Cushioned in Comfort

The past week has been busy with the holiday festivities and we had a nice Christmas with my son who was with us for a week. Now things are "quiet" again and hopeful I can get back in my studio and create. There has been a high demand for card angels for Chemo angels so I have been trying to send a few extra cards out, they make such a difference to these people. I used an AMuse Studio set for this card and since it was for a male I went with the more masculine colors. I love to paper piece and the grey gingham was perfect for the chair and lamp shade, what coloring was left I used my copic markers, again NESTIES were used (love Nesties) a bit of bakers twine and the card was ready to go. Hope this lifts the spirits of the chemo patient.

TAC Blog Hop

Another blog hop to honor artists in TACs last catalog - I choose the Soft Pencil artist and made this simple tea bag holder - I send a lot of these out for my chemo patients, it just says you are special!!! Colored with copic markers, glitter on her wings and of course a bit of bling on her shirt.

Christmas Mouse

I thought this turned out just too cute - this is an older image from The Angel Company and although this is not the typical Christmas image it worked perfect. Used nesties to cut him out - out of the box - the stamped Merry Christmas, mounted him on some adorable Echo Park Paper - and I had some Merry Christmas Ribbon in my stash and it just all came together just like I wanted. He is off to Washington to one of my chemo ladies who loves mice so I hope she enjoys.

Holy Night

This is my daughters Christmas card for this year. They usually come on Thanksgiving and on the Friday after turkey day we pull out all the christmas stamps and she decides what her Christmas cards will be. When she saw this set Holy Night form Amuse it was a very quick decision for her, we were able to make 25 in about 2 1/2 hours and she was very pleased with the results. We used white cs, French Roast ink, French Roast brown cs and w bit of white ribbon for accent. She made an "opportunity for embellishment" so we added 2 tiny brown pearls to offset the "oops". After using the ribbon on the first one she decided to use the bakers twine in place of the ribbon to save on "bulk" postage, the twine will go through the postage much easier than the ribbon. The twine worked equally as well. Mom had to tie all the twine as she cut the tip of her index finger off about a year ago at a well known chain restaurant (on the chair) and has no feeling now in the end of her finger, so Mom was happy to tie all the twine/ribbon.

Skater Boy

This little cutie from My Favorite things is headed to a little 6 year old chemo patient boy who is having a birthday this week. I have so many girl images and need a few more boy ones so this was perfect. I colored him with my copic markers, matching the colors to the DCWV paper I used. Cut out with 3 sizes of nesties labels 11 and then the card was cut out using the LARGE labels 11 - perfect size for an A2 card. We found out a tip from the Northwoods class we took - to use Beacon 3-way glue when adhering to glitter paper/cs, so that is what I used. Hoping it stays put!!! I slipped a couple of "Cars" tatoos inside the card as a little treat for him.

Starbucks gift card holder

I made this quick and easy gift card holder using AMuse stamps that were in my starter set and how easy this was to put together, used white cs, brown gingham cs (Amuse), nesties and the coffee cup. Held together with French Roast ribbon. Inside I use the coffee beans and slipped in my gift card from Starbucks. DD is coming this weekend and I know how much she loves Starbucks and has one very close to her office so this will go to her.

Quirky Penquin

This cute little guy is called Quirky Penquin from Doodle Pantry digi images, he came precolored and as well as black/white for you to color yourself. I choose precolored as well as the free bg paper that goes so well with this image. I cute him out with nesties, mounted him on the bg paper, and punched some snowflakes out of the bg papers. The sentiment was also included and it went so well with this image. I uused this same image earlier in the week for a birthday card and it turned out really cute, just changed the sentiment to Happy Birthday.

Northwoods Class

On Tuesday one of my BFF's Donna and I took a class at a super well stocked, and fun scrapbooking store called For Keeps Sakes in south St. Louis county. The teacher Mary was great and showed is some "new" techniques. The three cards we made were so pretty - although I am thinking the glitter and shine doesn't show like it does IRL. This class was my BD present plus I was also able to get one stamp - and I choose the snowy trees as I think this is my favorite. Thanks Donna for a super fun and credative day.

