ONCE UPON A TIME

I love the old fairy tales, you know the politically incorrect, slightly twisted ones. They kinda have a mean streak to them but always have a strong moral and are really fun to read. Today's tales are good for the morals but they just don't have the punch the older ones have.

Well, this little fairy doesn't have a mean bone in her tiny little pixie body but she does have great fairy tale.

This READING FAIRY was designed by Elizabeth O. Dulemba and is a new release from THE GREETING FARM available tomorrow.

The outside of the card was made to look like a book while on the inside
I made a simple V pop up to try to make it look like she was floating around having a grand old time reading her exciting tales of fantasy.

Unfortunately I cut off her antennae so I added some wire so she wouldn't go off course.

Check out the other design team members blogs for some more sneak peeks of Elizabeth's wonderful new stamps and I will see you back here tomorrow for a little blog hoppin!

GAY PAREE!

I spent a month in Paris studying fashion design. So many years ago but I remember like it was yesterday. It was a trip of a lifetime and I enjoyed every minute of it but I couldn't speak a syllable of French. My daughter is now taking french in hs and I hope she gets the chance to experience Paris some day too.



This card was made for both the MOJO MONDAY Sketch and SCS INSPIRATION challenges. I used THIS SWEATER as inspiration.









Flapper Anya is living it up in front of the tour de eiffel.

CARD STUFF
Stamps: The Greeting Farm, Flapper Anya
Paper: Raspberry road designs, Paris nights
Ink: night of navy
Accessories: Derwent inktense pencils, gamsol,copics,cricut, my moms crocheted flower

SASSY SATURDAY!

Hope you all are coming down from your turkey, pumpkin pie, shopping high! I had to take a serious nap yesterday after my foray into the craziness.

Today we have a little sneak peek of SASSY SUZI from THE GREETING FARM. You may remember her from the Design a Sprout Contest, which was won by Kim Yu. Kim will be giving away her fabulous Sassy Suzie design to one lucky commenter on her BLOG.
She will be available in rubber on the first of December.

Suzi reminded me of my sister Mary Jo. When we were in high school long sweater jackets were in fashion and she wore them all the time. For some reason I also thought of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds when I saw her so I put her wandering in a bit of a psychedelic flower garden. My sister's b-day is in March so I think I will save this to send to her.

Stay tuned we have more previews coming up!

CARD STUFF
STAMP - TGF, Sassy Suzi
PAPER - DCWV, The Whimsy Stack
ETC., - Derwent inktense pencils, prisma pencils, gamsol, copics

A SWEET BLACK FRIDAY!

Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving! I am so grateful for my family, friends, job, the whole package. We had my husbands family over for a wonderful dinner but we weren't so sure it was going to turn out that way. Our oven quite working on Monday and we had to run out to Lowes and buy one Monday night. My husband picked it up and installed it Wednesday night because they couldn't do it till Saturday. Whew! That was a close one. As my DH said, at least it didn't happen while we were cooking the turkey. Since I am out shopping Black Friday sales right now this is the perfect time to introduce Chibi grocery.


She, along with 9 others Chibis, are a Black Friday surprise available in Digi form today at TGF. They are like Pokemon, you gotta catch em all!

In honor of the Chibi's the Farm Fresh Friday challenge is to make something using your favorite sweet treat. The winner will receive their choice of 5 of the new Chibi digis!

I started out thinking Chibi grocery would make a super cute "To Do" or grocery list but I found this recipe holder at a local discount store and decided to spiff it up a bit. It not only holds spiral bound recipes but it has its own little foldable stand. I always spill stuff on my recipes and this keeps them out of the way. If you filled it with your favorite recipes it would make a nice gift for someone who likes to cook. But I am keeping this one for myself.

