Thanksgiving/Fall ---Latenightstamper's challenge.

This week on the Latenightstamper's group we are focusing on fall cards or Thanksgiving cards.  I do not send Thanksgiving cards per say but I do send a lot of fall themed thank you cards.  Here is one for starters.  I have more to share with you tomorrow.

I love this background embossing folder--it is so elegant looking--don't yo think?  Due to that I am adding it to the SUOchallenge for this week too which if fall cards with an elegant feel. 

Stamps:  Gently Falling, retired sentiment (good for you SAB), small leaf is from Four Seasons hostess set.
Paper: Soft Suede, Pear Pizazz (final few sheets) Pool Party, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
Ink: Soft Suede, More Mustard Pear Pizazz, Pool Party
Other: Pool party ribbon, Designer Buttons Brushed Bronze, twine, Window Frames Framelits dies, paper piercing pack

My prayers are with those of you who are dealing with Sandy--we got lucky and didn't get much.  But of course we are quite a bit inland--we never used to feel anything from these Hurricanes--where are everything is changing.

Mary Jo

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 244! (TSSC244)

Hope you are off to a great week--if you are in the path of the Hurricane stay warm, dry and safe.  This week is another pretty simple sketch for you to try!  Hope you give it a shot.  Here is the sketch......

And here is my sample....

Here are those darling gingerbread men again!  They are just so cute!   Hope you enjoy them too!

Stamps: Sentsational Seasons, Very Merry (retired)
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Other: dies for Sentsational Seasons, square punch for bottoms of strips, markers for edging, Owl punch for heart on middle gingerbread man.

Now it is your turn--can't wait to see what you come up with--I actually may have to use this sketch again this week as it was a really easy one--tip: each strip on my card is 1/2 inch. 

Be sure to come on back and add your sample before midnight EST on Sunday November 4th!

Mary Jo

Top Three for Sketch 243!

Love these easy sketches--really leads to clean and crisp looking cards.  Thanks to everyone who play along this week!  Great cards.  Here are my top three picks in no particular order.....

    

 

Remember you can click on each sample and it will take you to the creator's blog where you can leave a nice comment!  Thanks again to all who played along.  

  Winners feel free to add my badge to your blog if you so desire.

 

Here is the HTML code.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s1600/blog+button-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="15" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s200/blog+button-001.jpg" width="175" /></a></div> 

Be right back with the new sketch for the week! 

Mary Jo

Quick and Cute Christams!

I love this darling gingerbread man from the Scentsational Seasons Stamp set in the holiday mini!  And I really really love that it has the matching dies to cut them out so you are not cutting by hand--great when making multiples of the card--or even just for one as I can sometimes make a mess cutting, lol!

So I grabbed the little gingerbread man and some really cute santa hats that I have had laying around for a few years (gasp) and made this card....

Isn't he cute.  I used a sketch challenge from a few weeks ago--TSSC240.  The base of the card is Chocolate Chip followed by Real Red and Very Vanilla.

Stamps:  Scentsational Seasons, sentiment retired
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Other: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, 1 3/4 inch  scallop punch  I 3/8 circle punch, Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack, glitter santa hats non stampin up.

Hope you are staying warm and dry--this storm is looking pretty bad--if you are in the path please be careful!  I am hoping we don't get too bad since we are in upper New York but it still looks pretty nasty for us.

Happy today
Mary Jo

A different take on white on kraft!

Here is a different way to use white on kraft paper (Crumb Cake).  I stamped the images in versamark ink and then embossed with white embossing powder.  Then I used the lid of my stamp pads and a blender pen to color in the images.  I love the look.  What do you thing?  Not quite as bold as the snowmen on white two post ago but still a great look!

Stamps: Watercolor Winter, retired sentiment stamp
Paper: Crumb Cake
Ink: Versamark
Other, stamp pads (old olive, riding hood red) blender pen, white embossing powder, red marker.

Moving right along on these Christmas cards, funny I hate to get started on them but once I do I can't seem to stop!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend--we are expecting lots of rain here--and we have out Church Trunk or Treat event--hope it clears for those few hours anyway!

Thanks for stopping by,
Mary Jo

Sudsol Challenges!

It has been a while since I have played along with the challenge on Sudsol--such a great group I need to give back to them more often.  If you are not a member you can get a free two week membership to check it out on my sidebar.

I participated in the sketch challenge and the Stampin Success CASE challenge.

Here is the sketch challenge--as you can see I flipped the sketch to make it work....

ETA:   You can learn how to use your dies to cut around images like above HERE.




And the CASE challenge.....

Both samples are using the For the Birds stamp set.  They both also use the same colors--real red, pool party and whisper white.  Fun challenges.

This is such a fun stamp set....

If you have any specific questions please ask in the comments section and leave your e-mail since blogger does not show them to me.

Happy today!
Mary Jo

Love white on Kraft!

