I'm Back!!!

After a very long spell of no posts, I decided to give it a try again and join the blogging world.  I keep promising myself that I will really take the time to write and share with everyone, but I seem to have trouble in the execution of this promise.

But here it is ...  a new year, and maybe I can be better about getting this done.  Lots of things have happened in my life and I certainly have lots of things I could post. My biggest problem it trying to decide what I should write.

We were up in Door County, Wisconsin just before Christmas and again for New Year's weekend.  The week before Christmas, the weather was pretty cold and Lake Michigan was showing signs of freezing. I thought it looked pretty awesome and had to snap a few pictures.

 

 

We stopped in at Door Peninsula Winery and right there as we walked in was this fantastic statue of Santa and I just had to have my picture taken with the Jolly Old Elf.  By the way, he's the taller one!

 

 

I had several people tell me about the Turkey Pot Pie at Coyote Road House.  They only serve it on Tuesdays, in the off season and you have to call and reserve it.  It's a very popular item and after going there with my hubby, Dave, I know why.  It was absolutely delicious.

 

 

We did split it and also ordered a large salad.  While it was quite filling, we did manage to save room for a chocolate lava cake a la mode!  (There's always room for dessert.)

 

I think that's enough for now.  I will be trying to keep up with my blog this time.  Only time will tell.

 

 

 



Halloween Waterfall Card

Thought I would share some waterfall cards that I created for Halloween.  I used a stamp that I picked up last year from Art Gone Wild. I love the progression from pumpkin to jack-o-lantern, especially the one with the little mouse peeking out from the top of the pumpkin. I was making alot of these cards, so I used Prismacolor H2O pencils for the coloring. This is a much faster method of coloring than using my Copic markers. I had a selection of Halloween papers so I just mixed and matched colors for an assortment of cards. Hope you like them.

 



I have been working with my new Eclips machine, doing lots of cutting and assembling but so far I haven't pulled out my camera and taken any pictures. I did just finish an Advent calendar from a pattern that I got at SVGCuts.com.  I love the projects that they have and the great viedo tutorials so you know just how to assemble all the pieces.  I will get some pictures taken and show you what I have been working on.

I hope you all have a very Happy Halloween. Hopefully your life will be full of treats without too many tricks.

Keep on stamping.
Pam

I promised to post, so here I am. I have been painting (walls), power washing the house and back deck and generally wearing myself out this past week. Can't wait for this project to be done and to get the house rented. Then I can be free to craft. I am still itching to get started with my Eclips and get back to my stamping. There are cards that need to be created and they need a creator.

I actually did work on cards this week. My neighbor asked me to make Thank you cards for her son's 2nd birthday. I just finished making 20 of those. Also, I have to make a card project for my monthly meeting of Divas, a group of ladies who get together to create cards. Our theme this month is sympathy cards and I have been struggling with the project. I never have trouble making a birthday card, or a new baby card, but sympathy cards give me problems. Perhaps because the reason for the card is so solemn I find it hard to make a card that matches the occasion.

Until next time, don't forget to keep smiling.
Pam

World Card Making Day is just around the corner and I thought this was a perfect time to resurect this blog again. I have been extremely remiss in posting to my blog and I have absolutely no excuse. I just didn't, plain and simple. But I have been busy creating. I have a box of over 400 cards ready to mail to Operation Write Home and I did send them a bunch of Halloween cards last month. I hope every card maker takes the time to create some cards for a worthy cause. There are quite a few out there.

I have a new Sizzix Eclips that just came in the mail. I have been watching the video tutorials, but have jet to make a single cut. But I promise to post a few pictures of the projects as I complete them.

Well, this is a start. My hubby is on vacation from Wednesday to Sunday, so I won't have much time for my crafting. We are working on a house that we purchased to rent. So that is the priority right now, especially for him. Lots of fixing up and painting to be done before we can advertise it for rent.

I will try to post again this week, or next week for sure. Just remember to keep on stamping!

Pam

New Year (already?)

Well, I certainly have not been very good about posting to my blog. Maybe my New Year's resolution should have been to post at least once a week. Hey, that probably won't happen but I will try to be better about keeping current!

My holiday season was not very good since I was sick for most of the time. Totally missed Christmas, because I was doing a Rip Van Winkle impression, like totally sleeping thru most of the day and a good portion of the week also. I had a sinus infection that really put me down. But I am better now. It really took me a long time to recoup.