Check out the other Chibis on the rest of the design team member's blogs. They are Suh weet!
JESSICA
CHERYL
CINDY
KADIE
MERCY
SANDRA
LISA
LYNDA

Also, Today we have a special TGF preview of another kind for you too...our new December Guest Designer is giving us a SUPER sneaky peek at a new Stamp set by Marina Neira for The Greeting Farm! Please welcome GABBY and head on over to her blog to see some super cute critters DAYS earlier than the rest of the DT will be showcasing them!

Happy Shopping and I'll see you tomorrow with a little sneak peek of the upcoming December release.

GAME ON!

My kids love video games as most do. It seems like my sons hands are starting to merge with his DS. I think adults are going to evolve with coffee cup shaped hands and kids with game systems attached.



I made this for the CAARDVARKS CHALLENGE to color a stamped image and CUTE CARD THURSDAY challenge to make a terrible teen card. I know the image is a little cutesy for a teen but I let both my 9YO and 15YO play with it. They both loved pushing the buttons (they are all popped up with dimensionals) to the point where I had to take it off of them before the ruined it.



I used THIS pic from the web (and a consultation with my kids) to make a template for the game controller. It was made with a little pocket in the top so that a small card would fit inside. I put pop dots on the image just above the legs so it made a ledge to stop the card from falling inside. I am going to tuck a gift card inside for my nephew who has a birthday in February. First time ever I have a card made for him ahead of time. I am usually scrambling.

PROJECT STUFF
STAMP - The Greeting Farm, Max
PAPER - navy, blue, silver CS
Etc., - Derwent Inktense pencils, gamsol, copics, spellbinder

VINTAGE IZZY

I found this paper a little while ago and fell in love. I often start my projects based on the papers/colors and go from there. How do you all go about your creative process?



I made this last night for two challenges. First for the SCS Featured stamper challenge honoring Birgit AKA Biggan (I love her cards, they are all gorgeous) and for the Anya Ink challenge to make something vintage.

My sweet mom made the crocheted flower for me, THANKS MOM!

Have a super week, are you ready for turkey day?

PROJECT STUFF
Stamp - The greeting farm, Izzy
Paper - K&Co ancestry, Graphic45, baby2bride
Etc., - Derwent Inktetense pencils, gamsol, bead, brad

A MOJO TEACHER'S PET

I always find it difficult to pick out a teacher's gift so I usually just get a gift card to an educational store or maybe Starbucks. It is nice to put it in a festive wrapper so I created this set for that purpose.



I used the Mojo Monday Sketch for the card. And I got the inspiration for the bite out of the apple from the Inspiration challenge this week at SCS.




The inside has a little place for a gift card. Sorry about the club penguin, it was all I had in my craft room, but you get the idea. I made a card like this at an SU stamp camp so I don't have a link for directions. It was made using a 4.5 X 11 piece of card stock, scored at 4.25,5.5, and 6.75, and folded to create a little mountain. I used my SU punch (can't remember what it is called) to make the place for the GC.


This is a Criss Cross Box and I got the template from Nicole Heady's Blog. It has a little bag that I can fill with candy or maybe some mulling spices for apple cider.

The image is Lottie and the sentiment is from Anya Says both from The Greeting Farm and the paper is digi from Raspberry Road Designs (Apple Cider).

I am off to clean and shop for Thanksgiving (and maybe sneak in a little stamping) have a great day!

A COUPLE OF CHALLENGE CARDS

I haven't done a lot of challenges other than at SCS and TGF but there are so many really fun ones around I thought I would give a few a try. I combined a few for the first card.

This first card uses the sketch from Jen Del Muro's SFYTT.


And color inspiration from Divine Diva Inspiration Challenge #16


The image is Flapper Anya from The Greeting Farm and the paper is from Raspberry Road.


Next up is a frosty little card using acetate for Crazy 4 Challenges

The acetate is an overlay that I embossed some sparkly snowflakes on.

I left some space at the bottom in the snow for an as yet to be determined sentiment.

I found that the trick to embossing acetate without melting it is to move your heat source over the image in a rapid circular motion and to not get too close.

