CAS(E) This Sketch

A quick and easy card for the current CAS(E) This Sketch

challenge! I smooshed Cracked Pistachio and Tumbled Glass distress inks over Tim Holtz watercolor cardstock - drying with a heat gun between color changes.  Since I couldn't find a shade of CS to match the Cracked Pistachio, I just sponged the one die.

STAMPS: Eye Charts (My Favorite Things)
PAPER: Sno Cone (MFT), TH watercolor CS
ACCESSORIES: Stitched rectangle die by Lil' Inker Designs; Eye Glasses Die-Namics by MFT; Clear sequins.

Now that all of the new distress ink colors have been released for the year, I found the updated color chart on the Ranger website.  I am waiting for Candied Apple Red to arrive in the mail, then this OCD person will have all the colors! :-)  I find it very helpful to refer to a sample color chart when I'm choosing inks.  So much more accurate than going by the color of the lid.  Here is the Ranger LINK if you would like to download either the new color swatch chart and/or label colors with names.

Birthday Wishes

My first post Christmas blog post and I'm feeling much more relaxed as I look forward to another week off before heading back to work on January 3rd.  My youngest brother's birthday is 12/31 and I needed a quick card to get in the mail today. I decided to use the sketch for the current Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.   I used Reverse Confetti stamps and dies for all but the stitched rectangle panel which uses a die by Lil' Inker Designs.  I smooshed Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron, and Fossilized Amber distress inks on Tim Holtz watercolor cardstock.

STAMPS: Celebrate Cake, Circle Sentiments, Label Me - all by Reverse Confetti.

Thought I'd share several Christmas day photos.  First is a family room tree shot showing the calm before the storm...

 Quinn is serenading us on her new piano in this shot...

We had a yummy meal of our traditional menu of fried oysters (fresh from the Chesapeake Bay) and Honeybaked ham.  We were happy to have 3 Canadians join us this year (our DIL's sister and parents) from Ontario and also our other DIL's mother from northern VA.  

Merry Christmas!

I've been scarce in my blog posts, but I will say... there HAS been a good bit of stamping going on (but you'll have to wait until the new year to hear what's new up my sleeve - lol!).  How's that for a tease?!   I wanted to wish you all a very merry and blessed Christmas! Saying I've been "busy" sounds so cliche but our kitchen remodeling is still not completed and it's put a twist on my usual routine.  Quartz counter tops never arrived, so no tile back splash either!  That also means no running water or a sink in the kitchen, so that calls for many trips through the family room to get to the tub in the laundry room for the water source.  We placed a 4' x 6' piece of plywood over the island and covered it with a tablecloth, so at least I have a bit of work surface.  You do what you gotta do!  I'll post some pics once it's finished and you'll get a bit of an idea what's been happening.  :-)

I'm so looking forward to having ALL the kids home for Christmas and there will be some special guests as well!  Fried Chesapeake Bay oysters and Honeybaked brand ham are on the menu...along with many other yummy dishes!  Reminds me...I need to get this marathon day started!  Merry Christmas and don't forget what this season is really about...a dear Savior was born and He is what gives us hope in this world!

Color Throwdown

It's the last Color Throwdown Challenge of 2015 where any color combo goes...as long as it's a Christmas creation!  The design team will be taking a break for 2 weeks, but we will be back in 2016 for a new year of fun color challenges!  Here is my card using blues, a silver frame and a hint of lavender on white.

The snowflake dies are some of my fave from WPlus9 and were cut from white glitter cardstock.  I cut the merry sentiment 3 times from a leftover amethyst piece of CS.  The background was created by smooshing Shaded Lilac and Salty Ocean distress inks onto Tim Holtz watercolor CS by applying ink to an acrylic sheet, spritzing with water then turning over and smooshing the color to the CS. 

We're thrilled to have Kandi Phillips as our guest star stamper this week!  Congrats, Kandi!  You can visit her blog HERE.

Be sure to stop by the rest of the designers' blogs (links below) to get more inspiration.  For details on how you can play along, please visit the Color Throwdown blog.  Merry Christmas to all! 