I made a couple of cards for a swap and I will take a few pictures and post them in a day or two. Just wanted you to know that I did not abandon my blog. I just haven't really gotten into the swing of posting on a regular basis. Life just seems to get in my way!

Will be back here soon, I promise.

Pam

Halloween Ideas

The weather turned cooler today and there is definitely a nip in the air.  Just a few weeks until Halloween, so I thought I would share a Halloween card and a table favor.

For the card on the right I used a picture of a spider web that I had taken and changed the color to "Antique", which is slightly darker than Sepia.  I stamped the ghost image in VersaMark on the card base. They show up better in person than in this picture.  Then I mounted the web picture on cream cardstock, stamped the spider and Happy Haunting in black.  It's hard to see but I used black scrapper's floss from the center of the web down to the spider, making a bow at the top of the floss. It was fun being able to incorporate an actual picture in the card.  When I took the picture I wasn't sure what I would do with it but the web looked so neat with the sun reflecting off the threads.

Next week I am having a 50th birthday party for my Hubby and I'm using Halloween for the theme, since turning 50 is "SO SCARY".  I am making these little candy tube holders for each place setting.  The stamps, papers and the neat clear tube are all from The Angel Company.  The base is a 3" X 12" strip of lavender cardstock scored at 3", 6" and 9" the folded to form a tent shape.  The orange piece is 2.75" square. The tube is filled with Nerds and tied with the lavender ribbon from the ToodleLoo ribbon assortment.  The white oval is pop dotted.

Making the flower was fun.  I used a white paper flower and inked it with black ink.  Then I used trancendence embossing powder and covered the whole flower.  While it was still hot I added another layer of embossing powder.  I tied orange and lavender scrappers floss thru the button holes of a small white button and attached it to the center of the flower.  The flower is also attached with a pop dot.  I have several candy options for the tubes and will be changing the words on the white oval to match the type of candy in the tube. My table cloths will be a mixture of black and orange (on separate tables) overlaid with "Spooky" fabric, (basically cheese cloth in grey with lots of holes in it!) Got those at the dollar store, as well as the plastic table cloths.  The paper plates are orange and black square plates with a harlequin design and I have orange silverware. So it should be a fun looking table setting.

The Angel Company is having a Halloween Blog Hop today. If you would like to see more ideas, hop on over to the Savvy Projects Blog and see what Wicked Good ideas everyone has.

Pam

Operation Write Home Update

I am a little slow with this post.  I just wanted to thank everyone who participated in my Virtual Card Party and my Sept. 22nd Card Party at the McCullom Lake Village Hall.  Over 800 cards went to OWH for their birthday bash.  I would love to do this again after the Christmas holidays. Be sure to check out the pictures of the cards that were made on the 22nd.  Just click on the card to the right.

It felt so good to pack up the box and get it on it's way.  Everyone had lots of fun at the card party and we had a very mixed group of people from pre-teens and teenagers to senior citizens and all ages in-between, with a mix of male and female.  We had an assembly line going, with everyone doing their part. Snacks were provided by the office gals at the village hall, a greatly appreciated treat.  And of course there was my favorite, chocolate, to get the creative juices flowing.  I can't seem to craft without a little chocolate (dark chocolate of course, the healthy kind), especially M & M's.  Gotta love those colorful little bits of candy coated chocolate. 

I will be posting some Halloween ideas a little later tonight (I hope).  So until then, Keep on  Stamping.

Pam

Photo Site Added

Hi,
I finally got around to finishing my Shutterfly site, so now you have a place to download pictures of the cards you have been making.  Just click on the photo to the right and you will be directed to my Shutterfly site.  Don't you love the spiderweb on the card.  One day I spotted the web and the sun was shining on it.  I just had to take a picture.  I couldn't find the spider so I had to add my own.  But I love the way the card came out. 

I hope you have been busy working on those cards.  I mailed out a box today, mostly Halloween cards, so I hope they get there in time to send to the troops.  My Card Party at McCullom Lake Village Hall is on Wednesday this week, so I have been super busy designing cards and cutting paper for the event.  Just a reminder to all the local people in the McHenry IL area.  You are invited to come to either or both of the sessions on the 22nd.  1:00 pm to 3:30 pm and 6:30 to 9:30 pm.  You don't need to bring anything unless you would like to have your favorite adhesive.  All supplies will be provided.  I am really looking forward to this event. Hope you are too.

