Joy Banner Triangle #2

 I just completed the second triangle for my Joy Banner that I'm creating along with the gals over at Ready... Steady ... Stamp.  Here are the guidelines for this section of the project :

I gotta be honest.  I forgot about the Kraft paper and in a panic decided that I could add it as a dangle from the bottom, whew.  I think long term, though, I will be changing this out to a large gold star.  That would match my first section better.

I hope this inspires you to start a Christmas Banner of your own! Need more inspiration??  Jump over to Ready, Steady, Stamp and check out the other girls projects!

GinaK Designs - Little Tees

 I used Little Tee's to create this one.  The sentiment is from Elegant Post.

I stamped my images on DCWV Citrus Matstack.  The Matstacks make it easy since all the paper coordinates and they are the perfect size for card making.  The paper already had glitter on it, so my card was quick and easy!

I hope everyone isn't too stuffed with turkey to get crafty this weekend.  Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Phrases by FCD

Hello!  I hope everyone has arrived back home safely if you had to travel for Thanksgiving.  I love Thanksgiving, it's my favorite holiday!  But I'm always exhausted by the time it's all over with.  I think it's because I try to get so much done in just a couple of days.  So I'm finally getting back on the computer tonight to find that I have recieved a gazillion emails since tuesday and that my post didn't go off as planned on Wednesday.  So you are gettin' a two tonight.  I'm starting with my FCD post you should have received Wednesday.  As you may remember, Pamela from FCD gave us each 2 wonderful Christmas sets to work with for November and December.  Tonight I'm focusing on Christmas Phrases.  These sentiments are perfect for so many different Christmas cards.  These sentiments would make a beautiful card if used alone with some decorative paper.  But I chose to combine them with a couple of other FCD Christmas sets.

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I combined this one with the ornament top and star from Season's Greetings.

I cut the tree section from a piece of green textured paper.

I combined this one with the snowflakes from Gifts of Love.

I found some snowflake patterned paper and stamped my FCD snowflakes using VersaMark Ink and embossed with white embossing powder.  Sooooo easy!

Pamela  packs alot of options on a plate, so you really get your moneys worth when you order from her.  It's not to late to order your Christmas stamps from her, because she mails them out so quickly.  The latest they will be shipping before the holidays is December 15th.

Hoping to post my FCD Christmas Ornaments by Sunday.  See ya then!

Inch by Inch ...

Without further ado ...

Sand Between My Toes

I have been checking these little works of art for well over a year now.  We have a wonderful stamping/mixed media/collage store here in Jacksonville, A Small Cleverness.

They do monthly ATC and Inchie swaps among other wonderfully artistic activities.  I go there often and check out the artistic endeavers of these talented ladies.  And I'm ALWAYS amazed at how much they can get into a 1" square.  These little squaures can be combined to create larger works of arts.

The above set was created for the Inchy by Inch Challenge Blog.   The theme was texture.  I decided to go with sand, since I had these tiny sea shell stamps.  I used Goldens Coarse Pumice Gel.  It can be purchased in the Art section of most art/hobby stores.  It's greyish and can be mixed with acrylic paint.  I'm not happy with the color of my sand, but didn't have time to remix and start all over.  I think most of these tiny shells are from an Impression Obsession set and a Mini Technique Tuesday set I've had forever.

Passionate About Purple

Photo not so great.  A little harder to photograph these little guys.  Sorry.  I created this one for Small World of Inchies and Twinchies.  The theme was Purple.  I kinda cheated, because I went shopping for some images specifically so that I could do inchies.  I found these decorative sqaure stamps, perfect for stamping inchie backgrounds, by Inkadinkado.  So then all I had to do was find a tiny butterfly stamp in my stash.  I used 2 different shades of purple.  I stamped the background twice, trimmed the darker shade down to the frame, secured /popped it up to the lighter base.  Stamped the mini butterflies in the darker purple, cut with cuticle sissors and adhered with a tiny bit of glue at the butterfly body, so that the wings could "fly".  I added some Stampendous Pearl Glitter!  LOVE that stuff!

