{cQc108} Trick or Treat!

One more Happy Halloween card to wish

 you all the goodies you deserve! ;)

I was trying to get this in before the noon deadline today and just missed it by 5 minutes!  Oh well.  I *love* the Colour Q color challenge and always enjoy participating!  

The shimmery Halloween designer paper just happened to include the challenge colors.  I've had this in my stash for awhile...2006 Heidi Grace Designs, titled Halloween Circles with Glitter.   As you can see, I've added some buttons and twine and stitched it all together.  This shimmery paper made it difficult to photograph and looks a little fuzzy... or maybe it was because I was hurrying to get it posted!  : /

I'm so glad you've stopped by today!

Quote for Today ~

I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself

 than be crowded on a velvet cushion. 

~Henry David Thoreau

My Quilted Christmas Cards

As I mentioned yesterday, this has been a popular layout of mine recently and an excellent way to use scraps of your favorite coordinating designer papers.   This assortment is from a Christmas pad I've had for a few years. (Greeting's of the Season by Hobby Lobby)  I like how it appears to have a linen texture, making the pieces look more like quilted fabric. 

My sister Judy asked me to create 40 Christmas cards she could send to her clients again this year.  Since I was mass producing, I needed a fairly simply design and something she could easily mail without extra bulk or postage expense.   Once I figured out the size I needed to cut the strips, the paper cutting process only took a few minutes.  I'll admit the stitching did take a wee bit longer.  ;)   Once I had the stitching done and threads clipped, I wrapped it all up with a light ivory crochet thread tied in a bow. (Red Heart size 3)

Card size is 5-1/2 x 4-1/4"  naturals white cardstock.  The designer paper strips are layered onto a solid dark green paper.  First, I put a small strip of adhesive down the center of the strips to hold in place, then stitched between them, clipped threads, then stitched around it all.  Make sense? ;) 

 The sentiment on the front is stamped in cherry cobbler ink.  It's an oldie from the Stampin' Up set titled Fun Phrases.  I didn't photograph the inside, but I used a beautiful sentiment from Penny Black ~ World Peace.  It reads:

May this

joyous Season

fill

your home with love,

your

heart with hope,

and

our world with

p e a c e .

This is the second year in a row that I've done this as a gift for my sister's November birthday.  If you're interested, here are the cards I created for her last year. . . and the post telling you all about them.  

 If you want create your own Christmas cards, these are two designs that can be easily duplicated.  Remember, the stitching adds to the design, but it isn't necessary.   If you have any questions about either design, just email me!

I'm happy you stopped by and hope you're enjoying your Sunday! 

Quote for Today ~
There are two ways of spreading light:  to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
- Edith Wharton

{cQc#107} You Make Me Smile!

How about these colors for the Colour Q Challenge this week?   They really are perfect for Halloween, but I thought I would challenge myself to create a non-Halloween card.  

I *love* Arielle's Colour Q challenges and it really makes me *smile* when I see she's selected one of my cards for her ColourQueen Courtiers.  If you missed last week's selections, please check them out.  Such wonderful cardmaking inspiration!   :)

My card base is the traditional 5-1/2 x 4-1/4" using naturals white cardstock.  The early espresso cardstock is layered with scraps of designer paper in all those yummy colors and then I've zig zag stitched it all together.  

This is an easy card to create and may be one of my new "go to" layouts.  Would you believe I made 40 Christmas cards like this?   They were a special order from my sweet sister Jude to send to her clients.   I'll post them tomorrow so you can see!  :)

*the inside decorated like the front,
but left blank for handwritten message.

Thanks for stopping by today!   I hope you're enjoying your weekend and finding time for YOU!

Quote for Today ~

If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade.  - Tom Peters

{SSSC139} A Halloween Banner Card!

Look at me go!  Posting 2 days in a row after not posting for weeks.  I'm like that.  I go in streaks.   What I always seem to forget is how much I *love* hearing from all of you, my faithful blog followers.  You really are the BEST!  I hope you know that.  ♥    Thank you so much for the comments you left yesterday.   It's nice to be missed.  ;)

Today, I'm back with another Halloween card.  It's s not that I'm all that crazy about the holiday, but I had purchased this adorable little banner sticker the last time I was in M's and it was *perfect* for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge today~!

This is actually only half of the banner...approximately 4".  I'll be able to make another card like this with the other half.  The other half has a brown owl, a *candy corn* and a bat.On a side note, this time of year, I get serious *candy corn* cravings.  So far, I have resisted, but I'm really temped every time I see them.  Honestly, I can easily eat an entire bag by myself!  Hubby likes me to mix them with dry roasted peanuts.  That's really good too.  Ok, let's get off this subject... 

This is a standard size card 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" using basic black cardstock.  I've layered on a spider web designer paper and stitched on some leftover scraps of crushed curry and tangerine tango from the card I made yesterday.   Even with the cute little banner, I thought there was too much white space, so I added the black buttons tied on with bakers twine.

Speaking of bakers twine, I've got a lifetime supply if you need any.   I've got brown/white and also black/white.  It's for sale (cheap!) in my Etsy Shop or you can always email me too.

I know you like to see the inside too . . .  using 2 of my dollar bin M's stamps.

 

That's all for today peeps!  Thanks for stopping by and I want you all to know that IF I had a big bag of *candy corn*, I would share it with all of you!  well, maybe. . .   ;)

Have a wonderful week!   

 Quote for Today ~
 Once in a lifetime one should be allowed to have as much sweetness
 as one can possibly want and hold. ~Judith Olney

{cQc#106} The Witch is In!

Surprise!  Just when you thought I had given up blogging, here I am again! Today, I was inspired by another one of Arielle's bright and smiling color challenges.   This week's Colour Q colors just *screamed* Halloween to me!  ;)

My card is a 5-1/4" square of basic black cardstock, layered with some polka dot designer paper.  This cute little witch image was sent to me months (maybe even years) ago by one of my dear Stamp Shack friends.  I had it in with my Halloween stamps and ribbon and just came across it.   It was such a FUN image to color!   So sorry I can't tell you who makes the stamp, but if any of you know, please leave it in the comments for all to see.  Thanks so much! 

The inside is finished to coordinate with the front and stamped with one of my new $1 Michaels stamps.

Since my last post in early September, I have been back to Nevada for a few days to visit my precious grandaughter. Oh my goodness, she is the BEST baby ever!  And my daughter and her hubby are such wonderful parents too!  ♥   I sure wish I lived closer, but for now we make due with lots of photo texting and Skype.   Thank goodness for modern technology! 

Here she is at 3 months... our precious Emery Jude . . .

In case you're wondering, I got these monthly stickers and the headband to match on Etsy.  Someone is pretty clever. 

Thanks so much for blogging by today.  Have a wonderful weekend!!  :)

Quote for Today ~
While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.~Angela Schwindt