Just a note...or two

Hello Everyone,

I'm so sorry that I haven't posted anything in over a week. I have a simple explanation for my absence though....I've been super sick. I came down with the sniffles and a headache last weekend and from there became progressively worse.
After "doctoring" on myself for three days with over the counter medication, my husband said enough was enough..."something isn't right" and took me to the hospital. I had a temperature, my chest made a terrible rattling sound when I breathed and my entire body ached all over. What started out as a cold snowballed into the flu and a upper respiratory infection.
I spent two days in the hospital including Thanksgiving day and can't remember ever being so sick and miserable! I'm slowly coming around and getting stronger each day especially now that the cold/infection has broken up and is slowing leaving my body.

My craft room is in my basement which happens to be a finished and dry and sorely missed!!!! I can't wait to return to my basement oasis and create something! I will be back some creations very soon, until then take care and have a blessed day.

hugs

ATS Wednesday...Gift Card Holder Challenge!

*This is my second post for today, please scroll down for The Pixie Cottages Sketch/Ribbon & Bow Challenge.

Hello Again,

I back with All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge and this weeks challenge is to make a gift card holder.

I don't have a specific recipe for my gift holder, I simply started with a mini envelope that originally contained a gift card. I shamelessly tore the envelope apart and made a template for my project and from there I added a decorative cover.

My image, Sugarplums Christmas Angel, really worked well with my gift card holder because of her size and because she is in a sitting position. I adhered her onto the small circular nesties and embellished with Kaiser half back pink gems. I embellished Christmas Angel's halo and wings with extra fine glitter and I attached my sentiment to her hands.

There is a new prize offered every week on the ATS Challenge blog but make sure you use a stamp that is sold in the All That Scraps store

if you want to be eligible to win! ATS carries a wide range of stamps which gives you quite a selection to choose from. You have until 10 PM on the Tuesday following each challenge to link your entry to the ATS Blog. Good luck!

Have a beautiful day and thanks so much for stopping by!


gift card details.....
stamp C.C. Designs Sugarplums Christmas Angel, sentiment Ellen Hutson's and the inside sentiment is a rub on by SU...c/s Bazzill and PTI....tools Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots embossing folder, nesties circular and circular scalloped dies, 3/4 " circular punch, 1" circular punch, Scor-Pal and scalloped scissors....inks Copic Markrs.....embellishments Kaiser half back pink gems,extra fine glitter,ribbon and a tiny gem snowflake

Challenges......
Reasonable Ribbon - Ribbon and Christmas
Stamp and Create - Tis The Season
Scrappy Frogs - Christmas
Scrapbook Sisters - Christmas
Paper Cupcakes - Christmas, Glitter and Ribbon
Sassy Studios - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Whatever Makes You Happy
Our Daily Bread..Anything But A Card
Secret Crafter.....Sparkle & Shine

Pixie Cottage #44...Sketch/Ribbons & Bows

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

This weeks Pixie Cottage Challenge is a great one! If you love sketches, check out our team sketch designed Pam. Pam's sketches are amazing and I find them very inspiring, thanks for everything Pam! This weeks theme is a fun one, ribbons and bows! Whew....I can already hear the your brains buzzing with excitement, I mean who doesn't love to embellish with ribbons and bows? I would be so lost without me ribbons!!!

My card features the new Hannah's Letter and it is a stamp set that includes two sentiments and comes mounted with cling foam. Personally, I like the smaller size of Hannah and I hope that there are more Hannah stamp sets sold in the future.