The image is Madelynn from The Greeting Farm, Snowflakes from The Angel Company and paper from The Digital Scrapbook Place.
Have a Great Weekend!

WHAT!!!!! NO PATTERNED PAPER?

That was my initial reaction when I heard that this week's FARM FRESH FRIDAY CHALLENGE is to make something without using any patterned paper. It had me shakin in my Manolo Blahniks, well, it would have if I owned a pair. Keds are more my style and budget. I gave it the ole college try though.

Thank goodness there was no mention of of not using layers and texture because I don't know what I would have done.

I used my new Spellbinders Renaissance Hearts die layered onto a circle scallop for the medallions. You know how when you were young and you got a new album, cd, itune whatever and you played it till you puked you were so sick of it? Well, that is how I am when I get something new for my craft room. I use it on everything till I just can't stand it any longer. So, you will probably see this on lots of projects, just a friendly warning. The candles and flower are from the ME TIME ANYA set from THE GREETING FARM.
Inside of card (also from Me Time Anya set).

Have a super weekend!

FABULOUS FAIRIES

Don't you love it when a project actually turns out the way you envisioned it? I have been wanting to try this technique for a while now but hadn't yet come across just the right stamp.



This is one of four fabby new FAIRY digital stamps available Today at THE GREETING FARM. That Marie is amazing! I thought they were so wonderful that I had to make something more permanent than a card so I decorated a tank for my daughter with one. Good thing she likes it because I am probably going to make one of each for her and maybe a tee for me (my bod is NOT tank worthy).



There are several products available from mikes and joanns to print (or stamp) and fuse images to fabric but I went the old muslin/wonder under route. Either way this was really easy to do.

I used a good quality, mid weight, smooth muslin that I had in my stash. The wonder under is is product that is fusible on both sides. The muslin was adhered to one side (I cut out an 8.5 X 11 inch size to fit in my printer) of the WU and then the images were printed using my inkjet printer. I colored my image with a combo of copics and fabricmate markers and went over parts with a fabric glitter pen (got both the fabric mate markers and glitter markers at Joann's). The copics are supposed to be ok with fabric but I haven't tested it so I am hoping it holds up when washed. Also, a note with the copics, they tend to spread a bit so I colored a little inside the lines and let the color move outward adding a bit more at a time till I was satisfied.

The bling swirls are also iron-ons that I purchased at Joanns. It was actually a Christmas one with holly, I cut out and adhered the parts I wanted.


This is my daughter modeling it, a little cold for tanks this time of year but I liked the color of this one.

If you like this fairy there are three more equally wonderful to check out over at THE FARM. See you back tomorrow for a Farm Fresh Friday!

A HOUSEWARMING AND A WISH

I had a crazy busy weekend but I managed to finish a couple cards I have been working on for forevah! I usually don't start a card and work on it till it is done. I start one thing then switch to something else then move on to another project. I often have 3 or 4 different things going at once, which works well with my scrambled brain.



This first is the ever adorable AVA again, I can think of a hundred projects to use her with and this one will be for my niece who has a b-day coming up. The crown was cut from my Storybook cricut cart at 5.5 inches. Ava is popped up on an oval scallop nestability die. The sentiment is from a new set called ANYA SAYS from THE GREETING FARM. It is a great bunch of sayings good for all different purposed but they coordinate perfectly with a whole boatload of TGF images. So cool!

The next uses the MY HOUSE set from TGF.



I also made this for the "Cutting outside the box challenge" at SCS. I like the layout of this one but the house came out a bit too bright for my taste. I just couldn't find a shade that matched the green in the paper.
The roof was cut out using the SCS technique and both it and the stairs/shrub were cut out and popped up on top.



Thanks for stopping by, have a super week!

IT'S ME TIME!

I have to say that I have had very little me time lately and with the holidays coming up I don't see that changing any time soon. Hopefully I will at least be able to sneak in a candle lit bubble bath at some point just to calm my frazzled nerves.


