Merry Christmas Alice (Yes, I know it's July)

Nothing like a HOT July summer to make you
think about making Christmas cards. ;)

Well, I don't know what the weather's like where
you are but I'm here in TX. Which means it's
HOT. We've been in the 100s for so long, but hey
we do get to wake up in the 80s which feels cool.

This week over at Anyone for Anya? they are
doing a Christmas in July! challenge.

For the sketch on this card I used the Card
Confidence Program Originals book. There is a
TON of card sketches inside, 128 pages worth.
This book is available through CTMH (Close to
My Heart) catalog. Which can be purchased online
or if you wait until August 1st, that's when I
will be signing up for my Consultant kit.

So do you wanna see my super cute Christmas card?

Stamps: TGF Wonderland, Bombshell Stamps Holiday Accessory

Paper: scraps from my stash

Ink: Palette Noir Black, SU Classic Chocolate Chip, SU Stampin' Write Bravo Burgundy

Accessories: Regency Baker's Twine

So what do you think?

Have you been working on Christmas cards?
Or maybe Halloween or Thanksgiving cards?

I've been working on all of the above or
at least ideas for them as I'm participating in
a card swap over  at SCS for them. There's still
time and room if you would also like to
participate here. Plus the card swap is a Clean
and Simple swap.

Hope you have a good weekend. We're at home
watching the Olympics.

We're here in the USA so we're definitely
TEAM USA!!!

What's your team?

Happy Crafting,
M.E.

Summer Bear Hugs

This week my scrapbook group did a Animals/Insects Card Swap. Every month we try to do a card swap with a different theme. Do you have a fun scrapbook group where you are?

Since it's the summer there aren't too many cards to show you:(  But the ones that were
created are awesome.

This is my card. I used the sketch from Anyone for Anya?: Simple Sketch Sunday.

Stamps: TGF

Paper: Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses

Ink: Palette Noir Black, Copic E33 Sand, Bic Mark-it Pink Flamingo, Woodsy Brown, Honey Brown

Accessories: Regency Baker's Twine, Stampin' Up punch

I love The Greeting Farm stamps, they are adorable. I wish I could share the name of this stamp set with you. But I can't seem to find it anywhere.

My friends Gia and Lori created the following cards. Aren't they awesome!?!

Gia's card

Lori's card

Can you tell that Lori's favorite color is purple;)

Please post below about any fun scrapbook
groups you belong to and what kind of fun
things y'all do.

Happy Crafting, M.E.

For the Team Jacob fans

Stamps: TGF WS Michael

Paper: Jolee's Boutique French General Blue Fabric Remnants

Ink: VersaMagic Jumbo Java, Sharpies, Copic E33 Sand, R11 Pale Cherry Pink, Bic Mark-its Rambunctious Red, Tuxedo Black, Misty Blue

Accessories: Hemp twine

Techniques: distressing, inking, coloring

This card is for all my fellow Twi-hards. But specifically for those
that are Team Jacob. Personally, I'm Team Edward. But as long as
your a Twi-hard it's all good.

So Jacob how does it feel to be here:

Bella Swan: Are you okay? Being here?
Jacob Black : Why? Afraid I'll trash your party?
[hears growling in the woods]
Jacob Black : You're not the only one. You think I'd be used to telling you goodbye by now. Come on, you're not supposed to be the one crying, Bella.

I created this card for two challenges:

• Anyone For Anya? July Photo Inspiration
  

Here is the photo to draw inspiration from this week:

• and over on SCS there's a sketch challenge for this week. You can find the challenge here

For this card I used a digi stamp. It's been a while since I've used one and I
thought he'd be the perfect image to go along with a denim challenge. His name
isn't actually Jacob but he is from a line of stamps that The Greeting Farm
created to look like characters from Twilight. His name is WS Michael,
although when I got him it was Dressy Michael. I believe the sentiment stamp
was purchased in the Dollar Section at Joann's.

Do you think he looks like Jacob?


I can't wait to see Twilight Breaking Dawn Part Two. We already have our tickets for opening night. How about you? Are you Team Jacob, Team Edward, or Team Switzerland?

Happy Crafting,
M.E.

Paper Scrap Storage

Does this look familiar?



I've been following a thread on Splitcoast Stampers that's all about how
you store your paper scraps.

These are the questions that were asked on this thread followed by my own
answers.

