Then and Now.......Happy New Year!

1970 - New York City - Times Square - I was there watching the ball drop - an experience everyone needs to do at least once - and while you are young! Forty years later I am still watching that ball drop only now it's from the vantage point of my easy chair. No complaints though, I'm quite content with this view. I dressed up my card with Night and Day Designer Paper just to wish you all a Happy New Year. The wonderfully scrunchy flower is made from 8 scallop circles also cut from the designer paper. (The idea is from the uniquely talented Lydia Fiedler - Understand Blue Paper Arts. ) Thanks to all of you for being so supportive of my blogging endeavors this year. Looking forward to 2010 and wishing you all the best!

Welcome Eveline Lily........

A beautiful Rose Red ribbon set against Tall Tales Designer Paper is perfect for a special baby card. Eveline Lily arrived yesterday and I can't wait to meet her. I have known her mother since the day she was born and something tells me that Eveline Lily will definitely be a special little girl!

Holiday Greetings...........PPA22.....

Using Margaret Moody's sketch to guide me for this PPA challenge, I broke out the traditional Christmas colors one last time. Merry Christmas!

They Say It's My Birthday!

I tried to pretend it wasn't going to happen - but yesterday it did - I entered a new decade. And what a grand entrance it was! I went to see Wicked with some family members and then we stopped for dinner. Little did I know what awaited me at the restaurant - more family, friends and a beautifully set table! My friend Barb made these favors (using the #2 box) which also served as place cards. They are filled with chocolate covered cherries - my favorite. She also created the card for me keeping with the color scheme. Beautiful! The play was terrific and the dinner was a wonderful surprise - lots of fun. What more could a birthday girl want?

Sleigh Bells Ring!.......PPA21...........

Pals Paper Arts Challenge this week is Winter Wonderland..............reminds me of a song! I love sleigh bells. I have some hanging on a cupboard door in my kitchen all year round. They say good morning to me every day when I take out my mug for tea. Something about that sound just makes me smile. There's nothing better than watching little kids jingling bells during a Christmas concert! So I am pleased to report that this simple little card jingles. When sleigh bells ring, I listen!

Pen Pals.........PPA20........

My niece's daughter is 4 and just learning to read and write. There is nothing sweeter than a card from the heart of a 4 year old. I received a wonderful note from her the other day and decided I had best reply right away. PPA's challenge this week is to use Old Olive, Soft Suede and Crushed Curry. Elements from the Write Stuff DSP were perfect for the challenge - and for the note card. I also used Soft Suede Ribbon and DSP and Crushed Curry card stock. The message is simple and the card has plenty of room inside for me to print a note and include some alphabet stickers. Nice to know that there's more than one kind of pal!

Snow Day Mojo.......116.........

I love snow days and we had one today. It's so quiet when it snows - life just slows right down. Nothing much moved around here until very late afternoon - including me! Perfect day to organize the craft room and finish the Christmas cards. I cleaned, I sorted, I wrote. And I found these ornament tags that came in an SU order long ago. How convenient that the present day Merry & Bright rub ons fit inside them perfectly. I decided to stop everything then and put together a Mojo Monday card. The tags also worked well with Holiday Lounge DSP and silver cord. It was a wonderfully lazy day but it's time to set the alarm for tomorrow - the real world calls..........

Inspiration Note Card....PPA19.........

PPA's inspiration picture was absolutely lovely today. I drew from the design and color scheme and used Merry Moments DSP along with Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Very Vanilla. The Little Leaves die worked to make mistletoe along with some pearls. Once I finished I changed my mind (of course) about using this as a note card. It is going to be a mini album cover for Christmas pictures I put together every year for relatives in England. I had better put this little creation aside to rest for a few weeks because it has a long journey ahead!

Pals Holiday Hop

Welcome to the Pals Holiday Hop. If you arrived from Carla's blog you are on the right path. Thought you might like to see what Santa has been busy making in his workshop using his new Big Shot and some Dashing Designer Paper. Here's a preview of what he will be putting in the stockings at the Callahan's this year.

Husband John is a skier and this tag from the Two Tags die makes the perfect wrapping for his SPF 6000 Chapstick.

Gram heads to Florida every year right after the holidays. She will get a paperback and this bookmark also made from the Two Tags die. It might remind her of the snow she is missing (not!) while she reads on the beach. Magnet strips are applied to each end of the tag so that the bookmark will grip the page.

