilda with Bell" with this "Clock w/ Separate Hands" and the "Side Wall" to create a wintry scene (Diana is out of the Tilda with Bell, but she might be getting some in, but this scene would be cute with this "Tilda w/ Hood" as well).  I used some fun papers from My Minds Eye (from last year's collection)--I love the orangey reds & blues in these papers and the sentiment is from PTI's "Winter Swirls" set.  The snowy crystal hills & accents were done with MS Snow Glitter and the thicker snow on the windows, along the building & clock was done with DecoArt Snow Writer.  Both the bell, clock face & window got a nice coat of diamond glaze for a glassy effect!

All of the images were colored with Copics (Tilda--R08,R05,R02,BG75,BG72,BG11,BG10/Bricks--E19,E18,E17,E13).  Her boots & hat got some stardust Stickles and her fur trimmings got some of my fave Sparkle Fluff!  Lots of texture on this card and I also added some flatback snowflake buttons to the scene topping each with a pearl (Kaiser Bliss).

Just a side-view to show you all the dimension on this card!  Pop-Dots & Scor-Tape are a girls best friend I tell ya!!  Hope you liked this card today---this one is headed off to someone special for Christmas!!

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Lil' Christmas Mouse Packages

As soon as I saw this lil' mouse (Mouse with Sign) from I Brake For Stamps I knew I had to have him--visions of ideas were swimming thru my head, LOL!  Since the sign he's holding is blank, he's perfect for so many ideas (baby showers, birthday favors, napkin rings, etc), but today I've made him a Christmas Mouse!  I stamped some sentiments from PTI's "Holiday Treats" set on his sign and created these lil' cards using ALL SCRAPS from my scrap bin (yes, yes I really did--I think the striped glittered dp is from Imaginisce).  He's colored with Copics, but let's all stop & say "Awww, how cute is he?" all together, LOL!  I created a couple of quick & cute holiday packages that are perfect for quick gifts for your kid's bus driver, the postal carrier, teachers or kids--anyone would love a bag of fresh (or store bought, hee hee) cookies or candies!!

I used Tin Tie Frosted bags for both of my projects, this is the smaller size & they're from PTI--I love them and they come in packs of 10, perfect for packing up holiday gifts!  I filled this one up with candies (chocolate is ALWAYS a great gift) and created a small 3x3 card, matching gift envelope & bag topper using all the same supplies from my Scrap Bin!!

This is the larger sized Tin Tie Frosted Bag from PTI--perfect sized for fresh baked goodies like cookies or muffins!  The bag toppers are super easy to create--for this kind I just layered my cs & dp and attached with Scor-Tape to the front of the bag (the ribbon was wrapped around & tied with the card attached & then a bow made w/ my Bow Easy attached to it).  So there are a couple of cute AND quick ideas for holiday packaging this season!  (If you need, have to have, must get this cutie pie mouse stamp remember to use the Coupon Code "SAVE10SUZANNE" to get 10% off your ENTIRE order!!!)

Hope you & yours have a fabulous holiday & don't forget to stop back by on Friday & Saturday for some new projects!! 

All Buttoned Up!!

Hi Everyone & Happy Tuesday to ya!  I'm back--sorry I needed an extra day off!  Sunday was my hubby's birthday & we spent the day as a family bowling, making a special dinner & watching a movie---so no time to get anything crafty done!  But it was a good day & he had a nice day me thinks---I fixed a gourmet dinner of Maple Glazed Ham, Cheesy Scalloped potatoes, Roasted Mushrooms w/ Brie and Spinach Salad w/ Warm Bacon Dressing (the spinach salad recipe & mushroom recipe courtesy of Pioneer Woman, Ree, my favorite new obsession, LOL--and they were both yummy)!  Glad to hear that I've got some of you all hooked on Pioneer Woman as well, LOL--I loved some of your emails & messages--she's a bit addicting, huh?  The kids even got in on the kitchen action this weekend with Riley making jalapeno poppers for appetizers and Alexa made Hot Fudge Lava cake--so it was a family affair (well hubby was on the couch watching the Redskins lose again--argghhhhhh, maybe next year they'll be actually win again, hee hee)!

