I had to get my butt in gear to get these projects done for the Elzybells bi-weekly challenge, and that was a chore, because I'm doing report cards right now, for over 200 STUDENTS and it's just a TAD time-consuming.. hehehe..

This card was for the sketch challenge that's been up at the Elzybells blog for the past two weeks. The next two projects are for the new challenge that you are invited to play along with:

MAKE A HOLIDAY ORNAMENT OR PROJECT.


For this challenge I made two projects. One was my little holiday tree with tiny shrink-dink Elzybells snowflakes adorning the "leaves."








This second project I took the opportunity to try making something out of one of the MANY wood blocks I have left over from un-mounting my stamps. I am tickled that I have this tiny easel that's PERFECT for displaying this little project. I know this sentiment doesn't really *fit* this penguin, but I only have a few Elzy sentiments, and it fit...physically. hehe.. Enjoy!

Do you remember this tree I made last year? Well I've barely seen it since I've posted it because this tree is in the current "Holiday Cards and More" issue from Papercrafts, and a couple days after I got it back from them they wanted it back because they were doing this TV piece.. My little blue tree is directly on the left of the featured tree in the segement. I'll be glad to have it home again!

Here's the segment:
*PS. If you're in a google reader you'll have to go to my blog to see the video!

Stamps: amuse, inkadinkado

Paper: heidi grace, SU!, Papertrey ink

Ink: palette (burnt umber), versamagic

Accessories: marvy punches, ribbon, SU! scallop punch, copic markers and airbrush system

 








* Sorry.. I forgot to add the supplies!!

Stamps: Stampendeous, Amuse, Memory Box (trees)

Paper: SU!, papertrey ink

Ink: versamagic (white), Palette (Burnt Umber)

Accessories: ghost snowflake (Heidi Swapp), chrystal effects, nesties, ribbon, beads

Over at SCS they have a "Virtual Stamp Night" every 3 or 4 months, and usually I try to make a few cards.. I used to participate in EVERY challenge, but I found I ended up with a bunch of cards I would never use. So now I just play the challenges that I think I will enjoy!

Here's the card for a challenge to use the spotlight technique. I used my precious Elzybells stamp and a stamp from Inkadinkado for the sentiment.
The idea is that some of the stamp is left black and white, and the "spotlight" is where the color is.. It was hard to decide what part of the image to feature, but I went with the sleigh full of presents!!

I used the big end of the Copic marker to lightly go over the sky in the image.. The color is my home-made blend of Y21 and blender solution..

Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill, Papertrey Ink, Sassafrass Lass; Ink: Ranger (Lamp Black), Palette (Burnt Umber), Versamark; Stamps: Elzybells, Inkadinkado; Glitter, Chipboard (Basic Grey), Marvy Punch

The Elzybells current DT challenge is to make a card with paper piecing. Elizabeth did a tutorial on it here if you're not familiar with the technique.

I went OVERBOARD with this technique and because of that most of my image is paper pieced, but I love this technique so much that well, this is my own little homage to it.. Not really, it just appears that way.. I used the current CPS sketch for the layout too.

All of the papers are Basic Grey and I suppose they all go together, but I also like that every piece has a different look to it. I distressed all of the pieces with Burnt Umber (palette) to make them all look homogenous.

Funny story about the beads used on the snowflake... I have this green tank top that had pretty clear beads lining the collar. Well one day while trying to get it over my head and trying not to disturb my makeup I pulled on the collar a little too tightly and a bead or two came off.. I thought nothing of it.. A couple weeks later I went to put this tank top on again and noticed a little thread on the collar, I pulled it and all of a sudden clear beads flew off of my neck onto the bathroom floor. I'm thankful that my bathroom is small and the floor is tiled because I was able to pick most of them up, and use some of them on this card.. I still have a bunch hanging around on my table for another day, but here's a close-up of how I used them on this card:

Besides me TOTALLY MESSING UP how I voted, it was a pleasure going through all of the entries for Elizabeth's contest at her blog. Here's part of the winning entry.



Like, WHAT!?!?!?! This was done by Kay Hall. Crazy amount of work, I tell you...
Go to the Elzybells blog to see the rest of the winners and honorable mentions..They're amazing!!