Here is an adorable and easy Christmas card. I love the look of white on Kraft. 

 

This card is crazy easy.  Just stamp the images, color in with markers all parts except for the snow, then stamp the images again on Whisper White, cut out the parts that are snow and piece them over the stamped image on the Kraft paper.  Love it.

Stamps: Snow Much Fun

Paper: Kraft, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black

Other markers, snips and glue

And it won't cost extra to send.  Only downfall with this card is that it is not Christian and I do love to send my Christian cards for Christmas--after all it is a Christian holiday, right!

Hope you have a great day!

Mary Jo

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 243 (TSSC243)

Happy Monday to you!  Here is this week sketch, remember you have a full week to play along--of course you can use the sketches anytime but you can only link up during the week.  Hope you find time to participate!

It is a nice and easy one this week!  You can use as it is or flip it to suit your needs.  I have two samples for you today--one each way!

The first card is using the single stamp Frosty Friends from the Holiday Mini.  I mixed it with designer paper from the Be of Good Cheer paper pack.  Colors are Gumball Green and Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla.

The second card is also for the Latenightstamper's challenge for the week--to use mosaic on your card. I used the Henry wheel to make the background and colored in with the Gumball Green marker to create the background.  On this card I used the Sensationalist Season stamps set with the coordinating framelit dies. Colors are Baja Breeze, Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White.

Now it is your turn to go and create a wonderful sample with the sketch above--then hurry back and add your sample to the linky blog hop below.

Mary Jo

Top Three for Sketch 242!

Yea, we have a top three this week.  Please take a second to click on the samples below to see the full card with all the details and leave a little love for the creator!

   

 

Aren't those great!  Thanks to all who played along this week.  Winners feel free to add my badge to your blog if you so desire.

 

Here is the HTML code.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s1600/blog+button-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="15" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s200/blog+button-001.jpg" width="175" /></a></div> 

 

Be right back with the new sketch for the week! 

Mary Jo

More Clean and Simple Christmas Cards.

Alright now these are REALLY clean and simple--at least two of them are--the third I am not sure what it is, actually I am surprised I am even posting it--cuz it is ugly, lol!  I made all three cards in less than 5 minutes--how is that for simple.

All three cards are using the new Watercolor Winter stamp set from the Holiday Mini.  Other supplies used are Whisper White Paper, rhinestones and Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black ink and markers.  Here are the cards individually......

Again, I am not really liking this last card--think it is the little red "berries" I added that really throw me off, that and the more smudged look of the red lines???

Oh well, as we say around here---it is what it is.
Happy today!
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Mary Jo

clean and simple Christmas!

That is always the goal with Christmas cards--not always what happens, especially when I am creating them. The challenge this week on Latenightstampers is Clean and Simple cards. I hope this qualifies--it is very simple and pretty clean looking to me, lol.

 

All supplies are Stampin Up!  And I believe they are all retired. 

These snowflakes are so fun to work with--I am getting to the end of my stash though--may have to start making my own with the new snowflake die and some felt!  

Hope your week is off to a great start!

See ya soon.

Mary Jo 

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 242 (TSSC242)

Are you up for a challenge this week!  I have a great sketch for you to try, if you dare.  I only had a few minutes to come up with this card but I am kinda happy with it--it may grow on me.  I didn't get home today until 9pm--hence the late post.  Sorry about that--I made the card and am getting it posted in less than 30 minutes!  Wow, must be some type of record.

Anyway--in case you did not notice--there is no top three for last week as there were only four samples and two of them were mine, lol!  As we say around here--"it is what it is".

Here is the new sketch for the week....

Remember you have the full week to participate.  You can flip the sketch or keep it as is.  You choose. Here is my sample....

I love this stamps set and I think the layout kind of fit it. It is a retired hostess set called Peaceful Season.  The colors used are Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Midnight Muse, Whisper White and the Natural Composition Specialty paper pack.  Extras are sponges, markers, rhinestones, spellbinder dies.

Can't wait to see your creation using this sketch!  Don't forget to come on back and link up below.

Thanks for stopping by
Mary Jo

Playing around with some dies.

I have so many cards to share with you but I need to get pictures of them all.  Here is a quick and simple one I came up with playing around with some dies.  All the dies used are from Spellbinder's.  The embossing folder and all other supplies are Stampin Up!.  I thought it was a fun way to use the dies for something different--yet still a simple card. 

 

I stamped the whole tree image on the inside.  The section on the front is just the smallest of the trees in the image.  You can see the entire set below.  Such a great set, Serene Silhouettes.

 

Colors used are Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie and Very Vanilla.  

Hope you are having a great week!  Need to take my cat to the vet today--she really dislikes them since being fixed and de-clawed--wish me luck!  