NewsBitz:

-7 Kids College Fund has some awesome NEW products in store now that you might want to check out!! NEW Sakura Jelly Roll pens (awesome for embellishing images & writing--I love 'em), NEW Shimmerz colors (love the antique lace) and NEW Sizzix Texturz Plates (fun alternative to CB folders--lots of cool patterns)!

-I will be posting a NEW Copic Tutorial Video very soon (as soon as it's sunny again here in VA, hee hee) showing how I color "GOLD" like I did on this car image HERE!

-I will be having a Crafter's Holiday Open House on December 5th at my home from noon until 5 pm!! If you are in the area & would like to come I'd love to have you---just a fun way to meet other crafters nearby, chat & have some holiday sweets! I will be having a Mitten/Hat Giving Tree, so if you'd like to bring a hat and/or mittens for a child under age 12 that would be fab! I will be donating all of them to the local Shelter for Domestic Violence Sufferer's Children! If you think you'd like to come just email me and let me know, and I can send you my addy!! It's sure to be a fun time--so just drop by for an hour or three!!

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Try It Out Tuesday #45--All Buttoned Up!!

Okay, so today is another "Try It Out Tuesday #45" and this week I challenged the DT to use buttons on their projects.  You know I love buttons--am a bit button obsessed, hee hee and these fabulous NEW GLITTER BUTTONs that Susana has in her store are YUMMO-licious!  What could be better than glitter & buttons combined together--fabulous I say!!  For this tri-fold card I used one of my most used & beloved Lockhart stamps called "Hydrangea & Berries"--I made this stamp mulitple colors but I love the soft aquas & creams that I used this time!  The dp is by Stampin Up (brown's) and PTI (aqua's).  And oh those fabulous Glitter Buttons in yummy chocolate brown--love them!  The corner's were made by cutting triangles out & then punching the edge with my new MS border punch--love to make fun corners!!

Close-up of the image shows the Ivory Flower Soft on the hydrangeas and stickles on the berry leaves and jar front--gotta have some bling!!  Now make sure and hop over to the store blog "Follow Your Heart" to see the rest of the DT's fabulous projects using buttons today!!

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A Scottie Holiday!

My second card uses a super cute image from I Brake For Stamps called "Bold Scottie"--I adore Scottie Dog images since they remind me so much of my beloved mini schnauzer Trinket who I lost 2 years ago!  I decided to dress this scottie up for the holidays using the Mojo Monday Sketch #114 for my layout.  And I pulled out some more of my fab holiday Graphic 45 papers--loved the tartan plaid, perfect for my scottie, lol!  The image was embossed with black embossing powder & then I gave him a matching lil' bowtie; the sentiment is from PTI's "Vintage Ornaments" set.  A double bow made with my Bow Easy and another fabulous Glitter Button (in black this time) finishes it all off!  So here's wishing you a Very Merry Scottie Holiday, hee hee!  (Remember if you decide to order yourself some goodies from I Brake For Stamps--make sure and use the coupon code "SAVE10SUZANNE" to get 10% off your entire order!!)

Hope you all have a fabulous day & I'll see you back here tomorrow with a Magnolia Holiday Project!!

Writing Letters!

Hello everyone and Happy Weekend!!  Sorry I didn't post yesterday but I needed the day off---lot's going on here in the Dean house, my family and stuff & I was spent physically & emotionally!  I also spent like 7 hours yesterday wasting away the evening reading all about Pioneer Woman who I saw on Nichole Heady's Blog, lol!  She's a pretty funny & cool lady I must say--she takes stunning photographs, makes yummo-licious food, and cracks me up.  If you wander on over to her site HERE make sure & read her "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" story about how she married a cowboy & went from city livin' to country livin'--I started & finished it all in one night, hee hee!  So now I'm making hubby take me to PA to her book signing on December 13th--right now he's resisting but I can usually make him see things my way, bwahahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!  So go check her out & let me know what ya think??!

NewsBitz:

-Susana's Custom Art & Card Design has selected Spellbinders Nestabilities on SALE on her site now HERE!!

-My Blog Candy Winner will be announced on Monday morning!!

