Happy New Year!

Ok, it might be a bit early for the greeting...but its not really the holiday that I'm after this time.

For the first time in a long time I've actually written a family holiday letter...but not in time to send out as a Christmas card...so I'm sending New Year's greetings instead!

I chose a swirly greeting from the Silhouette store by Jennifer Wambach...she is rapidly becoming my favorite designer to purchase designs from...I really like her style! 

I made my own 2013 in the software, then made page after page of cuts...if I get all the addresses that I asked for, I'll be sending out 40 of these cards...as it is right now I'll be sending 33. Which is a big change from the zero that I usually manage to send!

Here's a look at the front...I usually fancy things up on my cards with a fun technique or two...but facing 40 cards to make...I wanted to get them out the door before January 2014...so I kept it simple. I did use sparkly cardstock for the designs...that adds some bling, right?

I did give in to putting another design on the inside though...I purchased this star border and cut it from a contrasting cardstock. We'll sign around the stars, I'll tuck in the printed letter that I wrote...and off they'll go!

I'm trying to be good and use up the cardstock that I have...so there is a real mix of colors, they look fun and happy, don't they?

Do you send out holiday cards or letters on a regular basis? I enjoyed writing this one so much, its definitely going to be high on my priority list for the end of next year!

I'm linking up over at the Cameo Creations Challenge ~ New Year's Theme. Join in on the fun if you would like to!

Thanks for stopping by!

Meredith

Friends with Flair

How fun...its that time again! Time to link up your Unity projects and see what everyone else has been up to the past week!

Even if you're not linking...you should check out all the cute projects at Friends with Flair this week!

I'm trying to crank out a set of cards that can be used for many occasions...and am trying out several layouts that I've pinned to this board.

Here's one...keeping the sentiment general and layout simple without looking plain...

I figure that if I keep making the samples two at a time I'll eventually find the layout that I love...and meanwhile, I'll be stocking up on my ready-made card stash that I like to keep on hand!

Supplies:

• cardstock: Coredinations (purple), scrap bin (white)
• stamps: Unity SOTW
• embossing folder: The Paper Studio
• punch: Martha Stewart (border), EK Success (frame), The Paper Studio (circle)
• ink: Colorbox

Thanks much for stopping by!

Meredith

Penguin Christmas Tags

The more I play with my Silhouette Cameo, the more I like it!

I hosted a swap recently to exchange Christmas tags, and in my search through Pinterest (love that place!) I came across these adorable tags...I loved them, but I'm not much into painting, so I turned the design into a paper craft!

I opened up the Silhouette Studio software (and just so you know, I do not have the Designer Edition...just the basic software that comes with the machine) and used the tools to draw the shapes for the pieces of the penguin. 

It was way easier than I expected! If you haven't played with the drawing tools in the software yet, I encourage you to do so!

Here's the finished tag...Isn't he adorable?

I made a whole bunch for the swap...

And then I couldn't stop!

Supplies:

• cardstock: Coredinations
• ribbon: stash
• googly eyes

And since I'm so tickled with making my own cutting file, I wanted to share it with you! The download includes step by step instructions to make the tag/ornament.

If you download the penguin, please come back and leave a comment when you've cut him out...I'd love to hear (and see) how he works for you!

Penguin Tag/Ornament .studio file

I'm linking up to the challenges at:

• Cameo Creations Challenge ~ Anything Goes Christmas
• 3 Girl Jam Challenge ~ Christmas Inspirations
• Silhouette Blog ~ Christmas Projects

Thanks for stopping by to visit!

Meredith

Mitten Wreath

Oh wow, did I ever have some fun with this project! 

I've been playing more and more with my Silhouette Cameo, and when they had 50% off their designs for Black Friday...I might have gotten a bit giddy with purchases...

Anyway, one of the designs that I purchased was a fabulous mitten wreath by Jennifer Wambach. 

I made one of the wreaths out of some Basic Grey papers (Jovial) that I had along with some shimmery cardstock (Coredinations). The design was incredibly simple to put together...there are four layers, the base wreath, the outlines of the mittens, the mittens and the cuffs. Because the base layer has the outline shape built right in, it is easy to glue and layer the mittens seamlessly.