Mary Jo

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 241 (TSSC241)

Here we go again, this is a sketch that I actually took from a card I made a while ago.  I loved the card and thought it would be fun to see more ideas with it.  Hope you can come up with a few for me.  Here is the original card and the sketch.....

 

and my new card for the sketch.....

 This was combined with this week's Latenightstamper's challenge that begins today--use some type of wood on your project--real wood, wood grain, wood embossing any wood! 

Stamps: Snow Swirled and Greetings of the Season

Paper: Sahara Sand Whisper White and Wood Grain DP

Ink: Early Espresso

Other: Circle punch, small flower punch, rhinestones

Now it is your turn, don't forget to come on back and add your sample before midnight on Sunday (EST)

Hope you have a fabulous week!

See ya soon.

 

Top Three for Sketch 140!

Well how about four instead! I sincerely love all four of these!  Why not take a moment to click on each and see the great details!

2. Connie Babbert

3. Building a Snowman

4. chris v - easily amused

5. Happy Boo Day

Fabulous job ladies!  Thanks again for playing along.  Winners feel free to add my badge to you blogs if you so wish.....

Here is the HTML code.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s1600/blog+button-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="15" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s200/blog+button-001.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>

 

Be back with the new sketch challenge in a minute!

Mary Jo

Lot's of Texture

That is the challenge over at SUO Challenges this week!  I knew I could fit this one is as I need to make a whole bunch (30) different Christmas cards for classes.  This is number one--better get my you know what going, lol!

If you have been following my blog for any time you may remember that I love non-traditional colors for Christmas.  I can not believe I still have at least two full packages of these fun felt snowflake accents.  Perfect for this card--love when that happens.  I used two different embossing folders on the card too so between that and the felt snowflakes and bling rhinestone brad you have Lot's of Texture!  Fun challenge.

Stamps: To You and Yours
Paper: Island Indigo, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Festival of Prints DP
Ink: Island Indigo
Other: Lots of Tags Sizzlits,  Wide Oval Punch, Felt Snowflakes (retired) rhinestone brad,Delicate Designs Embossing Folder, snow embossing folder

Hope your week is going well--almost the weekend and a three day one at that!
Mary Jo

Hello Hello Hello

Just wanted to say hi!  Isn't this a fun, yet simple card.  The colors make me smile.  I hope they make you smile too!  This card and the card I posted yesterday are two of the projects that went with my stamp set of the month kit for September.

I love nice easy cards like this that still look great.  Would be great for a set of cards with a different saying on each.  Hmmm, may work on that later today!

Stamp Set: Gently Falling.

The colors used are Early Espresso, More Mustard, Pool Party and Very Vanilla.  The Designer Paper is from the Spice Cake Designer paper which is available as a digital download item # 125610 ($4.95).  The Hello Sentiment on the front of the card is from the retired stamp set  Happy Greetings.  

Happy today!

Mary Jo

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 240 (TSSC240)

A brand new month!  Wow, time is just slipping away on me. I need it to sloooooooow down, lol!  Anyway, I know you are here to see this week's sketch challenge so I will get right to it. Here is the sketch......

Pretty easy huh?  I used it to make this fun fall card....

I am not sure how I forgot that Pool Party is still a current color!  I love it for fall cards.  The feeling to me is so soothing.  I think I should paint my bedroom Pool Party and add fall color accents. 

Stamps: Gently Falling, Blooming with Kindless
Paper: Sahara Sand, Pool Party, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla
Ink: Cajun Craze, Pool Party, Early Espresso
Other: spellbinder's circle and scallop circle dies, crochet ribbon, earth elements brad, embossing folder.

I am excited to see what you create with the sketch this week.  Remember to come back and add your link below on the blog hop.  If you add the code to your blog while in the HTML mode you can have your readers play along too right from your blog!

Happy Today!
Mary Jo

Back from the DEAD! I hope! and Top Three!

Yikes--so much going on and then my surgery on my legs and then wham--sick! What the heck. I believe I am on the up swing now. I actually spent a few hours in my studio and created a bunch of stuff--lots of classes coming up in the next two weeks and I had NOTHING done. Nothing like adding stress to an already stressful situation. But I think I am close to being on track--even if the track is super busy on the way to being caught up! Hope life is going well for you and that you are on a nice smooth track! Anyway--I never even got to post my card for last week's sketch--but I am not going to now since I incorporated it into my club class for this week and don't want to spoil the fun! I will post it later in the week--it is a cute little box with three cards. All using the same colors and stamp set. Fun! So as far as last week's sketch--I have the top three for you. I hope you take a moment to check them out. They are fabulous!

1. Snow Swirled	2. Rhonda Stirrat

 Fabulous job ladies!  Thanks again for playing along.  Winners feel free to add my badge to you blogs if you so wish.....

Here is the HTML code.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s1600/blog+button-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="15" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s200/blog+button-001.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>

 

Be back with the new sketch challenge in a minute!

Mary Jo