Barbara Anders  
Broni Holcombe   
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins 
Lori Tecler   
Tammy Hershberger
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)
Torico - December Guest Designer

Retrosketches

It's been a long time since I've played along with the Retrosketches Challenge, but my need to create a birthday card was made easy with this great layout!  I started with using a Provocraft embossing folder on some white linen paper.  The stars and seriously sentiment are dies by Lil' Inker Designs.  I didn't have a large silver button in my stash, so the MFT button die set came to the rescue (stacking 3 on top of each other make it look more realistic)!  The stitched banner die is also by MFT.  I just can't seem to finish up a card anymore without using some sequins, so silver was the choice here.  The sentiment is from Lil' Inker Designs' Snarky Sentiment stamp set.

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Mojo Monday

Hello everyone! Are you ready to get your mojo on? You're going to LOVE this fabulous sketch by Julee (her creativity is endless)!  I love tag elements on cards so this sketch brought a "squeee" reaction from me - especially since it's the last Mojo Monday Challenge of 2015!  Yep.  You heard it.  The mojomakers are doing something new this year and are taking a vacation for two weeks! Have no fear...we'll be back and going strong in the new year!

I'm also playing along with SCS CAS challenge where there is a Trim a Tree theme in the gallery today.

This card is on its way to a special little girl named Safyre.  You may have seen the story on the web describing her tragic experience of losing her family in a house fire and then personally suffering severe burns to her body.  Her big wish was to get lots of Christmas cards this year, so this is my small contribution. Here's a LINK to one of many news stories describing the tragedy.

If you would like to send a card, mail to:

Safyre

P.O. Box 6126

Schenectady, NY  12306

What did I use?
STAMPS: Holiday Greetings (sentiment), Unto Us (reindeer) - both sets by Verve.
PAPER: Merry Little Christmas by My Mind's Eye; Wild Wasabi (SU) and White (PTI).
INK: Early Espresso.
ACCESSORIES: Early Espresso ribbon (SU), Sequins (Avery Elle), Tag die by Reverse Confetti, Reindeer Fun and Winter Fun dies by Verve.

Christmas Joy

This was a quick one layer card I created for the SCS Sketch Challenge. No stamping involved...just die cut elements and some wood veneer snowflake embellishments!

DIES: Winter Words, Wreaths, and Branch Out Confetti Cuts by Reverse Confetti; Stitched Fishtail Flags STAX Die-Namics by MFT.

On an oily side note...here's another DIY essential oil gift idea. I just recently found out about this alternative to chemical laden fabric softeners...PLUS...these wool dryer balls cut down on the length of drying time.  Not only does your laundry smell great, you won't use as much electricity to run your dryer.  Hartville Hardware is a HUGE hardware store that I always love to visit when I go to my hometown in Hartville, Ohio.  While there over Thanksgiving, I got excited when I saw some wool dryer balls already made up, so took the shortcut and bought 2 of them.  I'll admit I haven't remembered to use them yet (my house is still in remodeling chaos mode), but want to try them out soon!  Let me know if you have had any experience with wool dryer balls...I'd love to hear how you like them!

Color Throwdown

It's time for another fabulous Color Throwdown Challenge and Barbara - our hostess - has chosen these yummy colors: hot pink, aqua, silver and kraft!  Here's my take on the colors...

I flipped the sketch for the current Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  Dies and sentiment are all by Reverse Confetti.
STAMPS: Winter Word Coordinates (Reverse Confetti).
PAPER: Splendid Sunshine by Echo Park; Craft It Flora by Recollections; Kraft (PTI); Linen Fresh Snow (PTI).

