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~

Winter Wonderland: Check this out!

Happy Wednesday bloggers!  I'm here on this fine fall day to share with you my card for this week's Winter Wonderland challenge.  They have asked us to use checked/tartan papers, ribbons, embellies etc...so here is what I went with:

My plaid paper comes from the Recollections Jingle Bells 12x12 pad.  The light blue cardstock comes from the Seaside paper pack also by Recollections.  Used the Spellbinders' snowflake embossing folder on the top layer of cardstock, and distressed the edges with Tumbled Glass.  Also did that to the edges of the image oval.  You can barely see it, but I used a scalloped oval cut from vellum to back the image panel.  I got the idea from this card, made by Greta.  Thanks for the inspiration, Greta!  :)

In case you're wondering, this adorable bear is Jake, from StampFairy.  He can be found here.  I SO love Gerda's bears!  :)  The sentiment comes from Studio G.

What are your plans for this evening?  We plan to go to a local Halloween parade.  Pretty directly, I will need to get myself ready, and start boiling water for hot chocolate!  :)  Guess I'll get this linked up, and here is where it's going:

Winter Wonderland:  Check This Out!

Jingle Belles:  Not a Creature was Stirring...

CraftyHazelNut's:  Christmas extra for October

Simon Says Stamp:  Anything Goes

Thanks for "checking out" my blog today!  LOL

Take Care,

~Marie~

Merry Monday #80

Happy Saturday afternoon bloggy folks!  I hope we are all doing well and enjoying whatever is planned for today.  I worked 6a-2p, but now I am home smelling the YUMMY meatloaf that Chad has in the oven, and trying not to drool all over the keyboard!  Well, I know you didn't come here to hear about our supper for this evening, so let's get to the real reason...my Merry Monday card for the week!

The prompt this week is:

                           Use Music or Create a Carol Inspired card!

Aren't those kids just the cutest?  :)  Here is my card:

This is my all-time favorite Christmas carol.  I especially love to hear Bing Crosby sing it!  I have had this music sheet and others that are similar in design saved on my computer for several years now.  I used to always use them when I made teabag medallions...now I think this one looks great with the Spellbinders poinsettia die!  After I attached the flower, I thought it needed a    little something more, so I added the twine, and then added gold Stickles to the  twine.  That is hard to see in the photo.  The center of the flower has more of 

those gold beads I have used in the past.  The edges of the music panel are distressed with Frayed Burlap, and all is mounted on a dark green card base.

Well, the meatloaf is calling...gotta run!

Take Care,

~Marie~

ETA:  Here I come again, Hazel!!  I also joined in on Hazel's current weekly challenge...thanks for letting me know, Hazel!!  :)

 

 

ETA AGAIN:  This card was an honorable mention at Merry Monday!  YIPPEE!!!  :)

OK, ok, so I lied...

about posting another pink card, that is!  I found this challenge from The Alley Way Stamps, and since they had some freebies available, I decided to join in.  And as luck would have it, the challenge involves a little PINK...for Jingle Belles!    Here is my card:

Not my usual, but I like it!  Broke out some of the washi tape I bought at Michael's awhile ago.  :)  Colored the image and sentiment with Sharpies, distressed the edges of the image and sentiment panels with some hot pink ink, and DONE!  Simple and cute, if I do say so myself!  :)

Adding this to Hazel's challenge also!

Take Care,

~Marie~