Quick details about my card, I have a lot of white going on here and added texture by embossing my base mat with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots embossing folder. Hannah is colored in with Copic Markers and the snow is dotted with Stickles Ice. I hope that you can see the ribbon, it's a little sheer but I have a strip of ribbon and a bow even! (my base layer which is white is absorbing my ribbon and it's difficult to see in the picture, but it's there*ü*)

For more DT inspiration and the rules to the challenge, please click here. Have fun with this weeks challenge and remember....you have a choice with our challenges. You can choose either our team sketch, or you can create according to our themes. Either way, have fun creating!!!!

hugs


card details....
stamp and sentiment both from the new Hannah's Letter Stamp Set...c/s Bazzill and PTI.....inks Copic Markers and Memento Tuxedo Black....tools Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots Embossing Folder,EK Success Wavy Border Punch, and Nesties lg. Petite circular and scallop dies.... Embellishments ribbon, half back pearls, miniature gold bell and gold cord

My card also qualifies for the following blog challenges...
The Crafty Pad....X-Mas Sparkle
I Did It Creations.....Traditional X-Mas Color
Sentimental Sundays......Childhood plus a sentiment
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
Character Cafe - Embossing
Stamp and Create - Tis The Season
Alota Rubber Stamps - Let's Celebrate Christmas
Scrappy Frogs - Christmas
Flourishes - Just Do It! Make A Christmas card :)

Claudia & Co. Party Time Noah and......

Hello Everyone,

I hope that you all had a beautiful weekend and that your day is off to a terrific start. I have some terrific news that I want to share with you today, are you ready to hear it? As of right now, you can buy Claudia & Co. Puddle Jumper images as digi's!!!!!
As most of you already know, digi images are very versatile and what I love the most about digi's is that they are an instant buy! If you need a particular image...like..."right now" ...all you have to do is buy it and within minutes you can download your images to your computer and create instantly! How cool is that!!!
You can find all of Lori Boyd's adorable Puddle Jumpers in either stamp or digi form at Die Cuts R Us.

Today's spotlight is on Party Time Noah. I'm finding it a little easier to make cards for boys and men but sometimes it is hard to fight the need to embellish it! I find myself thinking about what embellishment should I use etc. The list goes on and on and with this card I settled for silver brads and a tiny piece of ribbon. The card base colors are navy blue and I added some striped design paper by Bo Bunny* for contrast.

Have a fantastic day and be sure to stop by Die Cuts R Us and check out the new Claudia & Co. Puddle Jumper digi images!

hugs

card details.....
image and sentiment both from Claudia & Co. Party Time Noah stamp set, c/s Bazzill and PTI, design paper from the new Bo Bunny Winter Frost paper pack* ( I think it is sold out but will probably be back in stock soon*.....inks Copic Markers....tools Spellbinders label one and lg. petite circle and scallop dies and SU's window punch .....embellishments small piece of ribbon and mini silver brads

Shiver Me Timbers...It's Cold Outside!

Hello Everyone,
I hope that you weekend is off to a terrific start and hopefully the weather isn't so cold that you have to bundle up like Claudia & Co. PJ Winter Ella yet! *lol*

I have been super busy creating holiday cards and I'm having so much fun with the new Puddle Jumpers! I played around with different design paper patterns and came up with this colorful holiday card. I know the patterns are a little "busy" but I was having so much fun and one thing led to another. I have traditional Christmas colors, glittered snowflakes, ribbon and even a bell!

Well...I'm going to bring my post to a close. I have to prepare a quick dinner and attend an anniversary dinner this evening. Take care and have a beautiful weekend and thanks so much for stopping by!

card details.....
stamp and sentiment both by Claudia & Co. (PJ Winter Ella)....c/s Bazzill and PTI..DP PTI and scrap stash.....inks Copic Markers....tools machine stitching and snow flake punches by MS....embellishments Liquid Pearls, Stickles Ice, gold brads,gold cord, mini bell(from Wild Orchid) and ribbon

Challenges.....
ABC......H is for Holiday
ABC Christmas....Winter Wonderland
Little Red Wagon.....Anything that is in a set of 3's (snowflakes)
A Spoon Full of Sugar....Snowflakes
Christmas Stampin' All Year....Stripes
A Crafty Little Place.....Red, White & Green
Delightful Challenges...Glitter it Up!
Pollycraft....Chill Time
Secret Crafter.....Sparkle & Shine
Speedy The Cat......Snowflakes
Die Cut Dreams Christmas Challenge....Snowflakes
Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog.....Snowflakes
Totally Gorjuss...Traditional Christmas Colors
I Did It Creations.....Traditional X-Mas Color
Stampin' Sisters in Christ.....3 choices...I chose "more is more"

Claudia & Co.....November Color Challenge!

