How About Some Steampunk Adventure?

I'm sharing a card today I did using Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante collection. The embossing folder is by Sizzix and the stamp is by Unity Stamp Company. The jewels are by KaiserCraft. This card is being done for La Vikingas scrap's blog where she has a contest going on. She wanted cards created using any Graphic 45 papers. The prize is gift certificates from Stop and Scrap....always a "good" thing. :)
Thanks for stopping by. I'm off to spend more time in the kitchen getting ready for the Thanksgiving holiday. My oldest daughter comes in from college tomorrow! I'm so excited! :) Enjoy your Monday and don't forget to "gobble, gobble" ALL week! :)

Bloomers Card and Giveaway Winners!!!!

I have to confess I got "busy" in the kitchen today trying to get a head start on Thanksgiving....and gasp, forgot to draw the Stop and Scrap gift certificate winners until a few minutes ago! So like my card says, "I messed up!" :) My youngest daughter put all the names in her "famous" houndstooth hat and drew the following names:
$25 gift certificate goes to ginalovesdave
$10 gift certificates go to Jennifer Scull, Cindy Vernon and Tessa

Winners contact me before Wednesday so I can send you your Stop and Scrap gift certificate codes. If I don't hear from you, then we'll draw another name from "the hat." :) Leave a comment here (with your email, so I can get in touch with you.) Congratulations and have fun picking out your "winnings."

Stop and Scrap Giveaway!!!!

You're going to be glad you stopped by my blog today because I have a fantastic giveaway from Stop and Scrap! :) Stop and Scrap has all the latest and greatest paper crafting supplies (at very good prices I might add....which my credit card will vouch for). :) They have free shipping with orders over $50 too. Their customer service is some of the very BEST. Stop and Scrap also has a customer rewards program (details here). So what is the giveaway? Hold on to your seat because I have four! Stop and Scrap is generously giving away four gift certificates. One winner will receive a $25 gift certificate while three winners will receive $10 gift certificates. Leave a comment on my blog today and I will draw the winners by random. (I'll put my youngest daughter in charge of that....she loves doing things like that! She'll put all your names in a hat which is a black and white houndstooth....roll tide hat. Wink!) :) I announce the winners Saturday so make sure you come check to see if you've won. I'll give you a code good at Stop and Scrap for your gift certificate. IF you don't contact me in three days, I'll have my daughter "draw" another name from her "famous hat." :)

I'm sharing a card I did last week after a box arrived from Stop and Scrap.
I had ordered some of their sale items (Stop and Scrap has great sales!)
Don't you just love when the mailman delivers a "scrappy" box (or in my case a "card making" box)?? :) The papers and brad are by Pink Paislee (Vintage Vogue Collection which was on clearance at Stop and Scrap). The pretty sheer trim is by Crate Paper (which was also on clearance at Stop and Scrap). The vintage image is by Lunagirl and I put photo corners on it by Canson. I used stamps by Hero Arts. The diecut letters were done with my Sizzix eClips. A flower by Prima Marketing and some baker's twine from The Twinery add the perfect finishing touches. :)

Thanks for stopping by and good luck! Don't forget to leave a comment and don't forget to check to see if you won (winners will be posted Saturday!). If I don't hear back from the winner in three days, a new winner will be chosen from "the hat." Let's all give a BIG thank you to Stop and Scrap for this awesome giveaway!!!! :)

Happy Veteran's Day!

Happy Veteran's Day to all our wonderful past and present veterans! I want to say a BIG thank you for your service to our great country.

Today's card is also being featured at the Sizzix blog as part of the Operation Write Home Veteran's Day Blog Hop. The stars were done with Sizzix Star Framelits and I also used stamps by The Stamps of Life. The patterned papers are by We R Memory Keepers.

Again, Happy Veteran's Day!!!!! Hope you have a wonderful 11-11-11!!! :)

The {Stamps} of Life and The Twinery Blog Hop!

Are you ready for some fun?
The {Stamps} of Life and The Twinery Design Teams are playing together for this hop!

The Twinery's twine is made from 100% cotton. It is eco-friendly and made in the USA. Whether you're gift wrapping, crafting or tying up baked goods to give to a friend, our baker's twine adds a fresh, yet nostalgic look to any project at hand! Our baker's twine comes in 14 delicious colors and is uniquely twisted against a bright white hue, creating an eye-popping burst of color and a creative embellishment! Our twine has lots of color which lends to a fun, cnady-striped look. For creative ideas and more....vist OUR BLOG!

The {Stamps} of Life features high quality, made in the USA, clear stamps and digital stamps/brushes for stampers, card makers and scrapbookers. Feel free to browse our gallery with more than 2500 samples using our stamps, watch our free how-to-videos and join our club!

As you make your way through the hop make sure you comment on each and every post for a chance to wins some great prizes. One winner will win 2 stamps sets (winners choice valued at $26.90--$12.95 for each set) from The {Stamps} of Life. There will also be a Ultimate Color Sampler Pack ($25 value) given away by The Twinery.



Prize winners will be announced November 16th on The {Stamps} of Life
and The Twinery Blog.



