From My Home to Yours

May you all be blessed during this magical time of year!!

More Christmas Cards - Pink Cat Studio Style

Here are two fun Christmas cards that I made. The first one went to a former student....I know she'll love it :) I think it's a hoot!!

I'm off to get my gifts wrapped....hopefully I'll be back to share some tags. I passed out the Facebooks today and they were a HUGE hit!! Especially since I paired them with Spree candy canes :)


Details - Card 1:
Stamps - Hootie Pie Santa & sentiment(Pink Cat Studios); Snowfall Additions (PTI)
Ink - Copics; Platinum Brillance
Paper - white, Melon Mambo, Blush Blossom; Jolly Be Golly (Cosmo Cricket)
Accessories - Nestabilities (circle & petite scallop circle), snowflake punch (Marvy Uchida), Modern Label punch (SU!), Swiss Dots embossing folder, gemstones, dimensionals

Details - Card 2:
Stamps - Betty Tree Costume(Pink Cat Studios)
Ink - Copics
Paper - white, Real Red, green (Bazzill); DCWV
Accessories - Nestabilities (circle & petite scallop circle), Embossed Curves border punch (EK Success), Treading Water border punch (Fiskars), white gel pen (Gelly Roll), red adhesive pearls

A few Christmas Cards

Here are two Christmas cards that I made using PTI's Stocking Prints. I just love this set and can't wait to make some tags with it....I better get my butt in gear or they'll be for next Christmas!

Card 1 Details:

Stamps - Stocking Prints (PTI)

Paper - Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke; Imaginisce dp

Ink - Always Artichoke, Real Red

Accessories - organza ribbon, scallop border punch, baker's twine (Martha Stewart), dimensionals

Card 2 Details:
Stamps - Stocking Prints & Signature Christmas (PTI)
Paper -white, Old Olive; Basic Grey dp (Eskimo Kisses)
Ink - Old Olive, Soft Sky
Accessories - organza ribbon, scallop border punch, Rustic Cream twine (PTI), dimensionals

Tis the Season to....sparkle

It's been snowing and snowing here (and all along the east coast!!!). We have about 7 inches, and it's so beautiful at night with the Christmas lights twinkling underneath the fluffy, white blanket. Thank goodness I finished up my Christmas shopping last night. Today I could focus on starting the big to-do list. I can't wait to share with you what I'm making my students....it's sooooo AWESOME!! You could totally make it for your family, friends, or co-workers :)


But for now, I thought I'd share the Christmas card I made for my best friend (and her husband, although it was inspired by her Christmas decor)

I'm typically purple challenge, but this one came together easily. I just love the combo of purples (SU! Eggplant Envy and PTI Plum Pudding) with white, silver, and PTI Smokey Shadow. Gorgeous!!

Here's the inside of the card:

I know she'll love it! It's always fun to get a card that goes perfectly with your decorations, especially if you're a little crazy (okay, anal) like me :)



Details:
Stamps - Signature Christmas & Snowfall Additions (PTI)
Paper - white, Smokey Shadow & Plum Pudding (PTI), Eggplant Envy (SU!)
Ink - Eggplant Envy (SU!), Fresh Snow (PTI)
Accessories - ribbon ( JoAnn's), gemstones (Hero Arts), glitter & white gel pens (Gelly Roll), gemstone stickers (Stampendous), scallop border punch (SU!), corner rounder, dimensionals

CAS44 - Red & Brown Glistens

Today's CAS challenge over at SCS was to use red & brown....ummmm, hello - this is a fantabulous color combo. Especially for winter. Makes me think of a rustic log cabin all decked out for Christmas.

Here's my take:

It was so quick & easy!! I love it!! Plus I got to use my new snowflake punch that I've looked everywhere for and finally resorted to ordering it from Amazon. It came so fast that I wished I ordered it earlier!


Details:
Stamps - Snowfall Additions (PTI)
Ink - Silver (Brillance)
Paper - Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Accessories - red polka dot ribbon, baker's twine (Martha Stewart), snowflake punch (Marvy Uchida), button, dimensional, corner rounder

Tis the Season....to be thankful!

I don't know about you, but as soon as the calendar reads December I swear that I go into anxious mode. My to-do list gets longer, and it fills like they're just not enough hours in the day! It doesn't help that it gets dark by 5pm! Ugh - I leave when it's barely daylight, and I can enjoy about 1 1/2 hours of it when I get home....yep, I better start taking my Vitamin D.



Anywho......here's another Christmas thank you card that I made for a pal who's into vintage. I was inspired by this card and wanted to add a stocking (from PTI's Stocking Prints) to the center, but it just didn't look right. I liked it just the way it is, so I added the stocking to the inside with my note!