Hello Everyone and Happy Friday to you!
This month's Claudia & Co. Challenge is a color challenge. We want you to use the color combination of brown and cream along with another color of your choice. I colored my image, Party Time Piper in the colors of brown,cream and pink. The design papers are from Cosmo Cricket's "WANTED" mini deck and the paper is fabulous! I love the warm rich colors and beautiful patterns that are compatible with either male or female.

For some reason, my browns have a reddish hue to them but in real life, the brown color looks like a natural brown. I embellished my card with brown ribbon, a brown and pink felt flower and cream half back pearls. You can find Party Time Piper, the Cosmo Cricket design paper and Copic Markers here.

For more DT inspiration, please click here to see the beautiful DT creations. We only have one rule .... you can only use Claudia & Company stamps for the challenge. You have a month to complete your cards and we look forward to viewing your fab creations!

hugs
Risa:)

card details.......
image Claudia & Co. PJ Party Time Piper, sentiment comes with Party Time Piper package... c/s Bazzill and PTI,...design papers Cosmo Cricket's Wanted mini deck pad.....inks Copic Markers ......tools MS border edged punch...embellishments brown ribbon, felt flowers and Kaiser half back pearls.

My card also meets the following blog requirements...
AI Factory.....die cuts or punches
Cute Card Thursday.....Anything Goes
Dutch Dare.....Clean and Simple
Fresh Brewed....Two or more patterned papers
Lexi's Creations.....Anything Goes
Fairytale Challenge Blog....Anything Goes

ATS Wednesday....Birthday Theme!

This is my second post for today, please scroll down for The Pixie Cottage's sketch and 2 color challenge.

Hello Again!
This weeks ATS Wednesday Challenge is a fun one......... Birthday Themed Cards! Don't you love it when the challenge is super fun and easy? I know that I do!!!!!

My card card features one of the new C.C. Designs images designed by Amy R. Young. The name of my image is Penelope with Balloon and she will be available November 15th at All That Scraps Online Store.

Be sure to head over to the ATS Wednesdays Challenge Blog to play along with us. Every week there is a new and exciting prize being offered .... but in order to be eligible to win, your card must include a stamp that is sold in the ALL THAT SCRAPS store. Whether it is one of our wonderful in-house designs or from the various other stamp companies that ATS carries, the choice is yours. Then be sure to link up your creation with Mr. Linky by next Tuesday at 10:00pm EST with only one entry per person please!

I hope that you all have lots of fun creating Birthday themed cards. Have a beautiful day and thanks so much for stopping by!
hugs
Risa:)

my card meets the following blog challenge requirements...
Sweet Stampin'.......Inspiration photo
Raise The Bar....Curves.....circles,scallops etc.
C.R.A.F.T........Dry Embossing
Meljiens .....Use Three Different Shapes
Hopes Stamps Eternal...Inspiration Photo

Pixie Cottage #44...Sketch/Two Colors Only Theme

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

This weeks Pixie Cottage Challenge is the usual sketch and the theme is a color challenge and you can only use two colors!

Initially I was "thrown for a loop" cause of the color limitations but after thinking it over, I decided on the colors black and white. My image, is one of four new stamps designed by ArTish ( Pick Your Bird) . I used bird"A" the cardinal for this challenge and what I love about these new bird images is the peacefulness and their beauty. I also love the fact that you can make some super quick cards because it isn't necessary to color these images in. I heat embossed my image and added glitter to the leaves for some sparkle. My card was finished within 30 minutes and for me, that is something! I have all kind of ideas running around in my head for future cards using these bird images.

