FWF-Birthday Canary....

Hello!  Today I have a crazy, bright card for you! LOL!  I love this bird image.  The bird image and sentiment are from older KOTM's, and I honestly could not find them to link them on the Unity site.  Maybe they sold out...
Anyway-I colored the image with Copic markers.  The polka dot paper is from Sassafras Lass. I layered turquoise and white CS after using my SU eyelet punch.  I popped the bird image with pop dots.  Easy Peasy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Caring Tree...

GASP!  I made an ALL Stampin' Up card!!!! Haven't done that in eons.  I decided to pull out some old sets for today's CAS challenge on SCS-to use kraft, chocolate chip, and wild wasabi.  The tree is from Forest Friends and the sentiment is from Best Yet.
A quick and easy get well card for someone near and dear to me.  I hope you all had a fab Christmas.  I have spent the past couple days reorganizing our play room to make room for the crazy amount of new things my kids got for Christmas.  I am thankful and blessed, but it also makes me really think about what message this sends my boys.  I guess once a year it's okay to go hog wild on gifts!  Maybe...

It felt good to stamp and make something today.   Now off to help oldest son put together some Lego sets.  He really doesn't need my help, but I like sitting by and watching him.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Merry Chirstmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope you all have a wonderful day spent with friends and family!

Hugs,

Emily

FWF-Life Is Good...

Hello!  Today I made a card using the dress form stamp from an old KOTM, and the sentiment and canvas looking frame are from the December 2010 KOTM.  I colored the dress from with Copic markers and used a button from PTI's vintage holiday collection.  My inspiration for this card was from this week's CAS challenge over on SCS.  HERE is the apron we were to be inspired by.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

A Couple of Valentines....

This second card uses two new sets from The Stamps Of Life-Hearts2love, and sentiments4circles. I wanted my little hearts to look like the candy hearts with the messages on them!

I know Christmas cards are getting a little "old" even though it isn't even Christmas yet, so I thought I would share these!  :)

Emily

Hello, Friends....

Hello, Friends!  I decided to showcase a non holiday card on my blog today!  I made this one for the sketch challenge over on SCS.  I inked up stamps from my Unity December KOTM (the mushroom image). The "hello friend" is from an older kit.  I ran my white panel through the CB with my swiss dots folder.  I added some lemon drop twine from The Twinery.  I really love this twine, but I gotta tell ya... that the lemon drop (especially against the red) looks VERY orange! LOL!  There is some orange in one of the mushrooms, so it worked out okay!

For Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger-love the rainbow of color in these mittens:

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

4 more days....

Here is a card I made last week that had not made it to my blog!  Easy Peasy!  I ran the kraft panel through my CB with the swiss dots embossing folder.  I then scraped my white ink pad across the raised dots.  The felt tree is from a pack that I bought at Hobby Lobby in the Christmas craft aisle.  Every year they have had different felt shapes.  I have snowflakes and stars from years past.  LOVE them and they are SUPER CHEAP!  I stamped my sentiment in black and tied some May Arts black burlap string around.  The sentiment is from an old MFT set (i think the one with the penguins?).

I went shopping yesterday with one of my neighbors and bought myself a new wardrobe! Yep!  Spent every dime on ME! LOL!  My winter wardrobe needed some updating so it was my little treat for being so organized this year with Christmas.  I bought some super cute sweaters, jeans and purse from Dress Barn and some cutie shirts from Anne Taylor LOFT.  I was looking for some trendy boots, but couldn't find the style I wanted.  They are WAY picked over.  May have to search on-line for the type I want!  I did pick up some more stocking stuffer gifts for the boys stockings! Couldn't resist!

I am hoping and praying that everyone is healthy for Christmas.  My fingers are crossed!  We have had an unhealthy kind of fall around here, so I am hoping that it is all behind us for the holidays.  Planning on doing some cleaning and a little baking today, but also hoping to get some stamping time in!  I am itching to make some cards that aren't Christmas or winter related! Hee, hee, hee!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

H{ippity} Hoppin' with a Valentine card!