-Another two Etsy Spotlights for ya today and the first one is "Ruby Rose"--I bought some necklaces from her and they are just GORGEOUS lemee tell you!  Vintage, dainty & beautiful and won't break your wallet either!  And when I went back to link I bought myself another bracelet & necklace, LOL--I love that you won't see this jewelry on your neighbor or friend's neck because most of it is one of a kind--you will be unique!  I got this bracelet & matching necklace in black/silver, ummm my favorite colors next to red, hee hee! :o)

Second Spotlight is on "XO Handworks" -- if you're a regular reader you know how much I adore my Cherry Coke--it's my favorite drink of choice and on any given day you will find a can or two littered on my craft table, LOL (and I drink regular Coke too, no diet for me, icky)!  I have tried giving it up many times, but I cannot--I have failed miserably & have resigned myself to the fact that I can't!  So when I found this cool Etsy site that uses recycled soda bottle tops to make cool & quirky jewelry, well I just had to buy myself some, hee hee!  I love elegant pieces but I love fun jewelry as well--so I bought myself some Coke Bead earrings--they're awesome!  They'll match my Cherry Coke jammies I got in Vegas really good, LMBO!!  Have fun browsing!

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Lockhart Notecard Set

I have to tell you I had so much fun creating this notecard gift set that I will be making more for gifts this holiday season for sure (I'll share the Xmas one I did later next week)!!  We (and I do not excuse myself from this) have really gotten away from writing notes and letters to each other!  It's always so much easier to write an email nowadays, but I kinda miss getting letters from friends.  When I was younger I had a pen-pal in Italy (the country I most want to visit) and we wrote all the time and it was really fun!  My mom has had a pen pal for like 40 years--wow--and they still write, which is so cool I think!

So for this set I used the fabulous Lockhart Stamp Co. "Writing Letters" stamp--perfect for notecards.  I kept the colors simple & elegant--taupe/kraft, cream and buttercream yellow.  The patterned papers are from Stampin Up's "Bella Bleu" paper set--these papers are fabulously gorgeous, I just love them!  So these are just basic 4.25x5.5 postcards with some dp and cs--the border was made with one of my favorite Fiskars border punches.  The gift box is called "Desktop Organizer" and it's a Timeless Template from PTI--lots of good uses for this one and really easy to put together too!

I stamped the image on both cream cs and my yellow cs--I colored a bit on the cream cs with my copics, cut it out & layered on top of the yellow image with dimensionals.  Since I kept the color scheme simple this was fast & easy to do.  I made 6 of these postcards with three different sentiments from PTI's "Vintage Picnic" & "Vintage Picnic Sentiments" stamped in SU River-rock ink!

So six postcards & six envelopes fit in here perfectly--you could even create an acetate cover if you wanted to and afterwards when the notecards have been used, you can reuse the pretty box still!

I just love this set--the soft colors, the elegant feel, right up my alley, hee hee!  If you love it too it's up for sale in my Etsy Shop (link on my sidebar).

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend and I'll see ya back here tomorrow!

Can I Get a Quack, Quack, Sick Attack!!?

Happy Thrill-rific Thursday to ya!!  We've only got one more day people--then the relaxing (or semi-relaxing, hee hee) can begin!  Are any of you going to see the new Twilight movie?  My daughter and her friends are going to the 11 pm showing tomorrow night & then having a sleepover NOT at my house this time, LOL!  They're super excited to see it---I know, I know you all have been telling me I need to read the books and I guess eventually I will.  I just have never had a real interest in vampires or werewolves--it just never appealed much to me, but I will try & read the first book sometime next month maybe and let you all know what I think.  I wish that I was the author & had her millions in my bank account right now---she based those books on her dream and had never written anything before!

Go Figure--I'm not that lucky or talented with writing I guess, LOL but I do have movie type of dreams!  I call them my epic dreams, strange, mini-series kind of dreams--I should write them down but sometimes they creep me out, LOL!  Plus, I like to read but I don't know that I could ever have enough focus to sit down & write a book--that's a ton of work for sure.  With my level of procrastination it would take me 10 years to write an actual chapter books, LMBO!  Oh well, there's always papercrafting for me :o)

NewsBitz:

-Today is the Mo's Digital Pencil Dream Team Blog Hop and the new release of Pink Cat Studio Digi Stamps, so make sure & make it to the end of this post to see all the new gooides!  Today is also Mo's Challenge Team's challenge post that you can see & find out all about right HERE!

