Have a Most Blessed Thanksgiving!

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Pie

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my family and friends living here in the USA!!! may your blessings overflow! we have so many things to be thankful for....

my family is all gathered here in our home today. I am so grateful to God for all He has provided. life is good indeed! I count each of you among my blessings! :)

enjoy your day to its fullest!

Thankful for YOU! :)

Coffee of the Day - Eggnog

Why yes, I am thankful for YOU! grins! y'all put up with my long absences, and I really appreciate you hanging in with me. all of you so rock the casbah! :)

the Simply Betty group over on Facebook has a challenge to use this cute image, add pleats, use autumn colors, and then frame the sentiment that comes with the image. phew..... that is a bunch of stuff to do, especially for someone like me who does not do well with adding those fine details to my watercoloring. but I did try. must say it is not one of my best efforts, but try I did. ;)

the frame for the sentiment comes from Graphics Fairy. isn't it gorgeous? papers are Basic Grey Indian Summer. I am gonna be crying in my coffee when I use the last of this precious collection. it is one of my all time faves. the fabby embossing folder is by Sizzix, and the oval die is Spellbinders. everything else is from my stash.

Hope to be back, if at all possible, with another project before Thanksgiving. y'all take care! much love to ya!

Challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketches - current sketch
Great Impressions - Thankful Thoughts
OSAAT - Giving Thanks
Robyn's Fetish - use a digi
Sentimental Sundays - Heartfelt Thanks
Catch the Bug - photo inspiration
Jo's Scrap Shack - Happy Thanksgiving
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Preparing for the Holidays/Fall
Open  Minded Crafting - Grateful
Paper Pretties - Be Thankful/Thanksgiving
Simon Says Stamp - Thanks/Thanksgiving
WAW - anything encouraging goes
Clear it Out - anything goes
Cuttin' and Stampin' - Thanksgiving
Die Cuttin' Divas - Happy Thanksgiving
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Give Thanks
Card Mania - use a digi
Craft Your Passion - pumpkins or turkeys
Dream Valley - anything goes
Melondeadz - add a sentiment
Perfectly Rustics - embossing

Give Thanks

Coffee of the Day - Caramel Vanilla Cream

I absolutely LOVE Thanksgiving! it is probably my most fave of all of the holidays! the idea of being thankful for all with which we've been blessed makes my heart and soul just SOAR! :) plus getting together with family and friends is one of the best things to make this old gal get jiggy..... tee hee!

So I decided to use this beautiful A Day for Daisies image, 'Giving Thanks,' along with the fabulous verse being offered for free at Word Art Wednesday. papers and stickers are from the Basic Grey Grand Bazaar collection, flower is Prima, satin ribbon is May Arts, and main image die is Spellbinders. crochet trim is vintage and buttons are from my stash. the little feathers seemed the perfect accent to complete the card. :)

Challenges:
ADFD - krafty tags
WAW - anything encouraging goes
Mojo Monday - sketch 370 (turned on its side)
Crafts 4 Eternity - ribbon and lace
TTCRD - anything goes
Simply Create Too - Thanksgiving
Di's Digi Designs - colors of Autumn
Brown Sugar - Thanksgiving
Pile it On - Special Ocassions (Thanksgiving)
Crafty Catz - ribbon and lace
Fussy and Fancy - Thankful
Quick Quotes - Grateful or Thankful
Wags 'n Whiskers - Let's Be Thankful
Dream it Up - Thankful and Thoughtful
Paper Pretties - Give Thanks
Repeat Impressions DCC115 ~ Time To Give Thanks
Our Daily Bread - Thanksgiving or Christmas (I am sorry that I do not have any of your products to use)
Party Time Tues - anything goes
Eureka - Count Your Blessings
Path of Positivity - Gratitude

A Little Christmas Joy!

Coffee of the Day - Eggnog, to get in the mood! :)

It's been way too long since I've been able to play along in the fun progressive challenges over at From the Heart, so I wanted to do all I could to be sure I participated this month. Just look at this adorable image everyone is to use, "Faithful Friends - Angel Joy."  oh my goodness! sweetness overload! :)

papers are from the Basic Grey Evergreen collection, oval dies are Spellbinders, leafy branch die is Memory Box, and flourish die is Tim Holtz for Sizzix. flowers are all by Petaloo. a bit of paper piecing, and then sparkles added by way of shimmerz paint and glitter gel pens. a few touches with my spica white gel pen, too. sequins, a button, and some pretty vintage lace finish the card.

I used a gate fold technique on this card, as a sketch I came across seemed absolutely perfect to go along with it. the flourish die is cut from a piece of plastic packaging. you know how I love to re-purpose things when I can. :)

sorry I have not been as consistent with my craft posts as I would like. just have been having a doozy of a time with my icky tum. I know y'all get weary of my health yuck posts, so I try not to mention it too often on here. but man oh man, cancer and its side effects just plain ol' stink.

hope you have a most wonderful weekend! we are having a few little snow flurries here. I do so love this season! love to all of you!