Now for everyone else, please be sure to join in my virtual card party by creating your own cards and mailing them to Operation Write Home.  Don't forget to download your packing slip from the OWH mailroom and email me a copy of the packing slip and the package.  I will enter everyone into my drawing and you could be the lucky winner.

Just a few days left to get those cards in the mail.  I'll add pictures of the cards from the party on Thursday.

Remember to be a blessing to others. 

Pam

OWH Card Challenge

This could be yours.

Well I promised to post on the 2nd and here it is late on the 6th and I am finally getting around to it.  I promised more details on the Card Challenge for Operation Write Home and here goes.  This challenge runs from Sept. 4 thru Sept 25.  Make as many cards as you would like and mail them directly to OWH.  Print out a packing slip on the OWH website and email me a copy of the packing slip plus a photo of your package (envelope or box) so I will know who sent, how many, etc.  Each person sending a minimum of 10 cards will be entered into my drawing for a set of Tim Holtz embossing folders, personally signed by Tim. The two included are Rays and Retro Circles.  For each 25 cards that you submit to OWH you will receive another entry into the drawing.  The more cards you send for this challenge the better your chances of winning the grand prize.

Tim Holtz & Pam

The last day to mail the cards to be included in my challenge is Sept. 25th.  If you are making Halloween cards, they must be post marked by Sept. 20th, per OWH deadline. So get cracking on those spooky cards.

So what do you need to do for this challenge you might ask.  Well I'll tell you.  Make A2 cards only, blank inside, with any theme you want.  Use your favorite stamps, papers, embellishments and color theme, but NO GLITTER.  Sorry folks, but glittered cards will not be used by OWH because it could put the troops in harms way.  Do your best work and make them special for our troops to send home to their friends and family memebers.  If you use a dark card stock, line the inside with white or light coloerd paper. Stamp, write or label the back of the card with "Operation Write Home".  Envelopes would be greatly appreciated but are optional.  If you are including envelopes, please go to OWH and watch the video on "The Tuck".  Actually its a good idea to read this page and watch the video because you will get some helpful hints about what they are looking for in a card.

I am setting up a site where you can post pictures of your cards.  That way we can all see what wonderful ideas you come up with.  I always love to see what people are making and I want you to have a place to share.  This will be up in a few days.

I hope I am not forgetting anything.  If you have any questions, be sure to contact me or leave a comment.  If you have any great ideas to make this challenge even better, please let me know. 

Now if you happen to live near McHenry Illinois, you can join me for an actual card party on September 22, 2010 at the McCullom Lake Village Hall from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm or 6:30 to 9:30 pm and make cards with my supplies.  All the supplies will be provided but you are welcome to bring your favorite adhesive.  Also, I will be taking dontaions for postage and envelopes.  You can check the OWH calendar for the details and the map.  I hope to have a great turnout for this event and have lots of cards to send to OWH for their Birthday Bash. 

I hope you had a nice Labor Day and made the most of this beautiful day.  At least it was beautiful here and my hubby and I worked around the house.  We have been rehabbing our house and it seems to be a never-ending process. But it is really looking good.  Today I painted trim and touched up the walls in two rooms.  Hubby put the finishing touches on the fireplace and installed a few things here and there.  It is coming along slowly... very slowly. Can you say Turtle's Pace ! ! !

Hope to see some great cards and lots of them.

Pam

Oh My Gosh, It's September

How did we get here so fast. I haven't even taken out my bathing suit and we are coming up to Labor Day. I guess my suit can stay in hiding for another year.

The Angel Company has some specTACular specials for the month of September, including a very exciting Customer Appreciation Preview pack, which has 3 stamp sets and a hostess set that will be debuting in the Fall Supplement which comes out on October 1st. You can check out all the specials here.

I also wanted to let you know that I will be having a card challenge for Operation Write Home that will be starting September 4th and running thru the 25th.  I will be posting more details tomorrow, including some pictures and a card sketch.  I don't really want to keep you in the dark, but I have to leave for a memorial service for my Aunt Betty, who passed away on Saturday.  She was a wonderful person who graced the world with her presence for 98 years.  She will be remembered by all who knew her.

I'll post again soon.

Pam