1) How do you store your paper scraps?
I store my scraps in an accordion file folder I got at Big Lots a couple of years
ago. It has the main accordion part, plus in the front it has a smaller accordion
part as well as a box on top that I store small projects in.
2) Do you purge your saved scraps and, if so, how often?
I haven't purged my saved scraps.
3) How good are you at actually using the scraps you've saved?
I go to my scraps immediately after I pick the card base. I also let my niece use
my scraps when she stays/visits. She's 14 and loves to make cards.

Her mom loves that she can come over here and play in my craft room.

I know there are a lot of different ways to organize your scraps. Today I thought
I'd share with you the way my scraps are organized. Now, it might not work for
you but it definitely works for me.

So this is how my system is setup:

I use this accordion file system and file my scraps by the ROYGBIV method. Meaning
First I start with
White
Pink
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blues
Indigo/Violet
Brown
Black
Miscellaneous

Here is a closer look at my system



The file system that I have pictured is for my smaller scraps and then I have a
larger accordion file folder for my larger scraps and they too are organized
in the above system.

This system allows me to keep better track of my scraps which helps me to
use them in my crafting more often.

So how do you store your scraps?

Happy Crafting,
M.E.

Hello Mad Hatter

March Hare: Start at the beginning.
Mad Hatter: Yes, yes. And when you come to the end...
[chuckles]
Mad Hatter: STOP. See?

I created this card for not one but two challenges today.
1) TGFSC20
2) Anyone For Anya? Just USE it!

Stamps: The Greeting Farm Wonderland

Paper: Invidia Playing Card

Ink: Palette Noir Black, Copics E00 Skin White, R11 Pale Cherry Pink, W2 Warm Gray No. 2, Bic Mark-its Desert Rose, Tuxedo Black

Accessories: roses, brads, and eyelets all from my stash

For this card I used my TGF stamp set Wonderland. Mine is the original rubber

version that TGF sold. I guess it must be retired. But you can still get the
digital version of it here.

I haven't stamped in a while and the challenge over at Anyone for Anya is to:

The challenge is to use a TGF or CC design stamp or image

you haven't used yet...or recently!

Basically ANYTHING goes!

A lot of scraps were used to create this card. I also used some flowers, brad, and
eyelets from my stash. The packaging was thrown away a while ago so I don't
recall who these came from. The Ace card is from a set of playing cards that my
DH got from Invidia, probably either at a LAN party or at QuakeCon. The
playing card actually came with this rose image on it. You can see the Invidia
logo picture in the bud of the rose. And I'm lucky that we got 3 sets of these
playing cards. I've always wanted to use a playing card on a card or page layout,
it's on my crafting bucket list.

The Mad Hatter: You could stay.
Alice Kingsley: What an idea. What a mad, crazy, wonderful idea.
[They smile at each other]
Alice Kingsley: ... But I can't.

Alice may not have been able to stay with The Mad Hatter, but you are

welcome to stay here on my blog and explore. I hope that if you like what

you see then you're welcome to start following me.

Happy Crafting,
M.E.

Happy Birthday Bella

Sorry, this card isn't for you Bella Cullen. It's for the Stamping Bella contest I saw over at SCS.

So I was hanging out over on SCS (Splitcoast Stampers) the other day. And they had a challenge to create a Stamping Bella card with a tag in it.

Stamps: Stamping Bella elizabella, sentiment(retired)

Ink: Palette Noir Black, Copic, W2 Warm Gray No. 2, E00 Skin White, R11 Pale Cherry Pink, Bic Markit Yellow Blaze, Honey Brown

Accessories: SU Modern Label Punch, CM Corner Rounder, We R Memory Keepers Sew Easy Fancy Blueberry Floss, buttons from my stash

Techniques: Paper piecing

I used a few of my scrap papers on it, except for the card base. Which I put on
white cardstock. The background paper was paper I made myself while playing
around with inks and overdeveloped photo paper. I did it such a long time ago
I can't remember what ink I used. This particular Bella stamp is my favorite
stamp to paper piece with.

Happy Crafting.
M.E.

Long time no type

Hi everyone in the blogosphere!

I realize it's been a while since I've posted. Life around here has been a little crazy.

So let me update -
First The Angel Company has gone out of business :(
Second I've been caring for my mother. She had and is now in remission for Cervical Cancer
Third my DH and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this year
Fourth my DH and I are working with a fertility doctor, so lots of prayers, please
Fifth I'm looking into starting with Close to my Heart, after my surgery

I hope to start crafting again soon and plan on having a crop here at home for anyone local who would like to come.

Happy Crafting,
M.E.