Hello!

Hey all!  I just wanted to pop on here for a minute to explain my absence this week....it's been a bit rough for me.  I lost my job of 8 years (long story), but I wanted to leave anyway.  I was just hoping to actually have a job lined up beforehand, ya know?  On top of that, I found out that a high school friend of mine was murdered...which has all of the rest of us asking, "WHY?".... He was such a good guy, and had only just gotten married 2 years ago.  He was a bit commitment phobic, I think!  Every time it crosses my mind, I feel so sad....

Anyway, I just wanted you all to know what was happening, in case anyone was wondering where I was.  Please, if any of you say prayers, keep his widow and his sister in your prayers.  Thank you!

~Marie~

Holiday traditions...

Howdy bloggers!  I just realized that since Lauren and Stef of Jingle Belles have so graciously allowed me to be their guest this week, I really should make a post about my card!  The idea I had suggested was family traditions around the holidays.  Here is my card:

The tradition I miss the most was when our family would gather at my grandparents' house after the Christmas Eve service to eat Grandma's homemade goodies and talk.  What great times those were!  That tradition mostly stopped after my grandfather died 23 years ago, but when my Dad passed away the day after Christmas almost 8 years ago, the tradition stopped completely.  My grandmother's heart just isn't in it anymore!  Sorry for the sad thoughts there, but I wanted to share that with you all.  

Anyway, my card features an image from Stamp Fairy called George Cocoa.  Isn't he just the cutest?      

I love making cards using George!  The dp is from a DCWV 12x12 stack called Mrs. Claus' Kitchen. I love that stack!  I tried to color my image to match the colors in the dp, and used kraft as my base.  The image and dp piece are matted on a dark red card stock, and then I distressed the edges with Frayed Burlap.  A tiny sentiment from Studio G and some green bling finished it off.

I hope I didn't upset anyone too much with my kinda sad story today!  If I did, I apologize.   I hope that won't stop you from checking out the wonderful cards and traditions over at Jingle Belles this week!  Thanks for stopping by!  

~Marie~

Festive Friday #20 & Winter Wonderland blue and white

Hello, and happy Sunday!  What are you all up to today?  My girls and I are watching the Hallmark channel's Holiday movies....LOVE THEM!!!  I'm just waiting for them to play my favorite one:  "The Christmas Card."  Sigh...ANYway, here is the element challenge photo inspiration for this week's Festive Friday:  Wreath

And here is my submission:

Now this you would have to see in person to see how pretty it really is!  I was inspired by the pic to make a nice fluffy white wreath using a gift wrap garland I bought at Walmart.  It's wired, so I just kept wrapping and gluing it down to the scalloped circle I cut out of white card.  When it was all glued down, I took some Arctic Ice Stickles and rubbed it over top with my finger, which of course, isn't very easy to see in my pic.  IRL, the blue in the glitter matches the paper and ribbon.  I adore this sentiment from TPC's Chrsitmas Glamour set, but I used  Brilliance Moonlight White ink and clear embossing powder on it...maybe I should have used white ep?  It's difficult to see even IRL.  Sigh, live and learn!

I'm adding this to:  

     Hazel's Christmas extra for November
     Winter Wonderland's blue and white
     Simon Says Stamp:  Anything Goes
     Cute Card Thursday:  Sparkles
     Christmas Card Challenges:  Pop it Up (dimension)

Well, gotta get going! 

Take Care,

~Marie~

Merry Monday #81, Santa!

Nothing like waiting until the last possible minute to get this made!  Here's my card for this week's :  Merry Monday #81:  Santa

This jolly Santa face and the sentiment come from the Holiday Filigree set by Inkadinkado.  You cannot tell at ALL that they have been heat embossed with red tinsel embossing powder, which is really pretty IRL!  The patterned paper comes from the Recollections Bright and Jolly 12x12 pad.  That's about it for this card!  Gonna get it posted and linked, and then I'll be back to post my Festive Friday card.  I'm also adding this to:  

Hazel's Christmas extra for November
Simon Says Stamp:  Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday:  Sparkles

See you soon!

~Marie~