I had such fun making my card for this blog hop. I used the following Stamps of Life sets: Christmas2build, penguins4Christmas and more penguins2love. The embossing folder is by Sizzix. The red and white baker's twine (Maraschino) from The Twinery was the perfect finishing touch. Hope you like my creation. :)

Here is the blog hop list:
The Twinery Blog
The {Stamps} of Life
JeanneStreiff
Julie Ranae
Deb Felts
Montique Hansen
Vicki Garrett
Monika Wright
Emily Niehaus
Beverly Sizemore (You are here.)
Hera Frei
Tami Mayberry
Stacey Winters
Lydia Fiedler
Caroline Stender
Kim Pargeter
Joana Studer
Katrina Hunt
Laura Williams
Jen Carter
Kim Howard
Jenny Suchin
Sheri Twing

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Good luck! :)

Handmade Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome to the Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!

Calling all crafters! We've gathered designers from some of our favorite manufacturers to show you ways to create something from the heart this holiday season. This 3 day Hop includes over 60 stops with inspiration brimming from every corner. Explore all thoughtful and frugal handmade gifts you could make for the holidays, all in one place on this Hop!

To sweeten to Hop, we're offering a gift for you! For every comment you leave on the blogs in the Hop, you‚ll be entered to win a prize pack from one of the participating manufacturer sponsors! Below is a photo of the prize Hampton Art is giving away.



Visit the list of blogs below and leave a comment on each by Nov 7, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST. Each day we will be sharing a brand new list of blogs with brand new projects for you to explore, be inspired by, and create from! Check out today's blog list:

November 6th Blog Roll:
Clearsnap ˆ http://clearsnap.blogspot.com
Spellbinders http://www.spellbinderspaperarts.com/Community/Blog.aspx
Hampton Art - http://blog.hamptonart.com/
Zutter ˆ http://binditall.blogspot.com/
Graphic45 ˆ http://g45papers.typepad.com/
Donna Salazar Designs ˆ http://donnasalazar.typepad.com/
The Twinery - http://www.thetwineryblog.com/
Authentique Paper http://authentiquepaper.blogspot.com/
Glue Arts - http://gluearts.blogspot.com/
Sabrina Alery ˆ Clearsnap http://sabrinaalery.blogspot.com/
Laura Denison ˆ Graphic 45 http://www.followingthepapertrail.blogspot.com/
Karen Taylor ˆ Donna Salazar Designs - http://creativeyearnings.blogspot.com/
Beverly Sizemore ˆ Hampton Art YOU ARE HERE
Kazan Clark ˆ Spellbinders http://nunutoolies.blogspot.com/
Janeen Shember ˆ Authentique Paper http://suburbngypsy.blogspot.com/
Charlotte Jenkins ˆ Clearsnap http://suepup.blogspot.com/
Grace Hester ˆ The Twinery http://gracehester.typepad.com/
Nicole Eccles ˆ Graphic45 http://nicoleeccles.blogspot.com/
Audrey Pettit ˆ Donna Salazar Designs - http://audreypettit.wordpress.com/
Nan Paturzo ˆ Zutter http://scrappynan.blogspot.com/
Jeannie DeGruccio ˆ Authentique Paper http://polkacabana.wordpress.com/
Tamara Tripodi - Glue Arts http://happylifecraftywife.com/

Now let's get started on my fun and basically FREE project. I am always looking for a way to recycle or alter something that I have (plus I have a daughter in college so we are really "pinching pennies" at my house.) :) I have been buying crossiants at the Wal-Mart bakery for several weeks. We like to slice them in half and use for sandwiches. Anyway they are sold in nice clear plastic containers that you can turn into Christmas cookie gift containers. :) First, wash your container and try to peel off as much of the label as possible (all of it won't come off but don't worry, we will cover it up....see the second photo) :)


I used my Sizzix eClips to cut a scalloped white square. This square is going to be our "stamping base." (see the next two photos) I used Hampton Art's Snowman Set for this project. I heat embossed the snowman with black embossing powder.


Next stamp the sentiment twice using a Clearsnap's ColorBox by Stephanie Barnard in Strawberry and in Spearmint. You are going to cut the sentiments into pieces and mat.

Once you heat emboss your snowman, do some coloring with markers. :)

I also used Hampton Art's Very Merry Borders on my "free" cookie gift container. You are going to stamp the border four times. Trim it closely to adhere to the bottom SIDEs of the container.


Next get out your pretty ribbon. I used a bright red gingham to wrap around the upper sides plus made a bow for the top of the container.

The last two photos show my "basically free" cookie container loaded with yummy M&M
cookies. How easy was that and don't forget....nearly free. Wink. :) I've got several of these containers washed and saved. I'll spend an afternoon stamping and getting them ready for Christmas. They'll make pretty "cookie containers" to give to neighbors and friends that you want to do a "little" something for. So there you have my "handmade holiday" gift project. Thanks for visiting my blog and if I don't "see" you again before the 25th....Happy Holidays! :) (AND don't forget to leave me a comment for a chance to win some of the neat prizes....good luck!) :)

November Stamps of Life Release

Today is a BIG day for two reasons. First, I have the new November release from
The {Stamps} of Life. Second, it is my birthday! (So imagine me typing and singing "happy birthday" to myself.) Wink! :) The new stamp set is called
froggy2love. What fun I had "playing" with this one! So check out the samples I made while I'm off to look in the mirror to see if I look another year older! :) What the heck, I'll still get presents anyway. (By the way, I just ordered myself a present a few minutes ago. Amazon has Bic Markers (36 colors) for $10.70 today.) I was looking at them a few days ago and they were nearly $15. So for once, it paid to wait. Wink. :) They are an alcohol marker and fun to color and/or draw with. You have my permission to get some even if it is not YOUR birthday cause you know what I say. "Life is short....you need LOTs of markers!" (hee-hee)