Sew Many Cards Winter Challenge & Pink Elephant Challenge!

This week's challenge over at Sew Many Cards is to make a winter themed project. I've never made a shaker card before so.....I decided this little penguin (PJ) would be the perfect image to go with a shaker card. I just purchased some new craft scissors that came in that heavy plastic packaging so I cut a circle out of that with my nesties and then adhered that to my scalloped "ring". I made my ring by using the scalloped circle nestie with a smaller plain circle nestie inside of it and cut them both at the same time so that I ended up with a frame(clear as mud?). Next time I'll try to remember to take some pictures as I go or if I can talk my son in to it I'll get him to help me video it. It's really easy but if you are like me - visuals help! Anywho....then I took foam tape and adhered it all around my scalloped circle so that it would stand up away from my image enough for the glitter to move nicely. I removed the backing from the foam tape everywhere except a little section at the top and adhered it to my patterned paper with the image already in place. I then used that little opening at the top to add my glitter and then I removed the backing from that and adhered it so that the glitter could not escape. I promise you it is much easier than it sounds and what a neat effect! I'm also submitting this for the Pink Elephant Challenge this week of making a project using your favorite Christmas combo! I do love all the traditional red/greens, burgundy/golds, blue/silvers---actually, I love them all!

Logan Won!!!!

We are so proud of Logan!!!! The recreation center here on base had an essay contest and they picked a winner from 3 different age groups and all 3 were recognized Friday night at a special tower lighting ceremony. Logan won for his age group! He got to go up on stage and get an up close view of the Freedom Tower lights coming on!

Can you believe it? Home Decor Project!!!

I never really do any kind of altered projects or anything....I'm primarily a cardmaker scrapbooker but....when I saw this on Christmas with the Cricut I just had to try it. Mandy over at Polka Dot Spot came up with this beautiful project and I just had to see if I could do it, too. Be sure to go check hers out here and scroll down because she has another one that is also gorgeous!!! It is very time consuming but....it is so CUTE IRL and so unique. Mandy used a styrofoam cone but our Walmart only had the green floral cones so I used that...will definitely try harder to find the styrofoam next time because I had that green stuff all over me! I used my cricut and winter woodland cartridge to cut out lots and lots of snowflakes in 2 different sizes and then.....used the corsage type pins to attach them to the cone. Put a bow on top and tada!!! If you have a cricut (even if you don't) and haven't seen the Christmas with the Cricut blog.....you really need to grab a cup of coffee and sit back and just stroll threw that site as there are so many ideas of things to make with your cricut that you will never have thought of!! Some of them are easy enough for even me to do! These ladies ROCK!!!

BLOG CANDY!!!

I'm so excited - this is my first blog candy! The winner receives this Generations CropperPack scrapbook backpack and a package of 2 Sakura Stardust gelly roll pens (these are awesome). This treat is to celebrate this month's Sew Many Cards New Releases! All you have to do is sign up as a follower on my blog and leave a comment on this post, my sneak peek post and/or......my Dec. 7th post revealing the new image I worked with! So....if you post on all three then you have three chances to win. Please only enter once on each post. I will jot down the blogger names and have one of my boys draw a name out of a hat to determine the winner! Be sure to leave your info so I can get in contact with you if you are the winner. You have until Dec. 9th to post and I will announce the winner on Dec. 10th.

Sew Many Cards New Release Sneak Peek!!!

Oh!!! I can't wait to see all the new releases! I've only seen mine so I can't wait to see the ones the rest of the design team have been working on!!! Be sure to head on over to Sew Many Cards Ning community and email Jeri, Sarabeth or Angela to submit your guess as to what you think this image is by Dec. 6th and.....check out all the fun games and prizes going on this week!!! Be sure you sign up for the newsletter also as there is a 50% off coupon this week and that is how you will receive your friday freebies! Head on over to Sheila's blog here and Trish's blog here to see their sneak peek's today, too! There are sneak peek's all this week so be sure to check all the design team's blogs as some of us are giving blog candy! I'll be posting mine probably later today! UPDATE: Blog candy has been posted above so you may leave a comment here and/or above on the blog candy post and/or on my upcoming reveal post on Dec. 7th. Limit one comment on each post, however, you do have three chances to win!

Sew Many Cards Accordian Challenge

This week's challenge is to make an accordian card. I've never tried this style before but once I got my base cut and scored I had so much fun with it!!! I love this sweet little image - I thought it would make the perfect "pick me up" card to let someone know I'm praying for them. There is so much happening over at Sew Many Cards this week - be sure to check out the blog and the ning community to see all the sneak peeks, games, challenges, and prizes over there this week!

Sew Many Cards Newbie!