Have Hope

This little sweetie from My Favorite Things was made for one of my breast cancer patients - it just seemed to go together once I had my DP pulled and started coloring. The Dp is from Imaginisce - they usually have such nice soft colors that go so well together - colored little girl with copic markers, hearts from die cutes from AMuse, and the stick pin thingie (there is a name for them but I can't find my CTMH catalog right now!!!), holds the Think Pink sign. Nesties labels and card ready to go - although I am not sure I can mail it in a plain envie - will probably have to put it in a padded envie because of the stick pin.

Vintage Ride

This weekend there is a blog hop using Nina B's stamps that were in the 2011/2012 TAC catalog. I fell in love with Ninas stamps the minute I opened the catalog and this was one of my favorite sets. I was able to get this set before TAC shut their doors. This image is from Vintage Rides and I choose the bike as my granddaughter bd is coming up in Dec. and I wanted to get it done before I worked on Christmas cards. I colored with copic markers, then put glossy accents on the seat and sprinkled some fine prism glitter on top - (okay remember the glitter seats???). I cut out with Nesties labels 1, used DP by Imaginisce that I had in my stash and for finishing touches I put a yellow flower from Bitty Blossoms, a pink button and yellow scrappers floss. How much fun this card was to make.

Doodle Pantry Step Card

I used the Pilgrim Sheep from Doodle Pantry again - they were just too much fun to work with, especially since they are precolored (you can also print them to color yourself) and I made one of my favorite step cards - the middle step card. It goes together very quickly - especially if you have made a couple before!!! I used MS dp, nestie for the sentiment and the leaf punch to punch out fall color leaves to accent the base of the card. This sets up really cute on a shelf and there is ample room inside for your greeting. I love working with the Doodle Pantry images, there is variety, easy to download, and easy to resize and print for any project you might need.

Doodle Pantry Pilgram Sheep Stage Card

How much fun is this "stage" card - the directions are on Split Coast Stampers and you best print them out so you have the directions at your finger tips to follow. This is not hard - just requires placement of the figures. I used a digi image from Doodle Pantry resized the images so they would fit on the stage. They are precolored so easy easy. I trimmed them and just left a slight space around them so they would stand up nicely. The evergreen trees are from The angel Company (now closed), the DP is from MS and Echo Park - (love them both), white CS from Gina K. flower soft on the floor of the stage to look like autumn, nesties to cut out the sentiment, leaf eyelets and punched leaves. This card can be closed and held together with a belly band and ribbon, it will fit in an A2 envelope but will probably need extra postage.

Ornament Girl

This cute Ornament Angel was a "freebie" digi image last week from Whimsy and Stars by Mabelle. she has such a unique style all her own and her images are so much fun to color. I colored the image with copic markers, used my nesties to cut her out - layered her on blue glitter cs, then on Flurries and Frost by Deja Views DP, tied a big red bow at the bottom and used Glitter Domes embellishments from Crystal Stickers. Mabelle is currently having a blog hop so go check out her web site and get some cute ideas.
I am thankful for my good health, good friends, and a great family.

Snowman and Girl

How much fun is this digi image from Whimsy and Stars Studio - by Mabelle - I love snowpeople and this one was so much fun to color and embellish. I colored her with copic markers, cut out with nesties, then just a bit of embellishments - the love tag matched the DP I used from Deja Views "Flurries and Frost". I have a collection of "micro" and I do mean tiny eyelets so I put one in the tag and used silver elastic cording from AMuse to tie a little bow, pop dots to accent it off the card and then a snowflake punched form a stash of glitterpaper I had - again pop up with pop dot. The fuzzy fur on her hats, sleves etc. I got from Archivers and I love the effect it gives - feels like real fur. A bit of stickles on the snowbank and this card is ready to go to - hmmm...probably dear granddaughter.

A Box of Love

I love these little girls (and they have boys too) from Pure Innocence - My Favorite Things. They are so much fun to color and they have such a collection it is hard to narrow it down to just a few when I order. I love chocolates - and I thought this little girl holding the giftie box would work up cute. I colored her with copic markers - spica glitter pen for her hair embellishment, cut out with nesties and mounted her on a piece of Bo-Bunny DP then on DCWV DP - brought it all together with a piece of bakers twine for just a little accent. I try to keep my embellishments to a min. so I don't have to pay the extra postage when I mail them out. Hope you enjoy.