Keep your fingers crossed...I might get my tree up & decked tomorrow night!! I'll have to post photos :)


Details:
Stamps - Christmas Greetings (PTI)
Paper - Very Vanilla; Jolly by Golly (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink - Brick Red (Tsuineko), Gold (Brillance)
Accessories - sage organza ribbon, button, baker's twine (Martha Stewart), petite scallop oval nesties

A Tag for a Diva

A few weeks ago, my stamping pals had our Secret Santa exchange. My secret santa Mandy made the most adorable tag, and I couldn't wait to create one of my own and share it with you.

The tag is 3-D and is created with some simple folding. I posted the tutorial today on the Rubber Romance blog. For my tag, I used Merry the Christmas Diva...how appropriate that this will go on the gift for my friend Mary. I added some glitz to Merry with some glittery and fun flock. Nothing says Christmas like a little glitter :)

Here's a photo of the inside:

Details:
Stamps - Merry the Christmas Diva & Merry Merry Ho Ho sentiment (Rubber Romance)
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copics
Paper - Real Red; Jolly by Golly (Cosmo Cricket)
Accessories - Baker's Twine (Martha Stewart), ornament tag (DCWV), silver ribbon (Offray), Sparkly Fluff, Dazzling Diamonds, Labels One nesties

Simply Christmas - PTI Style

Boy am I tired!! Conferences late last night and this morning have left me wiped out. I had to push myself to get stuff done tonight, but I'm glad I did!

See what I mean:

The current Guest Star Stamper call includes a challenge for simple Christmas Cards. I love Clean and Simple cards to begin with (in fact I think I'll apply for hosting the CAS challenges at SCS) and they're perfect for making & sending around the holidays.

In this card, I stamped the mittens image from the Winter Swirls set in New Leaf and then cut them out. I added the little metal heart (from the Joann's $1 section) and finished the card off super quickly...wahoo b/c this gal needs some R&R.


Details:
Stamps - Winter Swirls (Papertrey Ink)
Ink - New Leaf (PTI); StazOn black
Paper - kraft, black, white
Accessories - metal adhesive heart (Colorbok)

Christmas on a Budget...Rubber Romance Style

Happy Tuesday! I've been so excited since Sunday to share this with you - my Christmas budget organizer!

So what's a Christmas Budget Organizer, you ask? Well, let me tell you!! Every year I always overspend on gifts. I make a list & buy what I've planned on buying BUT THEN other gifts always sneak in there. This year is going to be different! I created this organizer made out of ordinary envelopes. Each envelope is designated for someone on my gift giving list. I place the amount of money I want to spend in each person's envelope. I use the money to buy the gift and place the recipient back in the pouch along with any change. Once the money is gone, I'm done buying gifts for that special someone.

Here's a shot of the pouches:

I left the first pouch untabbed to store any lists or coupons that I may have. NOW FOR THE BEST NEWS!! I've posted a complete tutorial on this easy-peasy project on the Rubber Romance blog - Be sure to check it out...you know you want to :)

So I thought I share the photo of the final product again :) I just love non-traditional holiday colors and these are yummy!! And how about Melanie the Shopper - the oh so chic image from Rubber Romance! She's just perfect on this - coming from a trip at the mall with her hands full of shopping bags. I love this image because it can be used for so many occasions.

Details:
Stamps - Melanie the Shopper (Rubber Romance)
Paper - DCWV Christmas Stack, Soft Sky, Baroque Burgundy, white
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
Accessories - envelopes, green grosgrain ribbon (Offray), Modern Label & Rounded Tag punches, black brads, dimensionals

Christmas Organizer - thanks Lisa Johnson!!

Don't you just love when you see a fabulous project that you can't wait to create one for yourself? Me, too!! And that was the case on Friday when I saw Lisa Johnson's (Poppy Paperie) Christmas list project. I had some mini composition books on hand (got them from Walmart last year), so I knew this would be my project for my monthly get-together on Saturday.

Here's my take on Lisa's idea:

Front cover:

Inside front cover - I made the envelope to hold receipts.....now will I stick them in there?????:

Back inside cover - this is perfect for those weekly Michael's and JoAnn's coupons!!:

One of the tabs I added using half of a circle punch. My tabs included gifts, shopping, and cards:

Side view:

I actually made two yesterday - even though the first one took me forever...I can't talk, listen, think, and craft at the same time! This one is going to my mom. She likes more traditional Christmas colors, so I know that I'll gently hear how the colors aren't really Christmasy - she'd prefer Real Red and Glorious Green rather than the Riding Hood Red and Olive Green that I used. Mine is black, cream, and Riding Hood Red using the damask stocking. I'll post a photo of it later :) For now, I need to finish reading The Lightning Thief - my students are beginning Greek Mythology Mania this week and I'd like to use this novel with them. It's a super cute book - think Harry Potter meets Greek Mythology....and the movie comes out in February (I think) in case you're like me and have to read the book before seeing the movie.