-My post yesterday got delayed by blogger for some reason, so if you missed it yesterday it is now up below this post!!  It's based on my favorite holiday Ballet, the Nutcracker Ballet :o)

-If you haven't entered for my BLOG CANDY for the Magnolia-licious Blog Hop yet, you have until tomorrow at midnight to do so HERE!

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Mo's Digital Pencil Blog Hop!!

So today is Mo's Digital Pencil's "Project of the Month" BLOG HOP presented by the Dream Team and this month's hostess is Mel and she chose "Precipitation Inspiration"--meaning we had to use a Mo image with water (snow, ice, ocean, etc) or incorporate it into our card!  I have had this cutie "Duck Day" for a bit and this was the perfect opportunity to use her--isn't she just a cutie with her duck pals!?  I'm such a sucker for a cute raincoat & wellie boots, hee hee!  The dp is by Cloud 9 Designs and the sentiment is from PTI's "Scattered Showers" (perfect)!  I threaded my buttons with embroidery floss & then attached them with Scor-Tape (I told ya I don't sew, lol)--and that cute lil' teardrop/raindrop on the sentiment can be bought in packs HERE.

The image was colored with Copics and then I added diamond glaze to the umbrella, her boots & all the water puddles & drops--after it dried I smeared on a coat of Stickles for extra sparkle.  I used my Clear Spica pen on her coat as well, but it doesn't show up well in pictures unfortunately!

This side-view shows the paper-tole effect I did by printing out 2 images, coloring the umbrella & mama duck twice and then popping them up with dimensionals.  I love the added dimension it adds to the front of the card!  Just a fun, cheery & happy card for someone special!!  The start of the hop begins at Mel's blog, and if you came here from Elaine's blog then your next HOP is to Michelle(Shell)'s Blog HERE!  Have fun on your hop!

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Pink Cat Studio Digi Release!!

I just adore all the images that Melissa of Pink Cat Studio designs--they're all just too cute & so much fun to color!  Today she releases 2 fun digi images called "Sick Lily" & "Sick Billy"--perfect for all those sickie ickie germs going around right now (that I wish would go away for everyone)!  I ran out of time, but I was going to do a second set with Billy so I'll have that up for ya next week!  I love, love this image of Lily in her bunny slippers and comfy blankie over her and I LOVE making these "Sickie Kits" as well.  You've seen me make them before but I had to make one to go along with this Get Well Card (.  The fun, mod-like papers are by Sassafrass and the cs is all PTI.  This layout is this week's Mojo Monday Sketch #113--such a fun layout me thinks!!  And if I haven't mentioned before, Melissa creates sentiments for all the digi images and guess what--they're FREE and available HERE! How cool is that?

Both images were colored with Copics and then I added diamond glaze to her TV remote and thermometer and some stickles to her pillow & hairbands.  The sentiment is from PTI's "Around & About Sentiments"--I adore circle sentiments :o) 

This is what is inside of the "Sickie Kit"--a new pack of tissues, a fun-flavored chapstick & a throat lozenger!  I've also made these as "Boo-Boo Kits" too with a travel box of band-aids, a piece of candy & fun chapstick!  They're quick & easy to make and so nice to give!  (TO MAKE: cut a piece of cardstock 3.5x10" and then score at 4.5" & 5.5") Now make sure & stop by the Pink Cat Studio Digi Store to see the new images & to see all the fabulous DT projects as well!  They're sure to be sweet, cute & fabulous!!

Hope you enjoyed your visit today & hope to see you back here tomorrow!!

Tell Me a Story!!