Son Michael loves to make things from duck tape. (Click on his name to see one of his creations - yep that's him in the picture.) Santa made his gift card holder from authentic duck tape and cut it out with the Top Note Die. The gift card is from a local hardware store to buy what else - more duck tape!

Son-in-law Mike is a pilot so it is only fitting that his gift card holder has a flying reindeer on it. Pilots spend a lot of time hanging around waiting at airports like everyone else. This gift card will keep him supplied in coffee for a while.

Daughter Erin is the only family member who reads the blog so Santa won't be telling what is in this box. It is made from the #2 Box die and is large enough to hold a variety of interesting things!

Looks like the Big Shot has become one of Santa's favorite tools. It certainly seems to make holiday wrapping quick and easy! Now if I only knew what Santa will be putting in my stocking..............

Melanie's blog is next so hop on over and see what holiday treat she has for you! Don't forget to leave us a comment or two along the way.

Holiday Hop Line Up:

1. Kris Kilcoyne (Kween Bee Kreations)
2. Carla Bazhenow (Carla's Scraps)
3. Linda Callahan (Stampin' Seasons)
4. Melanie Collins (Oops a Daisy)
5. Mary Fish (Stampin' Pretty)
6. Tricia Gillam (Soul Stamper)
7. Jill Gregory (Stamping Heart)
8. Kim Lampone (Stamp, Scrap and Get Kreative)

9. Kalshelia Lloyd (Stampin' Fabulousity)
10. Regina Mangum (The Stampin' Bean)
11. Margaret Moody (Margaret Moody)
12. Debbie Pierce (Stampin' Sunshine)
13. Ann Schach (The Stampin' Schach)
14. Gina Shaw (Cards by Gina)
15. Lourdes Torres (Cozy Crafty Corner)

Thanksgiving KISS..........PPA18.........

Happy Thanksgiving! The Holiday Season is here.........keep it simple..........enjoy!

Designer Paper Up!...........WSC......

I love Designer Series Paper! I buy it - hoard it - spread it out on the floor to look at it - color code it and save every last scrap of it. I love it when I read how many of you also hoard your DSP - makes me feel so normal! When I start a card I usually pick the designer paper first and work from there. Last night I chose Holiday Lounge and followed Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. I vowed no stamping - just paper playing. I have a very talented stamping friend who keeps encouraging me to stamp more and smudge more and color more. So I broke down and stamped the sentiment. (I can hear her groaning as she reads this.) She always tells me "Linda, the company is not called Designer Paper Up! - it's Stampin' Up!"

Newton's Law..........PPA17......

Margaret Moody sketched this wonderful design for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge this week. It is always amazing to me how many ways a sketch will be interpreted. I stayed pretty true to the sketch and embossed the snowflakes from Christmas Punch in gold on Very Vanilla squares. But when it was time to snap the picture, this card just refused to stand up straight. After a while I just gave up - who am I to defy gravity? Sorry Margaret - I tried!

No Frills - No Bows - No Problem.....

My husband volunteers at our Little League Field and has spent the past few weeks helping to get everything ready for winter. Two young guys helped him repair some equipment so he is sending them gift certificates and wanted thank you cards to go with them. Well let me tell you he has more requirements than a Splitcoast Challenge - keep it simple, no frou frou, no ribbons, no swirly stamps, no bows. No bows? Now he's talkin' my language! Autumn Traditions designer paper paired up with Soft Suede designer paper worked nicely with just a bit of twine. Hope these pass inspection in the morning!

Christmas Cheer...............PPA 16............

Oh come on now - just channel ZZ Top in a Santa suit................

Holiday Hop........Dinner is Served..........

If you are lucky enough to get an invite that looks like this, stick that turkey back in the freezer and head to someone else's dining room! Autumn Vine designer paper and Compliments to the Chef stamps combine for a perfect Thanksgiving Dinner invitation. If your luck holds out you might even find a cute little box of chocolate next to your plate made from the top note die. This box holds peanut butter cups because the hostess ran out of mini musketeer bars.

And make sure you mail a thank you note the next day as you head out to start your Christmas shopping!

Thanks for hopping by. Your next stop is Mary Fish's blog. Hope you get to visit us all - don't forget to leave a message or two along the way...............