I made this card for two different challenges this morning. The color scheme of pink and green was inspired by the Featured Stampers challenge at SCS honoring DAWN, aka TreasureOiler and using the sketch from the Sketch Saturday challenge. I flipped the sketch on it's side and added a few swirls (of course-i love swirls).









The stamp is ME TIME ANYA, a new release from THE GREETING FARM. If you haven't been over to CLUB ANYA yet get over there now! They are having a Spa hop to celebrate the new releases and there are goodies to be won.

ANOTHER WILD WEEK AT THE FARM!

We have another wonderful sketch
from the fabulous Cindy Haffner for week number two in the
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE CONTEST.

















I used Marina Neira's sweet little bunny Maggie and the sketch for a thank you card that I will be sending to my sister Joyce for theAMAZING blue and gold (Go Mars!) lap quilt she made me for my bday. I wanted a special card that showed how sweet I think she is and how grateful I am for such a wonderful gift.



Make sure to check out the challenge and don't forget to check out CLUB ANYA for some fabulous new releases.
Have a great weekend!

LET IT SNOW!

I really don't like winter and all the snow that comes with it but when I happen to catch a glimpse of an individual snowflake I am instantly in awe of nature and its incredible complexity and beauty. Scroll down a bit if you would like to see how I made my own sparkly snowflake embellishments.

This started out as an idea for a round/snowflake shaped card made for the Caardvarks challenge but when I was finished I liked it so much I decided to use it as a Christmas decoration. I am not sure if it will qualify as a round card but I thought I would try. I used a lot of glittery embossing powder on it so it really catches the light and sparkles IRL. The image is a new stamp fro THE GREETING FARM called MADELYNN.



I used some snowflake stamps to emboss just about everything including Madelynn's scarf.



The snowflake shape is an SVG file I cut out with my cricut, I have to find the source and put it in later as I have forgotten from where it came. The circles were all cut using my Spellbinder Nestabilities. The wonderful swirls are another svg file from Penny Duncan. As you can see I used a ton of pop dots to give it lots of dimension.



Two different large MS snowflake punches and one small one of unknown origin was used to make the emebelishments.

THIS IS HOW I MADE THE SPARKLY SNOWFLAKES.



I used some patterned paper (ignore the snowflakes already punched on the left), Versamark pad, and some sparkly embossing powder.




The Versamark pad was put directly on the paper and stamped all over to get a nice layer.



The versamark layer was then heat embossed with the sparkly embossing powder and was ready to punch.





I did find that although heavy cardstock was ok, lighter paper got a little brittle and the tips of the snowflake broke off. I fixed this by punching a plain paper layer and gluing it on the the back of the embossed layer.

MEET ME UNDER THE MISTLETOE!

Lately, as I have been blurfing, I have seen some wonderful diorama projects such as THIS super cute/cool card by Traci (aka wicked pixie) and THIS gorgeous box by Mel. I love this type of card so I thought I would do one for this weeks FARM FRESH FRIDAY CHALLENGE which is to make one WILD project.

The two little kissin cuties all snug in their tree home waiting for santa (and maybe gettin a little wild themselves before he lands on the roof top) is a digi stamp called MISTLETOE KISS from THE GREETING FARM.

I used my favorite faux wood tutorial found HERE on SCS to make the tree stump which I cut out freehand. I figured how exact do I have to be, its a tree stump! I made the faux wood as directed, added a couple coats of water based varnish for shine and stiffness, let it dry then used my nesties on it for the cutout part. The trees and lights are stickers I found in the dollar bin at Joanns and the snowflake is a couple of MS punches. I didn't have an icicle punch so I used the goo one and just trimmed the globs to points. I ran that and the bottom snow (white CS) through my wizard using my dotted swiss cuttlebug folder and added little shine with my jelly roll clear star pen.

Head on over to THE GREETING FARM BLOG to participate in the challenge, things are gonna get WILD over there!