Monday, January 11, 2016

Monday Musings

Hi All,

I think Monday is the most dreaded day of the week.  For most of us, after 2 days of rest & relaxation, it's back to work, the kids go back to school.  It's trying to find how to squeeze another hour in a day, contemplating dinners for the week.  Planning for all the errands that will undoubtedly, at least for me, fall on the very next weekend of which I should be resting and relaxing!  Somebody stop this merry-go-round will ya!  Maybe I will win the $ 1.4 billion dollar lottery.  If I do, I want it all in $20's.  Easier to spend in small bills...LOL!

While I'm dreaming of fortune and fame, please enjoy the next 2 page spread that I have done.  A friend gave me this paper at a crop and told me to make something out of it.  Well Ms. Hamm....here you go!  Hope you like it.

Hugs,
Chris


 for some strange reason my close up pics are importing upside down...LOL!  Just a cute travel page.  Very masculine in color.  Notice the split picture in the middle.  Don't be afraid to split pictures into two pages.  Gives the layout some depth and interest.  The light brown is actually corrugated paper.  I crumpled the "Sightsee" word and inked it.  Adds some interest to an otherwise flat surface.
 
 






Sunday, January 10, 2016

A Big Change Heading My Way

Hi All,

I'm getting ready for a big change in my life. Something new is coming that will help me spark that creativity I have burning in the back of my brain!  I can't wait to share it with you, but you'll have to be patient a week or so longer. 

I've been sticking to my index card schedule that I mentioned in my last post.  I cleaned out the linen closet yesterday, made a scrapbook page and checked out a website I had noted several months ago.  I'm in day 5 of this annoying sinus infection and am still feeling a little punk from it.  But today I cleaned out the medicine cabinet, made a 2 page spread and also checked out a grocery website that I've been neglecting for some time.  I'm making headway on my "home bucket list" but it seems to be growing...and growing. 

I did want to make a scrapbook page a day, but if I make a double page layout does that actually count as two pages?  While I'm checking out the websites I've wanted to visit, I'm finding more and more to view.   It's like Pinterest.  You say to yourself, "Self you can sit down for 10 minutes and check your web sites".  The next thing you know an hour or 4 have flown by in the blink of a curser!
Such is life!  

Well...here's a couple more pages I made.  So if I count each page as one and I want to do a page a day, I'm only 6 pages behind!

Hope you enjoy and remember---Have fun & Stamp on!
Hugs
Chris


I love pearls with black & white!

Used 3 different papers and layered them.

I love this ribbon with the beadwork!

Doilies were inked black, pink just didn't cut it.

 The final spread!

Friday, January 8, 2016

Happy New Year

Hi All,

Sorry this is late.  Have a really bad bug and it's been keeping me down for the first week of the 2016!  Had the same thing in December.  I certainly hope this is the last of it till next year!

Happy New Year to you all.  I'm looking forward to a great new adventure this year.  I'm stepping down from Stampin' Up and will be moving forward with a new company.  I can't spill the beans right now, but it's sure going to be fun! 

In the interim I have been working on some scrapbook pages.  I've been trying hard to use my stash of goodies that I would have otherwise tried to sell at a local garage sale for scrapbookers and stampers. 

I've set up an index card box with a chore a day on it.  So far I have 3 chores that need to be done each day.  Check out a website that I found in the paper, magazine or online and made a note of.  Too often I write them down but don't visit the site. Another one is to clean out a drawer, any drawer as long as it's cleaned out.  And the last one is to make a scrapbook page or card.  Needless to say, I'm already behind!   Without further adieu...here's my first 2 pages!

Enjoy and stay crafty!
Chris

 Loved the color combo. It just works!

 How often do you use your velium words?





These flowers just go with the sticker found in a box.




Another cute find that goes perfectly.

Some cute flowers.

 

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Blogging Friends Blog Hop--Holiday Beginnings

Hi All,

Welcome to the December edition of  Blogging Friends Blog Hop!  My friends and I have been busy created some amazing items to share.  This months theme is centered around the holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah or a snow theme.

If this is your first time around my blog....Welcome!  I'd love it if you would follow me.  And please don't forget to leave me a comment.

If you are following the blog hop, you've traveled here from Anna M's page.  She's a very creative lady!

Here's what I've created....


I purchased some inexpensive white candles and made a trio using the Sleigh Ride Edgelits dies.  I cut each die out using a scrap piece of paper.  I used that as a template and sponged Night of Navy onto the candle above the die cut.  I then used Crystal Effects on the white part of the candle and glittered it with white glitter.  I also used some green, red, gold & brown stickles for added pizzaz!
See below for some of the items used to create these.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog



I decided to get really busy and make another project....



I created a mantle banner for our living room!  It was fun deciding how to decorate my trees.  I just love the versatility of the Festival of Trees stamp set.  You could design a new tree every day for a month!  The paper in the Merry Moments paper stack is sure to bring a smile. The plaid, polka dots and ornaments will make some cute items.  I also used a red, green and white stickles to give my trees some dimension.  See below for the items used to create this.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog



If you are interested in purchasing any of the above items, please click on the Stampin Up Holiday catalog to the right.  It will lead you to my online store. 

