Christmas Card # 1

So I posted Christmas card # 2, earlier this week because I hadn't taken a picture of the first Christmas card that I actually made on like December 29th. :)  I just couldn't help myself. I was still in Christmas mode, I was sick on the couch and the Christmas papers that I had just picked up for a $1 were just sitting there, saying "Usssssse meeeeee!!!!" (Okay, so they weren't talking to me, but I still couldn't resist ;) )

This was one of my first experimentations with my new mini Christmas stamps that I scored for $.50 a piece at Michael's. (I love after Christmas sales ;) ) - I usually also stock up on Christmas cards for the next year, but as my goal is to make all of my Christmas cards for next year I didn't buy any. This way, I figure I have to force myself to get them all done because I don't want to pay full price for Christmas cards come next Christmas. (My logic is astounding isn't it ;) ) - Anyhoo, I've made two so far and I"ll probably make my third for next week over the weekend.

I haven't done many cards like this before, and the Christmas trees didn't come out even...(I have issues with straight lines) I think I'll probably use my mini alphabet stamps to stamp "Merry Christmas" below the Christmas trees. One thing I did learn: When using different stamps use 1 long stamp block and level them out on that before stamping. :) I do really like the papers though :)

Supplies:

Paper: K&Company (dollar aisle from Target), basic card stock from Michael's

Images: Dollar aisle from Michael's (didn't have  brand name on them, so I'm assuming its just a generic Michael's stamp set)

Ink: Inkadinkado

Ribbon: Friend

P.S. Tomorrow's Friday!!!!!!!

Stylish Blog Award

Lookie what my sweet cousin Christy over at Christy Gets Crafty gave me :)

Looking at Christy's blog and seeing all of her amazing creativity is one of the things that first got me into card making (as a regular hobby anyway). She has always given me support and inspiration in everything I do.

Christy is so talented and I love seeing her new creations!

She's been so supportive of my crafting and has given me tips and even helped me add to my stash with amazing crafting supplies!

There are three rules on accepting this award:

1. Link and thank the person who gave it to you

2. Share 8 things about yourself

3. Pass it along to 8 fellow bloggers

So.... 8 things about myself:

1. I am slightly OCD (although there are those who would argue with the "slightly" part :) ). I like things nice, clean, and organized.

2. I am the wife of an assistant pastor at a Latino church.

3. Reading has been my biggest hobby since I first learned how to read.

(Christy was actually also the one that started me on reading. By the time I was in 1st grade I was borrowing her books all the time! Thanks to her, I had a 12th grade reading level by 6th grade!)

4. I write upside down. Always have, always will.

(Actually, I'm pretty sure that one is Christy's fault too! lol.... She is left handed like me and I would always watch her write sideways when I was little. I started out sideways and now I write with my paper almost completely upside down... It kinda just happened.)

5. The office supplies aisle is one of my most favorite aisles in a store.

6. I always looked forward to the beginning of school because it meant that I could buy school supplies. Nothing like brand new notebooks just waiting to be wrote in and freshly sharpened pencils. :)

7. I get easily distracted by shiny, sparkly things.

(Sheesh, that makes me sound like a racoon.)

8. I STRONGLY DISLIKE getting up in the morning, but dawn is my favorite time of day. The world is so beautiful and fresh in the mornings.

(Don't worry, it doesn't make sense to me either. :) )

And now the 8 bloggers I am passing this award on to (in no particular order):

Anita & Sarah

Anita and Sarah are amazing. They are the Queens of finding deals in thrift shops and are so talented! Their purses and other creations are absolutely beautiful! Hop on over to their blogs and see for yourself!

Alice

Alice's cards are always so cheerful. I always enjoy hopping over to her blog to see her latest creations.

Nina

Nina is a missionary's wife in Croatia. Her cards are so beautiful and her life is an inspiration.

Vera

Vera is such a sweetheart. She ran the Caring Hearts Card drive for a number of nursing homes over Thanksgiving and Christmas. Her cards are beautiful too!

Lucy

Lucy's cards are so cute and always put a smile on my face.

Chat

This lady is so talented! Her cards are amazing!

Teresa

Teresa's blog is one of the first that I found. Her cards are gorgeous!

Hope you are all having a fantastic week!

Valentines

Since I've been out of school, I don't usually give valentines day cards to anyone besides my husband. This year I wanted to make a card for our niece, Lexus. That, in addition to the fact that my mom bought me valentines day card supplies for Christmas, encouraged me to set myself down to make some valentines day cards last night while we watched Gilmore Girls.

I've made three so far. On the card on the right, I tried cutting up the image, like I've seen on a lot of blogs. I've wanted to try it for a while and finally felt like I had a good image that would slice well.