1. Kris (Kween Bee Kreations)

2. Carla (Carla's Scraps)

3. Linda (Stampin' Seasons)

4. Mary (Stampin' Pretty)

5. Trish (Soul Stamper)

6. Jill (Stamping Heart)

7. Liz (DIY Paper Creations)

8. Kim (Stamp, Scrap, Get Kreative)

9. Kalshelia (Stampin' Fabulousity)

10. Regina (The Stampin' Bean)

11. Margaret (Margaret Moody)

12. Debbie (Stampin' Sunshine)

13. Ann (The Stampin' Schach)

14. Gina (Cards by Gina)

15. Lourdes (Cozy Crafty Corner)

3 Colors - 3 Musketeers.....PPA 15.....

Taken with Teal, Ruby Red and Basic Gray! Whew, when those Pals throw down a challenge they do it right. You don't want to know how many mini Musketeer bars were consumed making this card with those colors. Just couldn't seem to make those colors get along! And then there's the bow. I have watched Mary's video so many times I could recite it right along with her - yet I remain bow-challenged. A few more Musketeer bars and a pile of ribbon on the floor and that's all I could do. I am getting ready to offer an all expense paid trip to upstate NY to anyone who is willing to tutor me in bow art! So that's it - I am done in - and headed to the couch with another Musketeer bar or two. But never fear, I recover quickly - I'll be back in time for the Hop on

November 10th!

Clean and Simple...........Mojo 111........

I just love clean lines and a simple look. That's also why I loved Mary Fish's tip on same color layering! I did it with textured white after I stamped A Tree for all Seasons in soft suede. I added a loop of soft suede ribbon and put it all on Autumn Traditions designer paper and a base of Ruby Red. This Mojo Monday card is my farewell to fall. The trees are bare and the last of the leaves have been hauled away from our yard. After my clean and simple speech you would think that would make me happy - well it doesn't because snow showers are predicted for tomorrow. Guess that means Mother Nature has headed south and put Old Man Winter in charge again up here. But now that I think about it there is something so clean and simple about a fresh snowfall.............

Happy Boo Day!

It's early Halloween night. Candles are lit and the treats are ready by the door. My daughter and her husband have arrived with Baxter. He was not in the pumpkin for long because they had to finish carving it before they came for supper. Don't let Baxter's friendly smile fool you - he is a vampire at heart and loves to bite!

Can you tell who we are rooting for in the World Series?

In The Pink........PPA14........

The Pals Paper Arts Challenge this week encourages you to think pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I am honored to be the Featured Artist for this challenge which is also a tribute to fellow Pal and PPA Design Team Member Kris Kilcoyne and her mom Karol. Karol is bravely battling breast cancer and in her own way so is Kris. I thought pink and used Pink Pirouette and Chocolate Chip along with Bella Birds designer paper. An image and sentiment from Friends 24/7 send a message of support. Join us by thinking pink! Post your creation to help spread the word and to recognize those whose lives have been affected by this dreadful disease. I have learned over the past few months that having friends in the virtual world has many similarities to having friends in the real world. We cheer each other on when life is good and we support each other when life throws a curve. And together we are stronger than standing alone........

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch..............

This week's OCC Challenge was to create a card using your favorite holiday movie as an inspiration. I love the Grinch - my favorite version is the original narrated by Boris Karloff - a true classic! I stamped empty ornament hangers from Tree Trimmings on Merry Moments designer paper and also used an ornament from Delightful Decorations. A little free hand drawing - very primitive to say the least - and the scene was set. Some days I just entertain myself with this stuff...................

........Last he went up the chimney himself the old liar,

Leaving nothing behind but hooks and some wire........

Different but All the Same..............PPA13.....

Halloween is quite the event in our neighborhood. We often have over 100 trick or treaters! I try to make a few special treats for our closest neighbors. These little pockets will hold a treat or two and some Halloween stickers. They are a snap to make and happen to qualify for Pals Paper Arts Challenge 13 - Anything but a Card. I used a friendly mix of last year's and this year's Halloween designer paper. I cut out 2 top notes for each pocket, folded down a flap and tied a ribbon. Then I got busy with the Spooky Treats rub-on set. They are all different but really all the same. I made two more for my grown-up kids. (No stickers for them - they prefer lottery tickets!) Next I think I will make some for my co-workers at the library - they like treats too. Seems that saying applies to people as well - we are different but really all the same.................