Hi & a Happy Wednesday to ya!!  Halfway thru the week we are thank goodness!  My big chore this weekend?  I have to go to Target & Lowes to buy Christmas lights before they're all gone (red, amber, white & blue) cuz' when you have 10 trees you always need more lights, hee hee!  And yes you all know that by December 1st you will NOT be able to buy any Christmas decorations at all, anywhere.  And why is this?  Well when you put out Christmas decorations out in the stores in July, by the time the holiday gets here there are none left for those of us who actually OPERATE on a normal schedule, LOL!  Just like when I want to buy some shorts in say JULY when it's really HOT there aren't any in the stores cuz' the people who shop in January for HOT weather clothes have already bought them all, you see where I'm going with this!! LMBO!  So I'm hoping to not only buy my Xmas lights on Saturday, but my Valentines Day Candy & my summer sundresses all in one shopping trip, bwahhhahahahhaha--one stop shopping for the ENTIRE year!  And in March I will start buying my 4th of July decorations and winter coats!!  Just saying....LOL--anyone else feel this way too!  Remember, you can vent here on ScrapBitz, heehee!

NewsBitz:

-And on another note, I just want to thank everyone that leaves me such sweet & supportive comments here on my blog--they really lift my spirits & put a smile on my face and I'm so thankful for each one of you that take the time to do that!  I appreciate it more than you can know!!

-Two (2) Fun events coming at ya tomorrow!  A Fun Blog Hop for Mo's Digital Pencil Dream Team and a new Digi Release from Pink Cat Studio!  So make sure to stop by!


-I will continue to keep this up everyday, but I am having a Holiday Crafter's Open House on Saturday, December 5th from noon til' 5 pm (come for an hour or three, but drop by if you can) I will have my 10 (yes 10 this year) Xmas trees up, house decorated, mulled cider brewing & lots of sweets to eat along with lots of fun chatting & meeting other crafters from this area!  Just email me if you'd like to come so I can send ya directions & have a head count! (I live in Leesburg, VA right off of Rte. 7 in the Lansdowne on the Potomac neighborhood) Make it a trip for ya too--the Leesburg Outlets are 5 mins away, Dulles Towne Center Mall 10 mins away, Tyson's Corner Mall 25 mins away!! (and a big Joann's & Michaels too)

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"A Nutcracker Ballet"

So I've been seeing alot of these fabulous shadow box cards around blog land and I just loved them, so I had to try one out!  I had printed out this fabulous digi stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil called "Clara & the Nutcracker" and was staring at it when the thought came to me to re-create the famous Nutcracker scene!  I LOVE the Nutcracker story and love the ballet version as my daughter danced many times in it and we've seen multiple versions by many ballets--I just adore it!  We also do a HUGE Nutcracker Village with all of our Nutcrackers (the kids & I get a new one each December) so they hold a special place in my heart always!  So to do this I had to pull out many different stamps; the tree and sentiment is from PTI's "Tree Trimming Trio" (although I see that Mo has a new one up in her store that would've been perfect too, darn).  The window and presents are Magnolia stamps (taken from a Tilda with Presents stamp & the Tilda cottage).  The dp is by Graphic 45!

I took many different angled pics so you could see the inside of this card (which folds flat for mailing)--you can find instructions for these shadow box cards HERE (I altered the size of mine to make it bigger).  I added gold stickles to the swirls on the tree, some red rhinestones and a jewel for the star at the top!  The main cut-out was done with my Nestabilities Labels 1 along with the red frame!

The window was taken from the Magnolia "Tilda's House" stamp and then I put diamond glaze on the glass panes.  I topped the window with a greenery swag (and sides of banner sentiment) with some branch punch-outs from my MS punch and some more red rhinestones for berries.

Of course everything is colored with Copics and then I added some stardust stickles to her nightgown for more sparkle.  I just love this image of Clara & the Nutcracker--I hope Mo (u reading this Mo?hee hee) does more images from the Nutcracker like the SugarPlum Fairy (oooh, I can imagine the scene now) and the bad Rat King!!  A whole series of shadow box cards I would do then---just for fun! Love it & hope you love it too!

See ya back here tomorrow for more fun!!

Work It Girlie, Work It!!

Happy Terrifico Tuesday to ya!!  What do you all have planned for the day?  Not much here, running some errands, making a roast for dinner & getting my daughter to gymnastics and hopefully have some time at the end of the day to start my new book!  Am I EXCITING or what!!?  LOL!

