Welcome!

So very nice of you to stop by! What a fun and challenging hobby to have!

May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
- Irish Blessing

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Winter Wonderland

This is for Speedy the Cat's Friend Challenge # 88 - Use a snowflake! It was easier to use a snowflake than look for snowflakes in Wisconsin! Do NOT think we are going to have a White Christmas!!! That ground is green!! (here is the website)

I used the MFP new Ice and Snow stamps on MFP Aqua Light cs with BoBunny dp. The corners were punched with Martha Stewart snowflake punch. The icicles were stamped with tuxedo black Memento ink and then colored with Stardust chalk from Chalk-Ah-Lot and mixed with 3D Crystal lacquer by Sakura. After it dried, I added a little crystal stickles to make them glisten. The snowflakes were stamped with tuxedo black Memento and colored with Stardusk chalk...added a little BoBunny pearl and stamped the sentiment on the bottom with Vivid Aqua ink.

The inside was stamped with the snowflakes and the sentiment (from Ice and Snow) was stamped with Vivid Aqua and die cut with big scalloped ovals large by Spellbinders. Added some pearls....some ribbon to the front and A Winter Wonderland  it is! Hope you join us for the Snowflake challenge this week. The challenge runs from Dec. 31 thru Friday, January 6, 2012.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

With Sympathy - part 2

This is for Speedy the Cat's Friend Challenge #87 --Anything Goes! I tell you it was PERFECT for me this week as I had a friend who had asked me to make her a set of Sympathy cards for a Christmas gift...and this fit the bill perfectly!  (here is the website)



I used the Playful Garden embossing folder by Crafts Concepts and then colored with Chalk-Ah-Lot chalk and mixing it with the creative gloss medium by Ranger. WHAT fun it was!! Perfect way to mix chalk and it gets like paint and you simply paint it on and NO chalk mess at all. I also used Sakura glitter pens. It was Key Lime cs and the inside was Authentique dp. I used Mark's Finest Stamps...black eyed susans and the sentiment was from Walk in the Woods. The sentiment on the inside was computer generated.
Front with embossed folder and flowers popped up

Inside






















This one I used Autumn Rose cs with Authentique dp and the Winter Crocus stamp from Mark's. The sentiment is from A Walk in the Woods. Also used scalloped squares large, scalloped tags and big scalloped ovals large and Edgeabilities classic brackets to do the die cutting.
This time I colored with Chalk-Ah-Lot chalk and Buzz N Magic Paint from Stamp N Plus Scrap N. Really makes for a lovely medium to use and gives a rather shiny finish. I added some sakura glitter pens too. Added a little bling and 2 of the 6 cards were done!

Sympathy Cards - part 1

Here are 3 of those sympathy cards. These were using GKD stamps. These 2 are using the Branching Out Stamp Set.

The first one is on Autumn rose cs or Key Lime cs, with Cosmo Cricket dp. Used some spellbinders die cuts. Also used the gardens embossing folder by Craft Concepts and GKD All Occasion Tags. Added some bling and highlighted with Sakura Glitter pens. The ink was Lilac posies by Memento.


















This next one also used GKD Branching Out and All Occasion Tags. It was done on Key Lime GKD and Bo Bunny dp. I embossed half of the front with the garden folder and then colored in with Chalk-Ah-Lot and Matte finish. Added a little highlights with Sakura glitter pens.The inside sentiment was direct chalk-ah-lot application of blue. Added some bling.

















This one was done on Autumn Rose cs, Bo Bunny dp and used GKD Heartfelt stamps with Lilac Posies Memento and Tuxedo Black Memento ink. I colored with Copics and sakura glitter pens and used spellbinders to cut out with big scalloped ovals large  and Lattice rectangles. The inside I used the Holly Vine Memory Box diecut. Again...a little bling...a little ribbon....and 5 done!

And Number 6 will appear in January....can't be put on yet as it is for a challenge in January.

But they are all nicely put in a box....ready to be given away for Christmas! YES one more gift done! :)

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Chalk-Ah-Lot & Stamp N Plus Scrap N

Did you see that there is 
 free shipping through the holidays?
Chalk-Ah-Lot & Stamp N Plus Scrap N
Check it out HERE

Go get some stamps and chalk
and get ready to play. 
We are now just a few weeks away
from the first challenge Jan 8th

Don't forget to say you saw it on the chalk blog!

Thanks for stopping
Barb

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Pine candles

Another Christmas project completed today! YEA!!! I decided to give 4 sets of 3 flameless candles out as Christmas gifts and 1 set of 2.....turned out to be an OK and fast moving project! I used Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company New Pines stamp with green, bamboo, Rich Cocoa Memento ink and stamped the image onto tissue paper. Then cut it out leaving just a small edge of tissue paper around the image. Then lay the image with the ink side up on the candle and carefully wrap the candle with wax paper. Then take your heat gun and heat the wax until the tissue paper melts into the candle. I had trouble with the first couple as the heat got too hot....I truly do believe you get what you pay for when buying flameless candles!!! The first couple were NOT high quality wax and it got rather melty looking...but did cool ok. So now to get them wrapped! :-)


Tis the Season to Rejoice

This is for Speedy the Cat's Challenge ... Week 86 ... Make a Christmas card! Well this is certainly that time of the year! :-) I sure hope you can enter the challenge this week..December 17-23...you probably have a Christmas card you created this year! You can win the new Ice and Snow stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company. Good luck!  (Here is the website)

I used the MFP, Festive Wreath mini set and Greetings of the Season sentiments. I decided to do this wreath with Sakura glitter pens, colored pencils and Stickles. I used the Holly Cuttlebug folder to emboss the dk. green cs from MFP and a little gold Recollections dp. The wreath was cut out with Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Circles large and Nesting circles. I added the finishing dots of Stickles after it was cut out.