Hello! Happy H{ippity} Hop Monday!  Today I have a card using some stamps from How YOU Doin'?.  I just love all of the tiny images and sentiments in this set.  Perfect for any and all occasions.  I made this card for yesterday's Featured Stamper, MaryRose on SCS.  I CASE'd her card HERE.  I kept the general layout, but changed the stamps, and papers.  I used some October Afternoon DP, some May Arts burlap string and doodled a border around my image with an archival pen.  I colored the heart image with Copics to match the colors in the "type" DP.

I am not selling ippity this release, but if you would like to purchase any of the new releases, I highly recommend Noelle.  I ordered a couple of sets from her and she has some great prices (20% off her already discounted sets) and she has great shipping rates, too! Wonderful service, so go check her out if you want some ippity goodies!

Thanks for stopping, by!

Emily

Christmas at my house...

I thought I might give you a little glimpse into my house at Christmas!  I LOVE Christmas.  Everything about it!  I probably over decorate, but it makes me oh, so happy!  I love trees...I have five, but only put up two this year (4 year olds x 2)!

 Our family room tree.  A little worse for wear (4 year olds x 2), but still pretty!

 The stockings...I made the boy's stockings.  My mom made us felt applique stockings when I was a little girl and it was a very special part of Christmas for me, so I wanted to do the same for my boys-sequins and all!  Luke loves to draw, and has stuck numerous coloring pages in his stocking for Santa! :)

I LOVE Santas!  I have many through out our home.  My boys move them around a lot, so I only put out the non-breakable kind!  My primitive Santas are my favorite!

Another Santa doll....

and yet another....

Our Elf On The Shelf.  Our elf is named George.  He magically moves about the house every couple of days and watches over the boys.  He reports back to Santa on their behavior. George is VERY effective this time of year.  I think I may have to make an elf for January, February, March...

Last and certainly not least-our nativity.  This is what it is all about, after all!

What is your favorite decorating tradition at your house?  I would LOVE to hear!

Emily

EIC119-My last EIC...

Hello!  Today I bring you my last EIC challenge as a design team member.  I have enjoyed every single week for the past 18 months.  This was one of the very first design teams that I was on, so it was a very hard decision to not continue for the next term.  Thank you to all who have left such sweet comments and played along.  I hope you continue to play along with the EIC!  I know I definitely will!  I have some fun and exciting stuff in store for you, so stay in touch!  Now on to the card and challenge details-

This week the Etsy shop for your inspiration is Ling Glass.  Oh my WOW...what gorgeous pieces she has in her shop.  The moment I saw the pendent below, I knew what stamps I was pulling out!  I used Friends4ever set from The Stamps Of Life.  

I love this so much I may just have to order it!

This week our sponsor is Wilson Designs Stamps.  SUPER cute stamps.  Their newest release is on my "post Christmas" wish list! Hah!
If you decide to play along make sure you link your creation to the EIC blog HERE. 
There will be two random winners chosen next Friday from the submissions.  One person will win a $10 gift certificate to Ling Glass and another person will win the Snowy Wishes stamp set from Wilson Designs Stamps.

Hope you all are inspired to make something beautiful!

Great big EIC hugs to you all!

Emily

FWF-Merry...

Hello!  Today I made a scrapbook page using ippity stamps.  I am not selling ippity right now, but I am sure that there are a lot of ippity chicks out there who would love your business!  I used Season Of Joy for this layout.  I stamped one of the snowflakes repeatedly across the bottom and stamped the "merry" from this set on a journal tag.  The patterned paper and journal tags are from echo park's Merry Christmas collection.  I distressed the edges of the page and sponged distress inks all over the papers and the doily.  I also used distress inks on my seam binding bow.  I added a rusty jingle bell to the center.