This little cutie is one of Angela's new images isn't he adorable - makes me want to bake cookies! Don't forget Angela also has a freebie every Friday and all you have to do is sign up for the Sew Many Cards newsletter and it will be emailed directly to you - you don't even have to remember to check the blog on Fridays - it will come right into your inbox - how is that for awesome service?! I had some time to go "blog hopping" the other night and I ran across this really cute blog here. I used a layout idea I saw on her blog for this card. I wanted the image big so I wanted the rest of the layout pretty simple - pretty much my style anyway. I found some REALLY cute cards on this site that are right up my alley! Be sure to go check it out. Also, be sure to check back in for a sneak peek for the upcoming Sew Many Cards releases! Sneak peeks are starting next week!!! I have only seen the one I'm working with but I can tell you mine is CUTE CUTE CUTE so I can't wait to see the others!!! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and if you are out shopping today - be safe!

Sew Many Cards & Cutting Cafe Challenge!!

This week Regina from The Cutting Cafe has graciously sponsored Sew Many Cards and I have to say I love working with her designs!!! I thought her ornaments (green ones on either side) worked so well with Jaden and her Christmas ornament. I love that reindeer circular sentiment of Regina's, too! You won't believe how many images you get in each of her sets!!!

I had so much fun working with Regina's images this week that I made a second card. For this one, I chose Angela's carolers and used Regina's fa la la la and Christmas sentiments which went perfectly with this image. This is my first easel card and I have to admit it really was easy and yet such a neat card! If you haven't been over to The Cutting Cafe it is so worth hopping on over! She not only has AWESOME images but she and her design team are WONDERFUL - you will be so inspired!!! Not only does she have The Cutting Cafe but be sure to check out her other blogs also. Be sure to check out her Bingo cards - I plan on using it in the very near future - CUTE! CUTE! CUTE!!!

Our challenge this week was to use images from both companies on a Christmas project. Although is not required, we hope you will do the same. Can't wait to see your projects! You can link them here:

Gypsy Giveaway!!!

Hurry on over to The Gypsy spot (click here) and get your chance in to win a GYPSY - yes they are giving away a Gypsy on December 1st. While you are there be sure to check on the wonderful projects! Good Luck!

Sew Many Cards Freebie Friday!

I just can't get over Angela's Friday Freebies - they are soooo adorable and they are FREE!!! There has been a slight change and the images are now being sent out to you via email so be sure if you haven't already to go over and sign up for the newsletter so you won't miss out on any of these images. It just so happened that Angela's polar bear almost matches the new Imaginesce holiday papers that just came out so I had to use this paper. I used my copics to color his scarf as close as I could to the one on the patterned paper and then a little here and there to shade him in. I "doodled" the swirls as close as I could to the paper and then added some snowflake brads that I've had for quite a while and all done! Hope you have a great weekend! If you happen to stop by, please leave me a comment as I love to hear from you.

Sew Many Cards Color Challenge

This week's challenge over at Sew Many Cards is a color challenge. To play along just use orange, green and brown to make a fall project (you can use more colors in the image). I loved playing with Tayla and the turkey. Wait until you see this week's Friday Freebie - SOOOOO cute!! You do need to sign up for the email newsletter over at Sew Many Cards to get it so hurry on over and get on the email list!

Practical Scrappers Acrylic Paint Challenge

This weeks challenge over at Practical Scrappers is to use acrylic paint on your project. I've been itching to play with my sticky canvas so....I decided to use a big square of it for a background. I just painted it red and frayed the edges a little and you can't really see the texture in the photo but...IRL it looks really neat! I used some Coordinations cardstock for my base layer and it doesn't show up very good in the photo because I only have a white backdrop for my photo - going to have to pick up some black but....it does have the more vintage distressed look and then I felt it needed something so my son, Logan, said it would be really cool to have some "snow" around the edges. I decided on some white lace because I wanted more texture than fun flock which is the only other thing I had on hand. My first choice would have been some gathered red gingham but...couldn't find any. Hope you will come on over to Practical Scrappers and check some of the awesome LO the design team did and I'm sure that the projects that will be showing as the week progresses will be awesome, too!

The Greeting Farm Challenge

This sweet little witch is the image I chose to work with for the 2nd part of The Greeting Farm Where the Wild Things Are challenge. The challenge this week is to work with this sketch by Cindy Haffner (love her work!) and to use a digi image or a stamp by Marina Neira. The winner gets to be the guest designer next month!!! Now I know Halloween is past and we are all looking forward to Thanksgiving but....this little witch is too cute and I still have some of my awesome Basic Grey Eerie papers so......now I'm ahead for next year!! I colored "Penny Witch" with my copics and used my nesties to cut out some circles and then added some bling and it was just that easy. These images are sooooo..... fun to work with as Marina has worked in the shading in the image so it is wonderful for someone like me who can never decide where exactly I want to add my shading. She has already worked it all out and all I have to do is add my touches!

Sew Many Cards Friday Freebie

This is Angela's Freebie for this week! I didn't have time yet to make something with this image but I can't wait to play with it. I love dolphins and I think this image is ADORABLE!!!! Be sure to go on over and grab it while you can! The kids have had me so busy this week but I have been working on some things just can't post them yet. Hubby comes home this weekend so I hope to get some projects finished.