When I was young I was all for excitement, loved to have something to do or somewhere to go and dated enough bad boys to write a book--and now that I'm older I realized that I've gotten BORING, hee hee!  But you know what, I'm okay with that :o)  I don't mind alone time, I like the quiet and I like quiet activities like hanging out with my family, watching movies & reading!  Hubby is just as boring as I am and you know what--I LOVE it!  BORING is good, he doesn't surpirse me with horrible behavior, I always know how he will react & I never doubt that he loves me, he's steadfast & reliable and a great husband and dad.  Sure we have exciting fun times but we always have them together & that's what I appreciate most after all most 15 years together--we can be in each other's company while both reading or just watching tv and I don't doubt for a second his love for me or mine for him :o)  So eat that "excitement"--the new trend is BORING and it's GOOD!  LOL!

NewsBitz:

-If you didn't enter for my BLOG CANDY yesterday, you have until this Friday, Nov.20th to do so right HERE!

-Have you gotten your NEW Holiday Cuttlebug Embossing Folders yet?  I have and they're fab and you can too right HERE!

-Mo's Digital Pencil Dream Team will be having a fabulous BLOG HOP on Thursday for you all--the theme is "Precipitation"!!

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Try It Out Tuesday #44--We've Got the Blues!!

Since today is Tuesday, that means it's another "Try It Out Tuesday Challenge #44" for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design and this week I've challenged the DT to create projects that incorporate BLUE!  I just had to use this fabulously, fun new stamp by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD "Marianne" (she's named after Susana's trainer, hee hee)--oh how I wish I looked this good when I worked out hee hee!  I'm usually in ratty gym clothes, no makeup & sweatin' up a storm, LOL!  But I decided to create a workout/weight loss journal, a gym bag tag and a matching charm bookmark!  The dp is by Deja Views, ribbon is American Crafts and the shimmery cs is by Bazzill and the images colored with Copics.

I covered & altered one of the MANY journal notebooks I always keep around--this one is cool since it has a pocket on the inside & back covers to stick recipes or notes to yourself.  The fun sentiment is from Stamping Bella--appropriate dontcha' think?  A fun set for yourself or for a friend to get them motivated!! (umm... maybe I should gift it to myself since my work-out motivation is lagging, lol)

I used my Shrinky Dink paper to create a work-out girl charm along with some other beads to create a charm for the end of the bookmark.  After shrinking her I painted her with shimmery Inspirations Paints--love those!  Now make sure and hop over to the store blog "Follow Your Heart" to see the rest of the Blue Projects by the DT--they may be all BLUE but they're sure to make you SMILE!!

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A White Christmas!

From blue to white we go!!  I have had this card flitting in my head for a couple of weeks now & glad to finally get a chance to produce it, hee hee!  I think all white cards are so very elegant especially so for the holidays but VERY HARD to photograph, hee hee!  But you get the idea!  The cardstock is both matte & shimmery from PTI which looks fab embossed with the new holiday CB embossing folders.  And I had to pull out one of my most favorite Lockhart stamps "Snow Tree w/ Birds"--I embossed it with Ranger Holographic Embossing Powder which really shimmers and then did the same around the edges of the oval.

I had to add more sparkle by adding in some stardust Stickles to the tree and a rhinestone to the star on the top!  I circled the oval with rows of white pearls and used my Bow Easy to create the double bow (love this sheer polky-dotted ribbon, need to get more)

The glass ornaments I got at AC Moore for a $1 a piece--WOW!  They make quick & easy ornaments but are so very elegant looking on your tree!  I stamped the Christmas tree and snowflakes with Staz-On White ink and then added some stickles to make it sparkle!  This makes a fabulous gift set for you or for someone special--hope you like it as much as me :o)

See ya back here tomorrow with some more fun projects!

Accessorize This!!

Hello & Here's to Another Fabulous Week in November!!  And another busy week too, hee hee---but rarely is there a week that isn't busy for any of us, right?!  I worked the entire day yesterday to catch up on my to-do list and got 99% of my stuff done so that's a load off of my shoulders.  I missed going out on a 70 degree day yesterday, but I did have my windows open & enjoyed it that way!  It's not often we get 70 degree weather in mid-November, especially after all the rain & cold we got from Ida--it was fabulous to see the sun again!