I used six different patterned papers for the mittens and cuffs, inked them with black distress ink and glued them to the mitten base. I then used dimensional squares on the back of the mittens and glued them to the wreath base. Too easy! Oh, I did enlarge the original design...I just sized it up until the wreath base filled a 12x12 page, then cut everything accordingly.

The cutouts on the mittens alternate between snowflakes and circles. In this pic you can see that clearly and see the shine of the cardstock that I used.

Altogether a great project...but this one went out as a secret santa gift...shh...

Now I had to make one for myself! This time I pulled out blues...since that's my favorite color! I used DCWV patterned papers, and textured cardstock (Coredinations) plus some cardstock from stash.

I modified the design a bit, because I wanted to add buttons to the mittens. With the software that came with the Cameo it was as easy as ungrouping the design parts and deleting the snowflakes and bubbles from the mitten interior! 

After inking and gluing, this is the result!

I cut two additional mitten bases, then stamped them with some cute winter greetings from Unity and hung them from the middle of the wreath with baker's twine that I made into pom-poms.

I'll be linking up to Friends with Flair to show off the Unity stamps...if you have a project made with Unity you should join in!

I'm also linking up to the Cameo Creations Challenge ~ Christmas creations

And to the 3 Girl Jam Challenge ~ Christmas Inspirations

Thanks for stopping by! If you have a Silhouette machine, come back soon because I'll be sharing my first cutting file that I made myself! 

Meredith

Friends with Flair

Wow, Friday again? So soon?

I love the business of the holiday season, but would like to not have the fun days go by so quickly!

I've got a quick project tonight...using one of my SOTW, they are so easy to pick up and play with!

This one will be on its way soon to a friend who is having a tough time right now.

Just one layer, and some blending with distress inks...plus a bit of bling!

Supplies:

• cardstock: Wausau
• stamps: Unity
• ink: Tim Holtz distress ink
• gems: The Paper Studio

I'm linking this card up to Unity Friends with Flair.

Have a great night and thank you for stopping by!

Meredith

Snowball Scott

I've found another challenge blog to play along with...and they even give you an image for you to play with!

Have a peek at A Day for Daisies if they are new to you...or if you'd like to pick up this cute little guy!

He's an adorable little snowman...take a look!

I've been squeaking a bit of time to play with my markers...I know that it will take a lot of practice to get as good as I'd like to be, but I don't think that I'm starting out too poorly.

Although I did quickly learn the importance of using quality cardstock intended  for use with markers...I went ahead and placed an order for the Neenah cardstock through Amazon...I figured I'd go broke buying it a page at a time from the LSS at $1 each.

Anyway, here's a bit closer picture of the coloring...

The shading around the edges is distress ink, and I added some ink to the embossed snowflakes on the strip under the buttons, too. Simple and quick, it took longer for the glue to dry under the buttons than it did to make the rest of the card!

Supplies:

• cardstock: Neenah, Coredinations
• image: A Day for Daisies
• markers: Spectrum Noir
• ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink
• embossing folder: Cuttlebug
• die cut: Spellbinders
• buttons & twine: stash

Thanks for visiting,

Meredith

Friends with Flair

Its Friday, and that means time to show off your Unity projects!

I have a fun card to show off today...but first...I wanted to show you what I found on my table one evening...

Isn't he the funniest? Just about any box, basket or bag that has any space at all in it, he manages to stuff himself into! Whenever I see him scrunching and cramming I can't help but think of one of the first books that I read as a child...and read to my children...

I still love this funny, rhyming story.

Alright, on to the card! This one will be winging its way to my daughter as soon as I get the stamp on it! 

I stamped the penguin on cardstock and trimmed around him, same with the sentiment banner. After tearing some patterned paper to make the 'hills' for him to stand on I stamped the penguin again directly on the card. Layered the trimmed penguin with pop dots and added falling snowflakes punched from different patterned papers. The plain snowflakes were ok...but they look even better with bling in the middle!