Details:
Stamps - Stocking Prints and Signature Christmas (Papertrey Ink)
Ink - Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Tuxedo Black (Memento), Tea Dye Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Paper - Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, dp - Jolly & Bright Mini Dots (Heidi Grace Designs for Fiskars)
Accessories - rub on letters (Creative Keepsakes), red grosgrain ribbon (Offray), button, black embroidery floss, dimensionals, mini composition book, pen

Tag...You're It!!

Phew!!! I was exhausted by Friday afternoon - I think I'm getting old :) Yesterday, I spent the morning at a Fantasy Football draft...which I wouldn't mind as much except it cut into my time of my monthly stamping get-together. I was hoping to get so much accomplished, but arriving around 4pm did not help!

I did get started on some tags for a swap. I have two more swaps that I signed up for and then I'm done (as you all heard why last week). The first swap is with tags. I'm making Christmas, Halloween, Birthday for adults and for kids.

Here's my Christmas tags:

I got this set from Hero Arts a few years ago for my Christmas cards, and I still love it...the whismical tree is one of my favorites and looks great in so many color combos! Plus I got to add polka dots!!!


Details:
Stamps - Laughter & Merriment (Hero Arts Clear Design); Polka Dot Basics II (PTI)
Ink - Versamark, Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copics (R29 & G05)
Paper - Real Red, white
Accessories - ribbon (JoAnn's), stickles (Xmas red & Yellow), Glossy Accents, dimensional, white cording, hole punch


Paper Hoarder Challenge - 44 cards/projects down, 56 to go

Secret Chef - The Big Reveal

And here's the big reveal!!!! I created a Christmas organizer for Diane - I loved it and can't wait to make one for myself and some other friends & family members. I used the free Recipe Wrap Up Timeless Template from PTI - this was the first time I tried a Timeless Template and it definitely WON'T be the last...they're great!!

This is the outside of the organizer. I used my Cricut to cut out the letters - it's from the Christmas Cheer cartridge...I used four different colors of cardstock and a little cutting to create the title. The dots were stamped on using Versamark.


Here's a shot of the entire organizer opened up. I love gingerbread - it's so Christmas-y! In fact, my entire tree is in gingerbread (I'll have to post a photo in December!!). The gingham paper inspired me to pull out this gingerbread stamp set from Martha Stewart.


Here's some close ups of the six pockets. These two pockets hold 'To Do' lists and gift tags.


These pockets hold gift lists and a Christmas card list. I created these on MS Word and included checkboxes for cards sent & received as well as gifts purchased & wrapped. I tried uploading the documents to Google docs, but it terrorized my formatting. I'm happy to share the files - just let me know your email and I'll send them right out. Oh...you'll need the Digs My Hart font, which can be downloaded for free here.


The final two pockets hold more tags and shopping lists. Don't you love those gingerbread men!! I added some liquid applique for their icing, black Stickles for their eyes, and red bling stickers for their buttons.


Finally, here are close up photos of the tags. I included two different styles. I thought the ric rac was perfect to go along with the gingerbread theme.





I was so happy to hear from Diane saying how much she liked it. It was really sweet to hear how much she appreciated all the time I put into the project - it definitely took me longer than I anticipated, but the results were worth it!

Details:
Stamps - Clear Gingerbread Stamps (Martha Stewart); Polka Dot Basics II (PTI)
Ink - Versamark, Real Red, Glorious Green, Chocolate Chip
Paper - kraft, Real Red, Always Artichoke, red gingham dp
Accessories - buttons, twine, liquid applique, black Stickles, red bling stickers (Stampendous), white ric rack, red gingham ribbon, scallop edge punch, Cricut, Christmas Cheer cartridge, Recipe Wrap Up template (PTI)

Defenses Win Championships

So, we're about 8 minutes away from our 6-pack (6th Super Bowl championship for you non-Pittsburghers), and I figured I'd post my entry for this week's Hero Arts' blog challenge. This week's challenge was to use hearts on a non-Valentine project.



I was playing around with this heart image from the Happy Everything set. I wanted to create a peacock, but I wasn't happy with the way it look. After twisting and turning the hearts into different arrangements, I came up with this Christmas tree. I may still play around with the peacock idea, but I gotta get back to the game! Go Steelers!!