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you've enjoyed my creations!  Don't forget to leave me a comment.  Click the button below to continue on to Libby's blog.

https://libbystamps.wordpress.com/2015/12/01/december-blogging-friends-blog-hop/

Or click on a name below



2.) Lisa Kmiec      









  

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Blogging Friends Blog Hop--November, a Time for Reflection





Hi All,

    Welcome to the November edition of Blogging Friends Blog Hop!

     It's November 1st and for most of us that brings thought of holiday dinner, turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce.  All the food groups we love but only seem to eat once or twice a year. Personally, I think cranberry sauce is underrated.  Especially homemade. Nothing like the aroma of cranberries simmering on the stove...pop, pop, pop they go. I have a great recipe for cranberry relish that I make 3 or 4 times before the cranberries disappear from the groceries.  I freeze it in tubs for the warmer weather.  It's very refreshing to eat on a hot summer day, especially with some grilled chicken and vegetables.  I'll post the recipe later this week.

    November makes me thing of everything turkey!  So I had lots of ideas for this months Blogging Friends Blog Hop challenge which is Thanksgiving/Fall themed.  This little guy came to me while I was at work.  Just popped into my brain.  I rushed home and put him together in no time flat.


I hand cut his beak and used the Espresso ink pad to color a pie piece box I received in a Paper Pumpkin kit earlier in the year.  You just never know what might show up in your Paper Pumpkin kit or how you may end up using them!

I hope you enjoy him!


Here's some of the supplies I used to create him.  The tail feathers, arms & wattle are all Vintage Leaves stamped & die-cut.  I used the Early Espresso stamp pad to color my pie box. I used my triangle punch for the beak. The eyes were punched as well.  His sign is hand written.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog





I made a second project for the Blogging Friends Blog Hop.  I wanted to show my appreciation for some lady friends at a crop I was at recently. 


 The picture doesn't do it justice.  There were a couple chocolate Kisses inside each box.  And a pull out pop up card. The card fit inside in a nice neat little folded package so when it was pulled up each person got a special message from me telling the I was grateful for them!  

Thanksgiving is a great time of year to embrace your family and friends and let them know they are truly special and loved.

I am grateful for my wonderful husband and children, my loveable grandkids, all my family and my friends.  I carry them with me always in my heart.

Wishing you all a
 Blessed Thanksgiving! 


                             This is the inside card from the box.


Here's the supplies I used to make this treat box.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog



Make sure you hop on by to see what the rest of the group is doing. 

Continue


1. Crystal

2. Lisa

3. Anna M

4. Chris---You are Here!

5. Libby

6. Anne P 

7. Danica

8. Deborah

9. Jessica

10. Jodi

11. Mary










Friday, October 16, 2015

Friday again??!


Funny Bird Gifts - T-Shirts, Art, Posters & Other Gift Ideas | Zazzle



Well....here I am at Friday again!  Where does the time go.  Seems to just quietly creep right by me.

Life's been pretty noisy this past week.  I've been preparing for a 2 day crop & I will be the Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  I've made a easy Christmas card for the make and take using Night of Navy & Whisper White paper with the new Sleigh Ride Edgelits dies.  I totally cased it, but made it my own in small ways.

I had supervision while preparing my demo card.  My cat baby, Roma, set on my table watching me like...hmm, how do I say...well like only a cat can.  She was in her vulture pose, poised to strike at anything that suited her fancy.  Scissors, twine, pieces of paper and egad, a stamp pad.  I can picture my rug and hardwood right now with little paw prints in Blackberry Bliss and Blue Lagoon...hahaha.

I also made a really cute something-something special for each of the ladies who will be attending.
I'll give you more information on that later.  (No...Roma did not supervise while assembling these.) 

I have so much stuff to bring to this crop, that I've enlisted the help of my husband.  When I asked him if he wanted to go help me set up, he told me that he's not interested in scrapbooking with me LOL!  Bless his poor heart....I almost didn't want to hurt his feelings and tell him it wasn't an invitation to scrap with me, I just need the muscle to unload the car!  I will insist he wears steel toe shoes though.  Funny story and I will share it share with you soon.

While I was pulling papers, ribbons, inks and all the other myriad of paper crafting supplies I needed to take with me, I found several cards I made that I had totally forgotten about.   I'll post them this weekend, live from the crop. 

Until then...Have Fun & Stamp On!
Hugs,
Chris



Friday, October 9, 2015

Time Flies

Hi All,

     Can't believe it's been over a week since I posted.  I've been on vacation for the last week...well almost.  I did work on Monday!  Been bee-bopping around with my husband.  Antiquing, indulging, apple picking, fishing, gambling.  Whew...I'm tied just thinking about all the running we've been doing.  Not to mention the medical tests I've got to get done.  The Dr. found a lump under my arm so I was scheduled for a mammo & an ultrasound on Thursday.  Turns out the place I was supposed to go to (won't mention their name) cancelled the ultrasound over a week ago and never told me.  Now I'm scrambling to get it done and soon.  The suspense of what this lump is, well it's making me crazy.