Lilly's Paint your Life

Love Mabelles images so I had to have Lillys Paint your Life - and isn't she a cutie, the sentiment that goes with her is Paint your life with JOY and I thought she would be perfect for some of my chemo cards I mail each month. I colored her with my copics to match my DP that I had from Nanas Kids pk. by DCWV and thought it made up so bright and cheery. Then I colored her bracelet with my glitter pen and oops got my finger in the wet ink and had to add a bit of bling to cover up my "opportunity to use bling", not exactly the look I wanted but it is okay. Cut out with nesties 11 - little bow at the top and ready to mail really soon.

Darling

I am not sure what I am going to use this card for - it is so versatile I can use it for a Birthday, ThankYou, lets do lunch or for the right person "thinking of you". I absolutely cased this card from one I received from Mischelle Smith (TAC owner) during a swap and I loved the colors and the layout it was very easy to copy. I did change up a bit by using the nesties, some pearls and don't you just love the pleated ribon the the right side. Oh the memories!!!

Happy Birthday Hubby

Today is DH birthday - and this is perfect for the handyman he is!!! Every year for our birthday my boss, friend, and stamping buddy get together at home and "create" for our birthdays!!! We have so much fun and she has things I don't have and visa-versa. She has a cricut - plus this hammer sizzix die so the components were all there - just make a card. We used the Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder, added the hammer and nails and a cute screw brad as well as the Happy Birthday. I think he will like it - and I know he will like his birthday cake - Earthquake Cake!!! I only make this cake on special occasions as it is LOADED with calories but...since it is birthday it was his request.

Happy Birthday Mouse

Another Mabelles Image Lucy's Cheese - which makes up into such a cute birthday card - and love the sentiment for the inside - "Age is not important unless you're a cheese. She was so much fun to color with my copics, I matched her outfit to a DP I had from a DCWV pack and love love love the absolutely ticket die from AMuse - and the set of sentiments that you can purchase to go along with, it worked perfectly for this card. I send a lot of birthday cards so just trying to get a few ahead so I don't slammed during the busy holiday season. Enjoy.

Halloween Hello

We had a "special" request for chemo angels for a lady that had fallen and broken her leg - she loves cats and since it is getting close to Halloween and it is fall I decided to use an Image from Mabelles collection - I love Fibi and Lilly - especially with these lovely pumpkins - I went with Halloween colors and used my nesties to cut out the focal image then used my new Amuse dies to cut the scallop border - how much fun it was to layer the colors to match my backgrounds. A little bit of bakers twine tied at the corner and a card is ready to go in the mail today. When I mail my cards I really "need" to keep the embellishments simple so I don't have to add 20 cents extra postage, you see I probably send out at least 30+ cards a month so cost comes into play.

Halloween Tags

My hairdresser knows I LOVE to stamp and create and she asked me to make her up a few Halloween tags so she could put them on her grand childrens gifties, I knew that I was going to use the set from AMUSE Too cute to spook and I think they turned out just darling. I used (or cased) a lot of the ideas directly from the holiday Catalog but there were a couple that I came up with on my own. With the beautiful cs, embellishments, dies, bakers twine they came together so easily and quickly. I can't wait to take them to her tomorrow. Got my fingers crossed XXXX that she will want some Christmas Tags too!!!

Be Strong

Since Oct. is breast cancer awareness month I have one more card to show today - this one is using a TAC image and the words from MFT (My Favorite Things), I love how the image resembles a cross and an angel - so simple but so powerful. I colored the ribbon with copics the halo in gold mounted it on nesties labels then a piece of shimmer (Hobby Lobby 40% off), and had already cut and tied this pink ribbon for another card and it just didn't look right but fit perfectly on this one. I already have an envie addressed and ready for this card to go to a Chemo patient.

Dinosaur Birthday

As some of you know I am a Chemo Angel, "special angel" and a "sub angel" I send a lot of cards and never seem to have enough little boy cards. I found this stamp at Hobby Lobby from Stampabilities and it was 40% off (even better) and thought perfect image for boys. I worked it up in green and yellow - very little coloring and the card went together very easily. I am hoping this will make a smile appear on a little guy.

We Love Mabelle R.O.

I think this should just be Dessert Weekend - I love all things sweet - the DT over at PaperWings is having a hop using Mabelle images and for this one I chose Cupcake Cuties - you see I also love Mabelles images and I am so happy she is making rubber images available to us again. This little cutie was colored with copics, the DP is from DCWV - ribbon is a MS ribbon, nesties to showcase the image and the saying is from TAC Sweet Sayings. I love chocolate and blue together so that is the theme I kept with. I added the dots around the image and I think it makes it stand out just a bit more.