For more Pixie Cottage DT inspiration and the challenge rules, please click here.

card details....
stamp The Pixie Cottage ( Pick Your Bird ), sentiment SU, c/s Bazzill and PTI, inks SU's Black and VersaMark.....tools Cuttlebug embossing folder,nesties lg. square & lg. scallop square dies, MS butterfly punch, heat embossing tool and 13/4 circle punch...embellishments ribbon, Diamond Stickles and half back pearls

I hope you have a great time with this weeks Pixie Cottage Challenge. Remember, it's all about fun and creativity! Have a beautiful day and thanks so much for stopping by!

My card also qualifies for the following blog challenges
C.R.A.F.T........Dry Embossing
Meljiens .....Use Three Different Shapes
Anything Goes.....Emboss It!
Cards For Men.....Animals on Card

Claudia & Co. Winter Release Party Blog Hop!

Hello Everyone and Welcome to the Claudia & Company Winter Release Blog Hop!

Everyone on this team has been super busy creating cards for our November Blog Hop. We have six new winter stamps and I'm telling you,they are super cute!!!! Now...getting back to our blog hop, if you have just arrive from Pam Varnell's Blog, you are on the right track. If not, please scroll down and take a look at the blog hop's manifest and start at the beginning and proceed from there. One lucky winner (maybe two) will win a wonderful prize package so.......be sure to leave a comment on all of the blogs for your chance to win!!!

Without further ado, I would like to introduce you to ........

Winter Hannah Puddle Jumper designed by Lori Boyd

Party Time Penguin (Jane's Doodles)

Party Time Noah PJ (Lori Boyd)

Winter Landon PJ (Lori Boyd)

All of the stamp sets come with their very own sentiment and an additional cute accessory stamp. All of the stamps are made from deeply etched rubber and come to you pre-mounted on cling foam. All you have to do when your stamps arrive is trim and create! Be sure to leave a comment for your chance to win a super cool prize package! Your next stop is Shelby's Blog.

Claudia & Company Blog

Sandra

Tori

Pam

Risa *me....you are here*

Shelby

Krista

Nicole

Margie

Tracy

Jacquie

Kim
Sheri
Lysa

Lori

Shelly

Kadie

Our wonderful guest designer:

Mercy Kerin

Claudia

I hope that you enjoy our Winter Release Blog Hop and I want to wish everyone good luck! Take care and have a beautiful day:)

hugs

Two For Thursday?

Hello Everyone,

I'm doing the happy dance right now because I have access to the internet! I've been "MIA" due to technology and don't mention computer with drawls...I was sick without my computer...literally! Well after paying almost $200.00 for repairs, I hoping that my laptop will hang in there until I can afford to buy a new one. *fingers crossed here*

So..... with all of the extra time on my hands, I was creating away and here are the cards that should have been posted yesterday.

The Pixie Cottage.......Re-cycle it or team sketch

Almost everything about my card is from what would have been a card. What I mean by this is, sometimes I make a card that just doesn't work for me and what I do from there is set it aside and start another one. I have learned to save some cards, or the pieces and images because they come in handy later down the road.

My image, The Pixie Cottages, Southend Girl is from my reject pile. I didn't like the dark airbrushed background and had put it aside for later use. The base card and design papers are from my scrap bin.

For more Pixie Cottage inspiration and challenge rules, please click here.
*********** All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge...Be Grateful*******

This weeks ATS is a fun and easy challenge, we want you to make a card that expresses thanks for something.

A Thanksgiving type image would have been perfect for this weeks challenge but I settled on Cupcake Kiki instead.
For more ATS DT inspiration and the challenge details, please click here. I also want to add that if you want a chance to be in the ATS highlights news letter and guest designer, get those challenge cards in. You never know...YOU could be next winner!

Take care and enjoy your day! I'll be back early tomorrow with something special!!!

hugs
Risa:)