NewsBitz:

-Pink Cat Studio is releasing some mini-stamp kits that are "Winter Lily Themed" today--they are fun & super cute!  Go HERE to see them all!

-Another Etsy Store Spotlight--Today it's New Hampshire Woods Creations!  Not only does she make fabulous birch bark products, dried flower arrangements & other goodies for your home but the Simmering Potpourri is OUT of THIS WORLD GOOD! It smells super yummy and I had to order some of her lil' birch bark basket ornaments filled with rose hips too!

-Read to the end of this post to see how to win some YUMMY BLOG CANDY from me :o)

-I will continue to keep this up everyday, but I am having a Holiday Crafter's Open House on Saturday, December 5th from noon til' 5 pm (come for an hour or three, but drop by if you can) I will have my 10 (yes 10 this year) Xmas trees up, house decorated, mulled cider brewing & lots of sweets to eat along with lots of fun chatting & meeting other crafters from this area!  Just email me if you'd like to come so I can send ya directions & have a head count! (I live in Leesburg, VA right off of Rte. 7 in the Lansdowne on the Potomac neighborhood) Make it a trip for ya too--the Leesburg Outlets are 5 mins away, Dulles Towne Center Mall 10 mins away, Tyson's Corner Mall 25 mins away!! (and a big Joann's & Michaels too)

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"Accessories Make the Card" Blog Hop

So today the Magnolia-licious DT has a fun & fabulous BLOG HOP for you today called "Accessories Make the Card"!  This means that we ONLY used Magnolia Accessory stamps on our projects--NO Tildas, Edwins, Lg. Animals or Snowmen on our cards!  It's a great opportunity to use your accessory stamps as the main image & see how creative you can get with them.  Make sure and finish the hop at the Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog HERE to see how you can participate in the fun as well!

I chose to make 2 cards today, because after I made the first one & had such a good time--I decided to make a second, LOL!  I pulled out this fabulous "Watering Can" image to make a feminine card that can be used for a birthday, hello, thinking of you or thankyou!! (I couldn't find this on the Magnolia-licious site although it came from Diana, but I'm sure Diana can get it in if you ask nicely!)  I love this color combo together--so fresh & sunny!  The dp is by Stampin Up and the flowers are Prima--I added some pearls and some fabulous scroll punch-outs!  The border was done with a MS border punch and of course I added some stickles for sparkle (Copic colors used are E43,E42,E41,E40 and Y38,Y32 and G99,G94,G20)

After making a feminine card I decided to go ahead and forge thru making a masculine birthday card, which I hadn't done in AGES!  But I thought this image "Row of Trees" made a fabulous image for a guy card--simple & elegant.  I pulled out more SU dp in pinstripes and distressed it with my Tonic Distress Tool and then inked all the edges.  I kept the card simple since it's for a guy but used lots of texture like the CB embossing "argyle" folder and ragged twill ribbon!  Diamond glaze on the copic colored trees make them pop--sentiment is by PTI's "Everyday Classics"!  Perfect for any man in your life I think--whaddya think? This fun birthday card also qualifies for the "Just Us Girls" Challenge this week--dry embossing & a birthday theme-yay!!

Now if you came to my blog from Jacque then your next stop on the hop is the fabulous Kerry!!  And make sure to visit the Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog as well when you're all finished up!

And if you leave a comment on this post, I'll be picking a random commenter that WILL WIN SOME Delish BLOG CANDY (a lil' this & that of my favorite things like charms, buttons, ribbons, paper & a stamp or two)!!  You have until Friday, Nov.20th to do so!! FUN, FUN all around!!

Golden Oldies!!

Hello everyone!! Hope you're weekend has been swell! I'm crafting all day today to catch up on projects and things--so not much going on here. Hopefully the sun will be out today, cuz a week of dreariness is seriously starting to affect my mood, LOL!  So here's hoping the sun is shining wherever you might be today :o)

NewsBitz:

-Magnolia-licious has a BRAND NEW Store and it's AWESOME I tell ya!  You will love it too--you can check it out HERE!