Challenges:
From the Heart - sketch and/or twist: gate fold or window (gate fold)
Seems A Little Sketchy - sketch
Alphabet Ch - T is for Traditional Christmas
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - anything goes
Creative Corner - Christmas
QKR Stampede - Let's Talk Christmas
Party Time Tues - anything goes
Sister Act - any card goes
Delightful Ch - patterned paper
Milk Coffee - hand color image
Add a Little Dazzle - photo/color inspiration
Crafting By Designs - anything goes
Creative Moments - anything goes/celebrations
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - anything goes
Scrapper's Delight - anything goes/paper piecing
WAW - anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - make it sparkle (sequins, glitter pens, shimmerz paints)
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - make it sparkle (sequins, glitter pens, shimmerz paints)
Papertake Weekly - anything goes with sparkle
TTCRD - anything goes
Card Mania - use your dies (Spellbinders, Sizzix, Memory Box)
Dream Valley - Christmas
One Stitch at a Time - anything goes w/distressing
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - anything Christmas goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes w/patterned paper
Die Cut Divas - Holidays w/die cuts (Spellbinders, Sizzix, Memory Box)
A Gem of a Challenge - paper piecing

Celebrate Christmas with Jellypark! Blog Candy Winners, too!

Coffee of the Day - Hazelnut

Today begins a new challenge over at Jellypark, and Mel was kind enough to invite me to be a guest designer! it was truly a delight to be back playing with the fun images found at Jellypark, so thank you for the invitation, Mel!

the theme for the month of November is Christmas. I do hope you will play along! my former teamie, Lisa Sumpter, so do stop by to see the great cards she has made. :)

I made 2 projects, both using papers from the My Mind's Eye Winter Wonderland collection.

for my holiday tag, I used the cutey image 'Skater Girl' and fussy cut her once I had finished painting. shimmerz paint adds shine to her skates while stickles add a bit of texture and sparkle to her hat.

the tag base was embossed using the Cuttlebug Snowflakes folder. several shades of ink were watercolored for the bg, and then white craft ink was applied to the snowflakes. blue glimmer mist was lightly sprayed over the top.

snow mounds were cut from lyrics I printed of the song, 'Let it Snow.' shimmery Mr. Huey's spray was added and stickles was applied to the borders. same treatment for ice skating pond oval.

pom pom trim, button, baker's twine, silver cord, tag, sequins, and vintage holly leaves complete the tag. can't wait to add this to a gift at Christmas! :)

my next project is a card implementing the popular chalkboard look. I used the 'Christmas Window' image by Jellypark. lots of sparkle and shine on the main image thanks to shimmerz paint and stickles!

I created the chalkboard tag by drawing lines with a white gel pen and then lightly sponging white craft ink over the entire tag. embellishments include baker's twine, gorgeous wide, white ribbon, buttons, a Petaloo poinsettia, and holiday lights created with dies by Memory Box and matching paper. I added crystal effects to the lights to give them extra gloss.

thanks so much for stopping by! it was wonderful to be crafting again! hopefully it won't be so long between times in my craft room.....

I also now have the winners of my Pinktober Blog Candy. it took me a bit to figure out how to get piccys of the random.org generator, but finally have them! I need the following 3 people to get in touch with me at (jenscull at yahoo dot com) please:
3. Terriavidreader
7. stef h
4. Mel H :)

Thank you to everyone who entered! I wish I could give all of you a prize for being so fabulous!!!

Challenges
Tag:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - anything Christmas goes
Emerald Faeries - non-traditional Christmas colors
Mema's Crafts - anything goes
The Crafting Cafe - not a card
Pile it On - feeling cool
Christmas at Sweet Stamping - snowflakes
Crafts 4 Eternity - tags & tickets
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - sparkle (shimmerz paint, glimmer mist, stickles, sequins)
Crafty Calendar - all about Christmas
Little Claire's - Christmas
Catch the Bug - anything goes
Brown Sugar - anything goes
Delicious Doodles - Baby, It's Cold Outside
MAWTT - winter
Paper Shelter - Christmas
Crafting for All Seasons - Tag It
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - anything goes
Divas by Design - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wed - anything goes
Word Art Wed - anything encouraging goes
Creative Card Crew - bows
Craft-Dee BowZ - anything goes w/handmade bow
Crafty Boots - music
Eureka - buttons and bows
Incy Wincy - buttons and bling (sequins)

Card:
Papertake Weekly - sketch (turned on its side)
Animal Fiends - It's Cold with an animal (kitty)
Bearly Mine - Christmas Cards
Emerald Faeries - non-traditional Christmas colors
Really Reasonable Ribbon - anything goes w/ribbon
Pile it On - feeling cool
Crafty Ribbons - tag w/ribbon
Crafts 4 Eternity - tags & tickets
Crafty Calendar - all about Christmas
Little Claire's - Christmas
Brown Sugar - anything goes
QKR Stampede - 3 of a kind (buttons)
Sister Act - any card goes
Aud Sentiments - 2 or 3 words sentiments
MAWTT - winter
Crafting for All Seasons - Tag It
Crafty Creations - brads, buttons, or bows
Divas By Design - anything goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wed - anything goes
Word Art Wed - anything encouraging goes
Creative Card Crew - bows
Craft-Dee BowZ - anything goes w/handmade bow
Eureka - buttons and bows