Congrats to Gerrina, our guest star stamper this week!  Be sure to stop by her blog HERE. 
For more inspiration by the rest of the design team, click on their blog links below...or... you can go to the Color Throwdown blog to see their cards and to get the details on how to play along. 
Barbara Anders  
Broni Holcombe   
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins 
Lori Tecler   
Tammy Hershberger
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)
Torico - December Guest Designer

Mojo Monday

December is moving right along (taking a deep breath here) and I'm still needing more Christmas cards to send out! The new Mojo Monday Challenge was perfect to work on a super clean and simple one layer card! I die cut the squares using the smallest of Lil' Inker Designs' stitched square dies.  The horizontal strip is also a LID die.  The focal point sentiment is from Verve's Unto Us stamp set - stamped twice with my MISTI using Versafine Onyx Black ink.  I then used the Classy Label Die and popped the label with foam tape.  Embellishments are by SU.

Remember...the first Monday challenge means it's contest time and you have the chance to win a free Verve stamp set if you play along with us! 

If you want to get some more inspiration from the rest of the mojomakers, click on their blog links below...or...you can go to the Mojo Monday blog and click on the first nine thumbnails.
Carole Burrage
Julee Tilman (Owner)
Justin Krieger
Lori Tecler
Marisa Ritzen 
Mary Fish
Sarah Bigelow
Teresa Kline 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)

Hope to see you in the gallery!

CASEing Laine Webb

Today's Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS is showcasing Crafterlaine's gallery and what a beautiful gallery it is!!  Her card HERE really jumped out at me and though I didn't include as many mixed media details, I was inspired by the awesome background and the blues mixed with greens!  I decided to use the smooshing technique on my card and added Blueprint Sketch and Peacock Feathers distress inks to Tim Holtz watercolor CS - drying each color with a heat gun before adding another.  A layered snowflake - die cut from vellum and white CS and topped off with a SU Frosted Finishes embellishment - was placed over two banner flags.  

DIES: Stitched rectangle die - Lil' Inker Designs
           Hand Lettered Holiday - WPlus9
           Snowflake Trio - WPlus9

It's a mild day here in VA...up to 59 degrees.  Am wishing I could stay in my stamp room, but duty calls and I'm headed out to work!

Christmas Stocking

A quick gift card holder completed for both the Curtain Call Inspiration challenge which has a Dear Santa theme and also for SCS Ways to Use It challenge to use a stocking.  I don't have Santa stamps in my stash - surprising, I know - but this old world style designer paper was perfect to showcase some vintage Santas!  This SU Bigz "Holiday Stocking" die by Sizzix makes a perfect GC or money holder. Once again, I reached for Reverse Confetti's holly die and added a couple of jingle bell berries.  It's such an easy and versatile Christmas embellishment!

PAPER: Old World Winter by the Paper Studio.

I have to share one of my favorite Dear Santa letters that suits me to a tee - lol!

Hehehe!!!
Have a great day...and remember to be a blessing to someone!

SFYTT

I always love playing along with the monthly Sketch For You To Try challenge over on the Reverse Confetti blog! I got carried away with combining these great patterned papers from Carta Bella's "Merry and Bright" 6x6 pad.  This last RC release REALLY has some rockin' dies and I can't seem to stop using them - especially the winter words sentiments and holly Confetti Cuts!

Color Throwdown

Hi everyone! It's my turn to host the Color Throwdown Challenge and I've chosen one of my all time fave holiday color combinations: black, white and gold!  I'm guessing there will be lots of elegance in the gallery with a big dose of shimmer and shine!

I'm loving SU's Winter Wonderland designer vellum stack from the Christmas mini catalog this year!  The stripes and the snowflake pattern are both vellum panels that I adhered with spray adhesive to a white cardstock base.  The snowflake die by SU was cut twice - once from metallic gold CS and once with a swirl-designed vellum paper.  The sentiment is a die from WPlus9.  

Since it's a new month, that means we have a new guest designer on board.  Welcome to the talented Torico of the Stamparadise blog! 

For more inspiration by the rest of the design team, click on their blog links below...or... you can go to the Color Throwdown blog to see their cards and to get the details on how to play along. 
Barbara Anders  
Broni Holcombe   
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins 
Lori Tecler   
Tammy Hershberger
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)
Torico - December Guest Designer