This is also for the embellish scrapbook challenge-to make a layout with cream, brown and one color.  I chose red.  The photos are from an anual New Year's Eve sleigh ride my son takes every year when he snow mobiles with my dad up north.  I love that you can actually see the big snowflakes in the photos!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Holiday Thank You cards....

Hi there!  Today I have a trio of thank you cards I made for hubby to give to some associates at his work.  I wanted them to be festive but a little masculine, too!  I used patterned paper from Basic Grey's Jovial collection and PTI's Fillable Frames #10.  I LOVE that these are so reasonably priced.  You can get the stamps and the matching die for only $10!!!! LOVE that!  I used distress inks on my card base and on the very edge of the frame.
On the first photo you can probably see the small little "boo boo" on my frame!  That would be from a certain 4 year old slapping some adhesive down on top to "help" me!  What a little booger!  I didn't really have time to remake one, so I just added some felt snowflakes to accent the frames.  I bought these at HL about three years ago.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Emily

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Hello!  Today I have a scrapbook page for ya!  I used some fun Basic Grey Jovial patterned paper and die cut stickers for this layout.  I also used some SRM winter sentiment stickers.  The title is made from some random chipboard letters.  I covered them with Glossy Accents and then sprinkled them with black glitter.  These photos are of my boys last year in the snow.  I have been trying to put my stash to use in other ways besides cards.  I so wish I was better at scrapping!  I just can't ever seem to get caught up.  It is definitely a goal of mine this year!  You can buy all of this and more at Paper Maniac!  Make sure you check out the Deal of the Day!  A new deal will be posted tomorrow!

I also forgot to tell you all that I am co-hosting the scrapbook inspiration challenge over on SCS.  My challenge this week is to create a layout with the theme of SNOW!  If you live somewhere that never gets snow, then you can make a layout with a lot of "white space".  Hope you can play along!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Who is "handmade" card worthy? A card and some thoughts....

Hello!  WOW! Two posts today!  I couldn't resist the yummy color challenge over on SCS-gray, concord, and marina mist.  I don't own the new SU colors, but I knew that Basic Grey's Wisteria would perfect for this challenge.  It was a good excuse to use some of my new PTI goodies that have sat unloved on my desk until today!  I am loving the new Signature Series.  The mini stamp sets and matching dies are perfect for quick, easy, elegant cards!  LOVE that!

I REALLY need to get my Christmas cards in the mail. They are stacked and ready to go, but addressing them and putting the stamps on them is the tedious part.  So....did anyone read the Dear Abby yesterday, about the lady who used to make handmade cards with her niece?  And how someone sent her a check the next year so she could "afford" to go buy "real" cards????  OMG!  How awful is that?  What a snotty witch!!!  If people only knew how much MORE it cost to make handmade cards.  I definitely have parred down my Christmas card list, because some people are just not "handmade" card worthy. KWIM?  I am guessing this lady is one of "those". LOL!  If anyone wants to read the actual letter and what Abby had to say about it go HERE.  It is the second letter so you have to scroll down.

That's all I have for you today!  Off to work on those cards.  YIKES!  I will definitely be thinking and re-thinking about who I send them to!

Emily

Invite2create-Quick and easy invitations

Hello!  I wanted to share some quick invitations I made with the new invite2create set from The Stamps Of Life.  This set is so fabulous, and super easy to use.  There are two different fonts, so you can choose!  The date, time, place rsvp are all one stamp.  I stamp the lines, which are also one stamp first, and then line the words up next to it.  Easy peasy.  You can use your other stamps to dress it up however you like.  All of these invites are A2 size and one sided.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

H{ippity} Hop-A Valentine Tag...

Hello!  I have been on a crazy Valentine card making, gift making kick!  Soooooo....I have this felt tag for you today.  The key, sentiment and music background are all from the Music Of My Heart set.  I used a die from PTI for the background shape and also for the banner.  I sponged all of my papers with distress inks.  I used a Sakura gel pen to color in my key, and I must say, I LOVE how it turned out.  Super sparkly!  I bought the felt heart tags years ago at Hobby Lobby.  They have been sitting on a shelf collecting dust until recently.  I guess I was inspired to make a tag since I have been salivating over Tim Holtz 12 tags of Christmas!