The ribbon tag trio 3 by Spellbinders was used for the sentiment with some ribbon added and stamped in Memento Cottage Ivy and sponged with Ladybug Red Memento. I added some pearls, jingle bell brad, Happy Holidays tag and gold bow. The inside is just a sentiment with some pearls added on. Unfortunately the glare of the camera is NOT good on this one! Hopefully next time....will be MUCH better!

Merry Christmas to you!


Front

Inside..just a sentiment

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Warm Winter Wishes

YEA!!!! Finished the last of the Christmas cards..FINALLY!!!! I had 12 left and got them done this afternoon!!! NOW they are all addressed and ready to be mailed!!!

This one was mass produced...and it is easier to cut out all the pieces, etc. at one time! You tend to remember what you did! I used red hot cs, green grass cs from GKD, and Paper Studio dp. The front was embossed with a Sizzix snowflakes folder and then highlighted with white pen. The snowflakes were stamped with white brilliance ink.

I used stamps from Prickley Pear, Holiday Clear Stamps snowflake Walmart and Craft Lounge. The die cuts were Prickley Pear scalloped circle and Quick Kutz ornament.

Stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento and Cottage Ivy Memento, added some ribbon and a bow and some cord on the inside ornament. Also a couple of stickers. I was trying to keep the level flatter so didn't have to add extra postage! LOL!!

AND To one and all.....ENJOY the Holidays!!!

Front

Inside

Saturday, December 10, 2011

With Thanks

This is a Thank You card for the Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge Week 85 -- make a thank you card. The challenge runs from December 10-16. Give it a try and you might be the winner of a stamp set!(here is their website)

A Christmas thank you card seems appropriate since I know I'll need at least one! :-)  I chose to use the A Walk in the Woods with Thanks sentiment and the Red Breasted Nuthatch from MFP, A Heinrich company as my stamps. I stamped with Cottage Ivy Memento ink and then colored with Copics. I then added Stickles for sparkles on the tree and snow on the fence. I used Tumbled Glass distress ink in the sky and added some Stickles and Stickles for the snow by the fence.

The sentiments were embossed with red embossing and then sponged with Pine Needles and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks. The inside sentiment on the back of the front is from Red Breasted Nuthatch and stamped with Cottage Ivy Memento and sponged with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and some Stickle "bling". Added some Stickles for "bling" on some other parts. It was put on green cs by MFP, the dp is part of my stash so I'm not sure the name of the company. Added some ribbon, brads and satin ribbon trees. The image was cut out with Spellbinders Classic scalloped rectangles and the curved rectangles cut out the sentiment on the front. The inside sentiment was scalloped ovals and curved rectangles.

So all is set and ready for me to write a thank you note.

Front
Inside left and right
With blank space to write on

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Cookies and Spice and Everything Nice

This is trying to finish up making those Christmas cards. I made 3 the same and will enter this in the For Fun Challenge -- make a Christmas card! (Here is the website)

I wanted to try the Judith stamps with the Tree For All Seasons and used the Judith stamps to put the decos on the tree. I then colored them with Sakura glitter pens. Added a Spellbinders gold glitter star at the top.  Added some background with some gold star stamps and sponging. The tree was cut out of nesting rectangles and it was MFP ivory cs, Wassail and Recollections dp. The saying on the inside is A Muse stamp, House Mouse and Penny Black Sentiments. Added a little bling, decos, stickers and Merry Christmas to all!!

Front

Inside

Front

Inside
Front

  
Inside

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Warm Winter Wishes

This is for the Speedy the Cat's Challenge Week 84 -- using your favorite embellishments! One of my favorite things to use!(here is the website)

I used the MFP Snowball Mini set. I stamped him with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, colored him with Smooch, added some Polar Fleece FlowerSoft for his hat and cuffs,his beard and eyebrows. I also used some Copic markers for his skin. It was stamped on white cs from MFP and I also used Paper Studio I Believe dp. I cut the oval with Spellbinders Big Scalloped Ovals and after cutting out Mr. Snowball Santa I popped him on the inside of the card and he comes up through the front! Added some bling -- my favorite embellishments...some holly brads from Spare Parts, some ribbon, some reindeer buttons, green and red bling. I then punched a hole for a red/white cord and fastened it with a Candi dot to keep it secure. That way the card will stay shut.

And he is sending you Warm Winter Wishes for a Merry Christmas!

Front

Inside 

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Christmas ornament

This is for the Outlines Challenge...Challenge 28 Hang it Up -make an ornament or wall hanging. (Here is the website)

This was my first attempt at making an ornament toper. I used Outlines I-792 Sparkle Topper. It was really fun to do and a great challenge. I decided to try vellum and stamped it 3 different times. One layer was embossed with gold, another with red and another with green. Then I colored the in between parts with Smooch which worked really well on the vellum and gave it a nice look. After it dried, I cut it out and then attached it to the ornament in layers, rotating the design. I added some pearls to finish it off and a ribbon hanger.

There are some changes I would do to make again...but the basic concept does work! That was exciting!