Scroll down to the next post for a totally different look from the ATC's and Inchies.  You will see why I said the last couple of days I had a "variety" of projects to post!

FCD November Blog Hop!!

Pamela sent each of us 2 of her new Christmas Sets to work with for the next 2 months.  I have been having a ball creating with Mistletoad and Christmas Phrases.  It's not to late to order YOUR christmas stamps.  Order online today!  Shipping is fast with Pamela! 

On the 8x8 Layout above I used one of the phrases from Christmas Phrases along with one of Pamela's other Christmas stamp sets, Season's Greetings.  The tag below was designed using Season's Greetings as well.   

Pamela also designed a special Manger Digi for us to work with as well.

I combined it with Christmas Phrases to create THIS CARD.

And you can check out the projects I have designed using Mistletoad HERE.  Only 2 Mistletoad sets left at the store, so check out these projects and then place your order today!  While you are over there check out the Flower Soft and Shimmerz!

I can't wait to share the other projects I have designed using these sets.  Please check back weekly to check out some more options using these sets!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Christmas Banner Challenge

Today I'm posting the first section of a Christmas Banner.  The girls at Ready, Set, Stamp Challenge Blog have inspired us to create a banner one section at a time, every 2 weeks.  So at the end of the 8 weeks we will reveal the completed banner.  No cheating allowed because you have to wait for the specific recipe every 2 weeks.  Our banner has to be an inverted triangle.  We get to choose our own colors.

A few other standard rules with their challenge are 1 stamp minimum, and no "cute" projects.  So please don't tell me my project is "cute", teehee.  Here are the rest of the ingredients for this portion of the challenge:

As you can see they have very specific requirements, so this one will limit me and may prove to be one of the hardest challenges I've done.  So hopefully I will make it to the end!  Last year I ran across a Dover Publications Book with lots of vintage images for different holidays.  So I've been dying to use them, and this seems like a great challenge to work my Christmas images from that book into a project.

My triangle measures 6 1/2 across the top and 7 1/2 from top to bottom.  I stamped and heat embossed the stars (Crafty Secrets) in gold to my DP (Creative Imaginations) and then ran the VersaMark pad along the edges of the triangle and embossed in gold as well to make it coordinate.  Obviosly my primary colors will be red, white and gold with a splash of green.  I added some Stampendous white Pearl Glitter to the letter "J", the snowballs, on the tree and around the edges of the triangle to tie that element in.  I used Stampendous red Pearl Glitter on the berries for the holly.

The next set of ingredients will be posted tomorrow, so I can't wait to see what they are!

Hoppy Holiday Treats!

Good Morning.   Just wondering if anyone else has started their Christmas shopping?  Me?  NOPE!  And my DH told be last night he expected HANDMADE cards to be sent out to his family this year!  I usually only share my handmade cards with other crafty friends.  But I guess that's about to change by proclamation of King Fred, teehee.  I hope you are further along than I am.

I hope one of these projects inspire you to get started if you haven't!

Hoppy Holidays Treat Box for challenges on the

Charisma Challenge Blog

Designed using Mistletoad by FCD.  Sold out right now, but Pamela says she is getting more in.  So keep checking back if you love this little guy.  Isn't this a cool image.  It looks like he's crawling up the treat box.  I couldn't help but add a little texture.  I used liquid applique on the hat band and Prisma Glitter on the fur ball at the tip of the hat.  I think the ribbon is American Crafts.  I've had it forever and was so happy to use it today!

Glory to the Newborn King designed for challenges posted at

Digital Tuesday Challenge Blog and Gingersnaps Challenge Blog

This card was designed using one of FireCracker Designs by Pamela's new digis.  You can check out all of Pamela's Digi's HERE.  Just scroll down on that page to see the manger!  Combined with the sentiments from Christmas Phrases by FCD.  I used yummy Pearlescent Chocolate embossed with clear for sentiments.

I colored the digi with Prismacolor Pencils and OMS.

Last Minute Gift Labels

You can make your own by stamping on these standard mailing labels by Avery.  OOPs, I just realized I didn't draw the lines to "hang" the ornaments.  This tiny bulb came with my Christmas Phrases set by FCD.