Derailed..........Mojo 109......

Sometimes things derail in life. Last night my husband asked me to make a get well card for a co-worker. No problem I thought as I headed to my craft room - I'll follow the Mojo Monday sketch. I decided to pick a DSP that I have never used so I pulled out Nouveau Chic and Jackpot. Hmm, nothing too get-wellish about Jackpot - better focus on Nouveau Chic. I reached for the Kind and Caring Thoughts stamp set, a very get-wellish set, and some lovely So Saffron card stock. Darned if I know what happened next but the flower became a spider and Nouveau Chic turned to the dark side. Totally off the track...........

A Warm Welcome.............PPA12......

Nothing says welcome like a wreath on the front door - well except maybe a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies. When I saw this week's PPA sketch done by the talented Margaret Moody I immediately thought of a wreath. I made one using bits and pieces of stamps from Priceless, Holiday Best, Elegant Thank You, Pocket Silhouettes and Short and Sweet. I inked them with Pumpkin Pie, Purely Pomegranate, Soft Suede or Ruby Red. Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry Paper add to the fall color line-up. There is a beautiful old Colonial home on our block in need of some TLC. To my delight it has been bought by a young couple who have already started to fix it up. The house is not yet livable but when I walked by the other morning a wreath had been hung on the front door - a perfect hello to the neighborhood. I will be taking this card to welcome our new neighbors - along with a plate of those cookies!

Holiday Hop .......All's Not What it Seems on Halloween.....

Welcome to the Holiday Hop! If you have landed here from Carla's blog you are doing great. If you are starting here - no problem - just follow the arrows at the end of the post to stay on track. Hope you enjoy your tour - leave us notes and let us know what you think. But beware my pretties - all's not what it seems on Halloween!

These little ghosts seem awfully happy to see you today. Don't be fooled by that - I think they are just delighted to be so near a Giardelli dark chocolate treat tucked into that scalloped note!

Uh oh - looks like someone is trying to sneak out of the back door of the house with all of the treats. Not to worry, the treats are still safe inside the house............which really isn't a house you know. It is actually Stampin' Up's #2 Box - cut out on the Big Shot and turned upside down. The flaps make a great roof line.

So enjoy the rest of the hop - but keep your wits about you! This happy little pumpkin fellow was just taking it easy in the patch one night when he was struck by forked lightning......you can see what happened next..........ribbit, ribbit..........All's not what it seems on Halloween!











Kris (Kween Bee Kreations)
Carla (Carla's Scraps)
Linda (Stampin' Seasons)
Melanie (Oops a Daisy)
Mary (Stampin' Pretty)
Trish (Soul Stamper)
Jill (Stamping Heart)
Liz (DIY Paper Creations)
Kim (Stamp, Scrap, Get Kreative)
Kalshelia (Stampin' Fabulousity)
Regina (The Stampin' Bean)
Margaret (Margaret Moody)
Debbie (Stampin' Sunshine)
Ann (The Stampin' Schach)
Gina (Cards by Gina)
Lourdes (Cozy Crafty Corner)

Holiday Hop.......

Are you ready for a "ribbiting" adventure? Then join us tomorrow, October 13th, for a Holiday Hop! A group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators will be providing inspiration for Halloween. The sites listed below will be showcasing all that Stampin' Up! has to offer from stamps to designer paper to embellishments. So hop on over to our pads and let us know what you think!

Kris (Kween Bee Kreations)
Carla (Carla's Scraps)
Linda (Stampin' Seasons)

Melanie (Oops a Daisy)
Mary (Stampin' Pretty)
Trish (Soul Stamper)
Jill (Stamping Heart)
Liz (DIY Paper Creations)
Kim (Stamp, Scrap, Get Kreative)
Kalshelia (Stampin' Fabulousity)
Regina (The Stampin' Bean)
Margaret (Margaret Moody)
Debbie (Stampin' Sunshine)
Ann (The Stampin' Schach)
Gina (Cards by Gina)
Lourdes (Cozy Crafty Corner)

Mark your calendar as well for November 10th and December 1st for our Thanksgiving and Christmas Hops!