     I've been trying to stay busy to keep my mind off things.  Here are a couple calendar pages I made for a swap.  I picked October as my month as Fall is my favorite time of year and Halloween is a favorite holiday of mine. 

 
Check out these super cute Owl salt & pepper shakers!
Cracker Barrel...under a buck

Check out my black cat "retro" candle holder. 
Comes with a Skeleton brother & Pumpkin sister!
 

Thanks for looking! 
Hugs,
Chris

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Blogging Friends Halloween



Welcome to the FIRST ever “Blogging Friends Blog Hop!”
Up until one month ago we were a group of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators located all across the U.S. and Canada whom had never met before. Well, actually, we still haven’t met yet (in person). . . But, through our common bond of Stampin’ Up! and a shared love of papercrafting we have created a fun new blog hop. Please join us on the 1st of every month to see what wonderful things we have created!



Hi All,

I am very excited to be part of the Blogging Friends Blog Hop! We are a passionate group of Stampin Up Independent Demonstrators located all over the USA and Canada. We are very much looking forward to sharing our love of stamping and paper crafting with you. You will learn more about each of us as you Blog Hop thru. I hope you will find many fresh and fun ideas to CASE and make your own!

Our first Hop theme is Halloween. This is quickly becoming my favorite holidays of the year to decorate...why I have almost as much Halloween decorations as I do Christmas decorations! I am fortunate that my husband likes to decorate with me, when I let him and only if he puts the stuff where I tell him...LOL.

This week I used the new Howl-o-Ween Treat Clear Mount Bundle to make this cute card. The eyes of the skeleton are they eyes of the owl from inside the card. I used the "Boo" from the Boo to You Framelits die set on the inside to cover the punched holes. The paper is the 2014-2015 In Color Backgrounds Designer paper. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it.


Stop back in November 1st for our Thanksgiving theme Blog Hop.
Till then
Hugs,
Chris


Libby

https://libbystamps.wordpress.com/2015/10/01/october-blogging-friends-blog-hop/
http://powerstampin.blogspot.com/2015/10/blogging-friends-blog-hop-stampinup-Halloween.html
www.maryblocherstamping.blogspot.com
http://www.mybeautyscraps.com/2015/09/1BFBH.html
http://stampandcreate.net/blogging-friends-blog-hop/
http://thecrazychaotichouse.blogspot.com/2015/10/blogging-friends-blog-hop.html
http://amomhavingfun.com/halloween-card-ideas-october-blogging-friends-blog-hop/
www.superstampgirl.com/blog
http://lisakmiecstamps.blogspot.com/2015/10/blogging-friends-blog-hop.html
http://stampwithanna.blogspot.com/2015/10/its-time-for-blog-hop.html
http://stampedbychris.blogspot.com/2015/10/blogging-friends-halloween.html




www.superstampgirl.com/blog

lisakmiecstamps.blogspot.com

stampwithanna.blogspot.com

stampedbyChris.blogspot.com You are here!

libbystamps.wordpress.com

www.stampspaperink.com

maryblocherstamping.blogspot.com

www.mybeautyscraps.com

www.stampandcreate.net

thecrazychaotichouse.blogspot.com

A Mom Having Fun




Sunday, September 27, 2015

Using What I Have

I think I mentioned that I am trying to use my stamp sets instead of letting them sit in a drawer collecting dust. Make that wasting space. I'm not sure how things in drawers collect dust. Unless you are sanding something I would think a drawer is a pretty clean space. Isn't that the whole premise of a drawer...to keep things clean, not dusty! Enough about dust, check out thsi card, "Thinking of You"


I found the leaves in some floral stuff I had in my repertoire of craft supplies. You can't see it in the picture but there is bling in the corners on the right side, it's different for a change. The paper is from SU last year and the stamp set is Kinda Eclectic. Cute don't you think!

I'm off to see tonight's lunar eclipse, the Blood Moon!
Till next time...

Hugs,
Chris

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Old Friends

I just read that an old friend from high school, well her father passed away. I think about her from time to time but I haven't seen her in years. I did make contact with her about 8 years ago, but fell short of following up. She's in real estate. Her picture shows that the years have treated her well...she hardly looks any different from how I remember her. I have one great picture of her with my old high school sweetheart. Long hair, jeans and a mid-length suede-leather coat. Some of you remember those...they were actual leather. However knowing what I know now, wouldn't wear it today, animal cruelty and so on. Every time I think of my friend, I think of this photo. I cherish it more than one might expect. It reminds me of a simpler time in life. We were fresh, young and looking forward to the lives ahead of us. As I read the obituary, my mind kept wandering to that photo, and although our lives have taken us down different roads, I'm thinking of her and sending prayers her way. Love and prayers to you Colleen...you are never far from thought.

Hugs
Chris