I hope you have a fun hippity hop!  Thanks for stopping by!

Emily 

EIC118-Tzaddi Shop

Stamps:  The Stamps Of Life-Hearts2love set

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; real red (SU)

Paper:  white CS; Crate Paper Snow Day DP

Accessories:  prisma pencils and Copic markers

Hello!  Time for another Etsy inspired challenge!  This week's shop is Tzaddi Shop.  They have some gorgeous glass pieces to inspire you and get your creative juices flowing!  I was inspired by the heart and birds on the charm necklace below:

This week our sponsor is Clare Dempsey.  She has two shops that make delightful covers for all of your favorite crafting supplies.  You can check them out HERE and HERE.
Please make sure to link your project to the EIC blog.  Ashley will pick THREE random winners next Friday.  Here are the prizes:

1. $35 gift certificate to Tzaddi Shop
2.  $25 gift certificate to Tzaddi Shop
3.  $15 gift certificate to either of Clare Dempsey's shops above

Hope you find some time to play along with us!

Emily

H{ippity} Hop Blast from the past!

Hello!  The project I made for today I decided to submit for publication, so I decided to show some cards I made last year for the Holidays!  These were  few of my favorites.  I hope I don't bore you with projects that some of you may have seen last year!  I am sure that they will be new to some of my newer followers.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Christmas card set EAD style!

Hello!  Today I have a set of cards I made with a stickerz sheet from EAD designs.  I need some quick cards to since I had no more Christmas cards left to send!  One thing I love about these stickers is the clear background and the fact that they are repositionable. LOVE that!  I added some bling and some satin ribbon to some of them, and kept the layouts CAS.
I have never been a fan of stickers but I must say I LOVE EAD.  They end up looking like rub-ons without the hassle!  AND...they are very reasonably priced-only $2.50!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

EIC117-Paper Seeds (and roses)!

Hello!  Time for another Etsy Inspired Challenge.  This week our shop for you inspiration is Paper Seeds.  They have some fabulous creations in their store.  I was inspired by the piece below.  I made a simple rolled rose out of pink cardstock and punched some leaves from scraps of green paper (think it is always artichoke).  The sentiment and dots are stamps from The Stamps Of Life.  Easy peasy and super simple!

Our sponsor this week is Digi's With Attitude.  They have sassy, sweet and sexy digi's in their shop!  We hope you play along, and if you do, please link your project to the EIC blog HERE.  There will be two prizes this week.  One person will win a $10 gift voucher to the Digi's With Attitude store and another winner will win THIS vase and flowers from Paper Seeds.  Ashley will pick two random winners next Friday.

Make sure you welcome our December guest designer, Laurel Beard!

Go get crafty!

Emily

New release from The Stamps Of Life!

The Stamps Of Life club set this month is PERFECT for Valentine's Day!  LOVE it!  I love the large sentiment's and my favorite font from Holly4Christmas!  This set is called hearts2love.  I made two very CAS card's using the same sentiment.  One is rather cutesy, while the other is elegant.  LOVE that these stamps are so versatile.  Club members will get this set for $10.95, but if you are not a club member and still have to have it, you still only pay $12.95.  Remember...only $1 to ship!

Christmas cards a la Donna Salazar style!

Hello!  Today I have some cards using Donna Salazar's Weathered Winter collection.  I just love her shabby chic style, and her beautiful papers make it easy to whip up some vintage looking holiday cards.
This paper collection is a must have for your vintage holiday projects and is priced right at only $3.79!  

I distressed the edges of the the papers with my Tim Holtz distressing tool and inked up the edges with distress inks.  The first card has some May Arts black burlap string tied around, and the second has some hemp cord tied in a bow.

Make sure you check out all of the other fabulous product that Paper Maniac has to offer!

Emily