Happy Dessert Day

Did you know that today is Dessert Day - WOW I am glad that Dessert Day is not everyday because I LOVE sweets. For my card I used a sweet image from My Favorite Things from Pure Innocence - this little girl is so cute and is one of my favorite. I paper pieced her dress and cupcake liner with paper from TAC, colored her skin tones with copics, hair and shoes with prisma pencils and OMS. Of course she needed a bit of bling in her hair with a hear sparkle from Amuse and another one on her shoe buckle. The cherry on the top of the cupcake has liquid accent to make it look real. I had this cute cupcake ribbon and it just worked perfect. Enjoy Dessert Day.

DPDC17 Candy Corn Ants

Every month Doodle Pantry there is a monthly challenge and I usually take part - you see I LOVE their colored images!!! For this month I used the treat box which I printed out on magenta cs, cut out then used printed DP that came with the set Candy Corn Ants - purple ghosts and green candy corn paper - this worked perfect cut out my main focal image with nesties, tied together with bakers twine and filled with candy corn. What a cute giftie for a co-worker or for a very sweet special grand daughter!!!

Wedding Pics

Just had to share a couple of pics from "the wedding" yesterday. My beautiful 24 year granddaughter got married and of course Grandma is very proud. She is simply beautiful and the ceremony was stunning. The other pic is of my youngest granddaughter Megan that I am always mailing fun stuff to - she will be 10 and was the junior bridesmaid and she is going to be as pretty as her sister.

Halloween Tri-fold

A couple of weeks ago on the Hero Arts Blog there was this darling Halloween Tri-Fold card - so packed up my new Too Cute to Spook set from AMuse and my new bat trio die set and some onxy gingham and slate cs again from Amuse and off I went to my friends Patti house just down the road and after some delicious cappuccino we got our creative mojo flowing and we each came up with our own version of this absolutely cute tri-fold card. I choose to use the cat in my window and Pat used the little ghost. How much fun is this card and I already know which granddaughter is going to get it in her Halloween treat box. I got my card home and decided it needed just a hint of color so I colored 2 buggie eyes green with my copic markers (love those copics) and my kitty has green eyes for a little extra spook. Go on over to Pattis blog and check out her darling tri-fold card.

Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness and I am a chemo card angel to 2 women that are currently battling breast cancer so these 2 cards are already on their way - these limited stamps are from MFT and they were just perfect for my chemo angel crusade that I am a part of. Love all of the sayings and the images speak volumes. I chose to stay simple with my card - so I could easily mail them in a regular card envelope.

World Card making Day

My week has been very busy - and although I didn't forget this special card making day - I simply didn't have the Mo-Jo or the time so I quickly put this together this am and this is what I love about AMuse stamps, you can make a card truly in under 10 min. No coloring, just a bit of fussy cutting, nesties dies - some pop dots and how cute did this turn out. This will be sent on to a special chemo patient that is needing some special prayers, and hugs right now. I can't wait to go visit other blogs to see what everyone has posted for their Happy World Card Making Day.

Fall/Halloween Treat Box

Is this not just the CUTEST!!! This is a pattern from Doodle Pantry digi images and I love everything they have!!! This box is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 square - folds flat for mailing - although you have to include the treats - and isn't it cute. I used an image from Mabelle at Whismy and Stars Studio called Pumpkin Kitty - isn't it the cutest and then had some DP in my Halloween stash with candy corn - which worked out perfect. Tied together with Lemonade bakers twine and then filled the tray with Autumn Mix which included candy corn, pumpkins, etc. How cool will this look on my desk at work??? I have several printed out to make to send to family and some of my chemo patients.

Amuse Butterfly

Here is a really quick card I made for a friend who is going through a difficult journey right now and talk about easy peasy. The other day my friend and stamping bud Patti was here and we were looking over my starter kit and she inked up the butterfly in pink pigment (love love love the Amuse pigment inks) and then took the polka dot stamp also Amuse and "kissed" it taking off some of the ink. don't you just love the result. Cut out with an oval nestie - then followed through with the polka dot on the bottom in same pink ink. Since I don't have very many colored cs yet from Amuse I used some I had in my stash and it matched very well. The thinking of you is also a very nice sentiment included in the starter kit. In 10 min. I had my card ready to mail.