Oh man I've wanted this die FOREVER!! It's "Labels One" from Spellbinders, and man I love it.. It's just so classy!! LOL

It's been a long week of rehearsals and concerts and I'm glad I have a night to chill out and stamp. I'll hopefully get more done after dinner.

To make this card I first cut out the image layer with the die cut, and leaving the die in place on the paper I stamped the image, poured clear embossing powder over it, embossed, then sponged different colour inks to create the background.. Then I took the die off the paper and voila, a white border! I love this look.. What I don't love are the flowers, but it looked so plain so I added them as an after-thought.. Stamps are SU! and so is the patterned paper. The green paper is Papertrey Mellow Moss. Thanks for lookin'!

I sat down to create SOMETHING whilst watching my all-time favourite movie "HOME ALONE" with my son. I have no idea why it's my fav, it just is. So many good memories are attatched to this movie, and every Hallowe'en I break out the Christmas music and watch Home Alone.

I didn't know what I was going to make, I only knew I wanted to make something other than a card. I have a stash of cards that would do me a life-time of giving cards to every single person I know, so maybe it was time to make something else..While I was at it I made a new banner too. Remember (shameless plug here) I do banners and watermarks if you're ever in need.. Pricing is on the left.. Now back to my program..


I had this canvas sitting around that I had previously painted (horribly, I might add) so I picked it up, and said "GET THIS OFF MY FLOOR AND DECORATE IT ALREADY!" So I did!
I used mostly WeR products (paper, rub-ons, brads) but as you can see on the left, I also used Making Memories paint and foam letters for the title. The journalling block is from a 12x12 sheet of the same kind of things by Bo Bunny. The photo corner is Basic Grey. 


 I wrote about imagining where I would be in 20 years and I said:

Wow! I can't believe it's Hallowe'en already! I haven't been crafting these last couple of days because I threw out my back after my music department's concert. I was tearing down the concert area with my students, and SNAP! I nearly fell over in pain, instant FIRE on my lower back, and I was like, OMG! SO... I've been making Ian massage my bum on a daily basis (HAHA) and icing it.. But Papercrafts (a magazine I get published in fairly regularly) wanted to spread the word about their newest venture, so here's a look at what's to come with them. You've probably seen it before, but here's a peek if you haven't:



Enjoy Halloween Tag
Designer: Alisa Bangerter
SUPPLIES: Cardstock: (ivory) Dye ink: (Black) Stewart Superior Corp.; (Summer Sun) Stampin’ Up! Specialty ink: (Mango Lemonade color wash) Stewart Superior Corp. Color medium: (black chalk) Craf-T Products Accents: (black brads) Making Memories; (chipboard bat, moon) Melissa Frances Fibers: (black striped ribbon) Pebbles Inc. Font: (Black Family) www.dafont.com Adhesive: (foam tape) Finished size: 3" x 4 1/2"
1 Make tag from cardstock. 2 Crumple tag and smooth out. Spray edges with color wash; let dry. Apply chalk. 3 Ink chipboard moon; let dry. Chalk edges and adhere. 4 Ink chipboard bat; let dry. Adhere with foam tape. 5 Print sentiment on cardstock; trim and tear edges. Chalk edges and adhere with foam tape. Attach brads. Attach ribbon with brad.




Cheesy Garlic Drop Biscuits
Alisa Bangerter
This is a perfect recipe to pull out if you are short on time because there is no rolling or cutting. The cheese and garlic add extra kick to a plain biscuit, and kids love them. They are the perfect accompaniment to serve with soups or stews, and are great served with a salad.
INGREDIENTS
2 c. flour
2 tbsp. granulated sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. butter or margarine
1 1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 1/4 c. milk
Chives (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Mix together dry ingredients. Cut in butter with pastry cutter until mixture is fine. Add cheese and mix well. Add milk and stir until just moistened. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Sprinkle top with chopped dried or fresh chives if desired. Bake at 400 degrees for approx. 15 minutes.

Here's the online store where you can purchase it, or it will be on stands soon.

Happy Hallowe'en!