This is a close up of the card in the back so you can see the entire card.

Supplies:

Paper: Basic cardstock from Michaels, patterned paper from a friend

Images: Rub-ons, I believe they are from K&Company

Embellishments: Ribbon from a friend (I have been blessed with crafting gifts by so many dear friends - if you are one of them, please know that I appreciate your thoughtfulness so much! They have really helped me explore different crafting techniques, that I otherwise might not have even tried yet!)

Sentiments: Freehand

Secret Pal gifts and a Christmas Card...

So I've decided to try something a little different. During the week it is difficult for me to get many pictures edited and posted, so I always end up with one massive post like every other week. This year, I'm going to try editing over the weekend in bulk and then post a small set of creations each day to spread them out. (This is a double bonus, I'm posting more and saving myself from boredom during the week :) )

Today's post are some pictures of some beautiful gifts from my Secret Pal (signed up on Paper Craft Planet - sign ups are closed for the year, but you can sign up again come next October!).

Isn't my Secret Pal generous??? I can't wait until October when I find out who she is and I can thank her :)

Now on to the card :)  This year I have decided to try to make one Christmas card a week, starting at the beginning of January. This way I hope to have a nice stock come Christmas time and also will be able to contribute more to a Card Drive for Nursing Homes that I participated in this last year. I have 2 done so far. I created one the week after Christmas, but forgot to take a picture. The second card I created last week. It is white and blue and uses some of the beautiful snowflakes that my Secret Pal sent me!

Hope you likey :)

Supplies:
Paper: Card stock from a standard 12x12 Heavy cardstock pack, patterned paper from a K&Company pack (Target dollar aisle). The rest of the paper were leftover scraps I had laying around
Embellishments: Snowflakes from Secret Pal, ribbon from a friend, blue gem from Secret Pal

Sentiment: Warm Wishes sentiment and stamped snowflake from a small stamp pack I got from the dollar aisle at Michaels (except I bought them after Christmas and only paid $.50 - score! I bought like 4 packs and only spent 2 dollars :) )

I'm back....

I took a little break from blogging the past couple of weeks, getting over a nasty virus I caught over Christmas weekend. I'm finally starting to feel better though and I am very thankful for that! 

Even though I haven't been blogging I have made a few cards. My mother's birthday is early next week and my BIL's birthday is later in the month but I thought I would whip up his card to make sure it is done in time to go out. 

My supplies mainly came from Christmas gifts I was given from my sweet hubby, my mom and my sister. I don't remember the exact brands and I'm at work right now, but I will post later (if I remember, lol!).

Anyhoo, here are the cards....

This is the card that I made for my mom. I wasn't really sure about the color of these flowers with the rest of the card, but it needed something, and that was the only color flower I had that was even close.....

 And this is the card that I made for my BIL. For this card I used a birthday stamp that was part of a package that my hubby got me as a stocking stuffer. I used markers made especially for coloring stamps (FYI - I LOVE these markers. I actually like being able to color them in better than stamp pads.... Might just be something I am doing wrong with the stamp pads, but the colors seem to come out so much more rich with the markers.. IDK... I'll have to experiment some more with the inks that my cousin gave me to play with. :) )

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P.S. A short prayer request, a dear pastor's wife in our fellowship is going through chemotherapy right now. Any prayers sent for strength and grace for her and her husband would be appreciated.

Place Setting Creations

Short post. I just wanted to share some napkin holders I made for our Christmas dinner place settings.

Hope you like :)

Supplies:
I used the cardboard wrapping paper tube for the base. I then used Christmas papers from the dollar aisle at Target. The flowers are from Making Memories brand and the brads are from JoAnn Fabrics.

I'm still working on playing with the napkin and silverware to make it look a little nicer, but that's what I've got so far!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas 2010

I finally took pictures of our Christmas tree this morning. (Probably because I had finally moved all of the things sitting on the floor around the Christmas tree so that I am now okay sharing a picture of my living room ;) ) 

Things have been a little crazy lately. I've had two Physical Therapy appointments a week for the last month and with prepping for Christmas, we haven't had a whole lot of spare time! But, my parents and sister are going to be here tonight and thus sets off the Christmas festivities. I am very glad my family can come spend Christmas with us. It will be a nice time. 

It seems that Christmas gets busier and busier each year. With all of the hustle and bustle (especially in the DC Metro area) it is so easy to lose site of the true meaning of Christmas. I was reading a friends blog the other day and she was sharing on her meditations of what Christmas really means. I would encourage you to head on over to Anita's blog, The Other Side of Me, and read her entry entitled The Greatest Gift. May all of us remember what Christmas really means and remember to give thanks for the Father's precious gift to us all.

Wishing a blessed Christmas to you all!