-Have you checked out the NEW "In 2 Stamps" at 7 Kids College Fund yet?  They're fabulously illustrated & great for your Christmas projects!  See them all HERE!

-For those of you who subscribe to my blog & the posts are coming to you jumbled or messed up--I apologize!  It seems that when I updated blogger it did something to the feeds that I cannot figure out!  So if it comes thru your email jumbled you can come directly to my blog to view the post.  Or you can sign up thru "Feed My InBox" HERE and see if that RSS feeder works better for you--very easy to do--just type in my URL link (www.scrapbitz.blogspot.com) and your email & you're done!!  Thanx!

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Copic Creations Challenge--Gold!!

Today is the 15th of the month--wow the middle of November already--so that means it's another Copic Creations Challenge!  This time the challenge is to color part of your image gold!  This week our sponsor is I Brake For Stamps and the entire DT used a stamp from Della's fabulous selection of stamps. (Remember if you'd like to order some stamps, use the coupon code "SAVE10SUZANNE" to get 10% off your entire order)  I used another one of those fabulous Humorous Seniors (oh how they crack me up, hee hee)--this one is called "Thelma & Louise" (an older, funnier version obviously)! I used YR24,Y15,Y11 & Y00 to color the car gold--they're really driving a golden oldie, hee hee!  The dp is from WeRMemoryKeepers and the flowers are Primas stacked with buttons tied with Scrapper's Floss.  I created the sentiment myself on the computer--thought it was appropriate!

I added diamond glaze to the bumper & front chrome for shine, stardust stickles to the headlights & front hood ornament.  I also went over parts of the car with a clear Spica pen for extra sparkles!  They're rockin' the oldies I tell ya and their license plate says "HOT4U"--LMBO!

Now head on over to the Copic Creations Challenge Blog to see all the fabulous DT projects & join in on the challenge too---I Brake For Stamps is giving away 2 sheets of rubber stamps to one lucky participant--wow right!!

My Best Friend!!

Hello friends & Artists!! How is everyone's weekend going?  I swear I might need to build an ark with all the rain that Ida has brought here to the East Coast--ugh!  I hate rain, I hate dreariness & on top of that it's friggin' COLD--ackkkkkk!  But tonight we're off to a friend's Wine & Cheese Cocktail party so I'm looking forward to some socializing with friends!  And I am sooo sleeping in tomorrow--we had 5 girls for a slumber party last night & they were up till 3 AM--omgoodness, I'm tuckered out & a nap might be in order for me today!  5 almost 14 year old girls shrieking thru the house---sigh---my poor aching ears, LOL!  And then tomorrow I have more work to get done, hee hee, but will hopefully be well rested!

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Mo's Digital Pencil

Today I'm sharing a fabulous new digi image from Mo's Digital Pencil called "You're The Best"--isn't she a cutie (she also has this one in a Boy version and an African American boy & girl).  I had to have her cuz' my daughter has a bunny that she's had since she was a baby & she still sleeps with it (she will die knowing I told you that, hee hee)--but it just reminds me of her when she was much smaller :o)  I paired her up with this cheery dp from SU--I just love these colors together! The image was colored with Copics then I added glitter to her hairbands & buttons--diamond glaze on her shoes!  The perfect sentiment is by Kim Hughes "Pet-tootie Sentiments"!  The flowers were made with my MS Hydrangea punches---love them!  Hope you love this cutie as much as me!!

Next up are some elegant CAS holiday cards I made using a Lockhart Stamp Co "Quilt Block #4".  I wanted to use this stamp to make an elegant card, no cutesy or country feel this time!  So I embossed the image with Stewart Superior Filigree gold EB powder (it is the BEST for fine line embossing I tell ya) right on the Memory Box dp (Spice Berry).  I kept the colors simple, cream and red with gold accents.  The sentiment is from PTI's "Holiday Wishes" set onto cream cs and then backed with gold mirrored cs.  Easy to assemble & create--a few of these will be going out to my friends & family this holiday season!

Hope you've enjoyed my projects today & maybe take a little inspiration away with you today!  I'll be back tomorrow with my Copic Creations Challenge card and another Lockhart project for ya!  Have a fab Saturday!