HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well, Christmas is over, we put the tree away today.  This was a tough holiday for me - we are calling it black Christmas.  I stopped working in mid-December due to health and I've been in a bit of a funk.  But, even with a low-key holiday, everyone was pleased and happy to be together.  That's important for me to remember the next time I think I "should" outdo Martha Stewart.  In fact, at the Paper Wishes message board there is a "word challenge" instead of a new year resolution.  I've been thinking and the word that keeps coming to mind is simplify.  Probably won't apply to my craft room, but everywhere else could certainly use some attention.  This Christmas is a great example, we kept  the most important traditions and let the rest go, including the mounds of presents - definitely simplified.  I'm also looking to simplify my home - the older I get the less I like clutter and that is one thing my house is full of.  I grew up with very little, so I tend to hang onto things, but it is time to re-examine and keep the important things, the sentimental things and let the "stuff" go.  A challenge for sure.

I made a card yesterday for Cheryl's store using a Design Line sticker set.  It is a stacked medallion which went together very easily (not hard to cut out).  I like this line of stickers for the quality and value: you get two sheets of the design for $2.00 - can't beat that.

I used vellum and a burgundy glossy paper from Cheryl's for the medallion layers as well as the Nestabilities scalloped circle.  The background paper is HOTP and I finished it off with KaiserCraft black pearls.  Is it to early for Valentine cards?  Hope not - since I have 2 sheets of the design, this one will be on display and I'll make another one for Paul.

PaperCutz Challenge #72

Happy Friday everyone!  Did you know Christmas is a week from tomorrow?  I think it just dawned on me, I went out yesterday to do some shopping, I figured that at 2:00 in the afternoon on a Thursday it wouldn't be busy - wrong!!!

This week at Papercutz Challenge is to make a New Year's card including in the design a banner.  This is my first try at using a banner (be kind!).

I think I need to work on the spacing a bit more.  All the papers and the large snowflake brad are from HOTP.

This is our last challenge of the year!  We're taking a break for the holidays and will be back in 2 weeks!

PaperCutz Challenge #71

Good morning!  This week our challenge at PaperCutz is to craft a project which has snowflakes or a snowman.  I must admit, this week I am showing a page I made for last Christmas.  On the Paper Wishes message board several of us decided to divide common holiday songs and to each make a page with our portion of the lyrics.  Mine was the last lines of Frosty the Snowman.  I had a lot of fun designing the page - and a lot less fun replicating it 8 times.  However, I'm very happy with how it came out.  For the snow at the bottom of the page I glued used crumpled drier sheets to my page and then rubbed icicle stickles all over it, I think you can see the shine in the picture.  I found Frosty somewhere on-line and paper pieced him together using suede paper for his vest.  The house and train come from the Christmas Noel cart from Cricut.  I used a snow writer on the house.  I hope you like it and come join in the fun.

Please leave me a note letting me know what you think.  Only 14 more shopping days left!

PaperCutz Challenge #70

Happy December everyone!  Just 22 shopping days left until Christmas - isn't that terrifying?  I'm usually done with Christmas and all wrapped by now, but I haven't really even started yet.  The kids will be easy this year - they all want $, so gift cards it is.  When they were younger a little after my youngest was beyond believing, I started having Santa bring the socks and underwear - he'd been getting the credit for the good stuff long enough!  So now, Christmas morning, they have a gift bag from the big guy along with their stockings.  They even get the same bag every year - I wrote their names on it!  Of course, stocking filling is getting pretty expensive too - have you noticed stores advertising "stocking stuffers for under $50"?  The grandkids get the same gift bag from Santa along with a very nice present - I love seeing their faces when they realize Santa stopped at Meme's and Papa's for them too!

This week at Papercutz Challenge you are to make a Christmas project using 2 patterned papers and any colors you would like.  I made another Christmas card using several papers from Kaiser Crafts Christmas line.  I usually like very bright colors for Xmas, but I'm really enjoying working with a more muted palette.

The tree focal is from Echo Park's Card Paper - I've been having a lot of fun using it to create focals.  I used Tim Holtz rock candy crackle paint on the focal - I'm not sure I'm in love with how it turned out, but it definitely aged the piece. The self-adhesive bottom border is also from Kaiser Craft, I just cut around the figures for a different look.  The ribbon is from my stash.  All of the papers I used today are available from Cheryl's store Inspired Designs.  She ships anywhere for the actual cost of the package - no added fees!

Now I just need to get these cards in the mail!  Have a great week!