Halloween

This is my first Halloween post for this year and I used a CTMH (Close to my Heart stamp set - which my stamping bud and friend "share". We just live a few miles apart and decided to pool resources and share some of the special holiday stamp sets. I was first to use this witch set and don't you just love her??? I used a middle step card pattern (which is so easy and adaptable to almost image), my paper was from my scrap box - and used the MS goo punch for the border - cute cute. Hope you enjoy and now my friend Patti will create with her.

Favorite Set Swap

These are 2 of my cards I choose to do for the favorite Set Swap from the Angel Company (which has now closed) - I choose Apple of my Eye designed by Mabelle - not only a great designer but a great person - the bear was done with a child in mind - ( I have a little 10 year old girl that received a heart/lung transplant a few weeks ago), and the basket of apples was just to "enhance" my coloring with copic skills (LOL). I like how both of these cards turned out and had so much fun creating them. I hope whoever gets my swap cards will be happy with my creation.

Amuse Starter Kit Card

I got my starter kit from Amuse when the big brown UPS truck pulled down my drive way - as he stood at the door with my 2 huge girl dogs threating him he said "I'll just leave it here on the porch for you"!!!, for some reason my girls hate brown. A quick slash of the packing tape with my exacto knife and I was ready to unpack - oh my - I got the $99 starter kit and although I am kind of wishing I had gotten the $149 I am totally happy with what I got, not only how much but the quality. Love the rubber - open the dvd case it comes in and with a light push the image is ready to put on a block and stamp, already indexed, stamped image with bubblegum/grass pigment ink (very nice) and stamped on white, cut out with scallop circle nestie then made my card on sage cs and cut out the card with my lg. scallop nestie die, white on the inside, again very nice. Had to add a bit of bling, clear bling colored with copic and card is ready to do.

Teddy Bear Day

Friday Sept 9 is TEDDY BEAR DAY so I thought of this darling teddy girl from TAC - colored her with Copic Markers - (still working on creating fur like texture) paper pieced her bow with Basic Grey Paper - coloerd the dainty flowers in her head band with Atyou Glitter Markers and fussy cut her and mounted her on circles cut with my nesties. How much fun is she - my dear granddaughter will get her a day or two late but she will still enjoy.

DPDC16 Noahs Ark

This week over at Doodle Pantry the challenge is to use any Doodle Pantry digi image. Well I have several but I had not yet used Noahs Ark - which is precolored (love it) and ready to go. I used a middle step card design - printed out my digi image, added some polka dotted DP (source unknown) on the sides and bottom, then decided to use my punch Treading Waters to punch a border and it worked perfect!!. I love the results!!

Brandy and Emma

As some of you know I am a Chemo Angel - and we got a "special request for a gentleman that "loves" dog and needed some cheer so I immediately thought of the dog from Brandy and Emma - colored with Copics (HELP - I need suggestions with coloring lifelike animals), cut with nesties, DP is from DCWV - Pet Stack - some brown grograin ribon from my stash and the card was complete. On the outside I put Smile and the inside said "I do that when I think of you". There are so many sentiments from TAC that are so appropriate in special situations, I will surely miss them. I am sending this guy a pic of my 2 "BIG" girl dogs and I know he will smile!!!

Final Farewell

I really was challenged with what to do for our "Final Farewell to TAC" Blog Hop - and then this afternoon it finally came to me and this card reflects now only what I feel but what TAC has meant to me the past 9 years. When I think of TAC, Mischelle - and the dear angel friends I have made over the years I can only smile with the memories. Tac inspired me to take risks, be creative, and come out of my shell - when I joined I was so much a "lurker" but with the encouragement of Mischelle and dear angels I spread my wings and learned to fly. My self esteem grew, I became more confident in my skills and learned there was no "wrong" way or mistakes in stamping, it was just an opportunity to embellish!!! And embellish I do!!! May everyone be showered with blessing as new opportunities arise - I know everyone will find their niche and continue to be creative. Thank you for all the memories which no one can take away!!! Now follow the links and continue on this final farewell journey to TAC.

Julie:
Seleise
Rita W.
Donna
Chan
Mary
Angela K.
Laura
Barbara
Trudy
Wendy
Carol
Rita K.
Chelsea
Kim
Paula Kay
Ginger
Teresa
Maria
Angie
Deb Miller
Diana
Betty G.
Christine
Sandy A.
Char
Diane H.
Chris F.
Stacy
Rita H.