Here's a little closer view of the dimension...and that cute penguin!

Supplies:

• cardstock: Neenah
• patterned paper: DCWV
• ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Memento
• stamp: Unity Stamp of the Week
• punch: EK Success
• gems: stash

Linking up to

• Friends with Flair
• Cute Cards Thursday ~ snowflakes

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Meredith

Friends With Flair

And a Happy Black Friday to You!

Did you brave the crowds and find some deals?

Not me!!! Although I did end up going out to Lowe's to find some hardware stuff for little fix-ups around the house.

Yup, that's me...spending Black Friday cleaning the upstairs!

Oh well, at least I got into the craft room for a bit too!

I'm itching to sit down and play for hours with my new markers...but #1, I don't have a chair in my new room yet...and #2, I haven't had a few spare hours! 

I'll have to take what I can get for now, right?

I stamped a line image from one of the Unity KOM's and a quick sentiment...who doesn't always need some 'thank you's' on hand, right?

Then broke out some of the new markers and started coloring...and promptly learned how to use the colorless blender to fix mistakes!

Here it is...

Supplies:

• cardstock: copic
• stamps: Unity KOM
• markers: Spectrum Noir
• ribbon: the Paper Studio
• button: stash

Linking up over at Friends with Flair, always so fun!

Thanks for looking in!

Meredith

Gift Tags

Sometimes its fun to just whip out something simple...and tags can fit the bill!

Here are some simple yet elegant gift tags that I made in a quick evening.

I cut the cardstock into a rectangle, used an angle corner punch to snip off the top corners and stamped two snowflakes in versamark ink. I then heat embossed the snowflakes in silver and added gems with my irock tool. A quick hole punched in the top and ribbon knotted through, and they were done!

Here is a bit closer look...this shows the color more accurately and the shine of the embossing powder and gems.

Supplies:

• cardstock: stash
• corner punch: Stampin' Up
• stamp: Craftsmart
• ink: Versamark
• embossing powder: Recollections
• gems: irock
• ribbon: JoAnn's

I'm linking up to:

• OLW challenge: gift tags
• Try it on Tuesday : Christmas Sparkle

Thanks for looking!

Meredith

Friends with Flair

Quick post tonight, just for Unity Friends with Flair. 

I've been carrying some stamped images and my pencils to places that I know I'll have some downtime...some of my favorite to color have been my stamps of the week, they are all so cute!

Here is a birthday card that I've made several of...this image is great!

Supplies:

• cardstock: Wausau
• patterned cardstock: Basic Grey
• stamp: Unity 
• pencils: Prismacolor
• ribbons: the Paper Studio

Thanks for stopping by!

Meredith

Snowflake Wreath

There is a lovely challenge this week over at the Cardmaker Cardswap Challenge board, to make a card with a wreath on it.

Inspired by this card, found on Susan's Pinterest board, I came up with this...

It was so easy and fun to make!

Just punch out a bunch of snowflakes (I used 4 different papers for 20 total) and adhere them to a base. I pop-dotted the base onto the card base for a little extra dimension.

I probably should have taken a picture, but I made my wreath base by punching a 1 3/8" circle from paper, then lining that negative up inside a 2" circle punch. Once the second larger circle is punched you have a 'wreath form' to adhere your snowflakes to!

Simon Says Stamp is hosting a challenge to 'Just add pearl'...my card qualifies three ways! I used pearlized cardstock, I sprayed the snowflake wreath with 'frost' shimmer spray, and there are five tiny blue pearls on the top layer of snowflakes!

There is also a challenge over at Whoopsi Daisy Designs to 'punch it out', I'm pretty sure that 22 punches on the card qualifies! ;-)

Supplies:

• cardstock: Wausau
• patterned papers: DCWV
• punches: Paper Shapers (1 3/8 circle), Marvy (2" circle), EK Success (snowflake)
• stamp: Inkadinado
• ink: Colorbox

Thanks for stopping by!

Meredith

Halloween Cupcakes

I'm not much of a baker, but sometimes Pinterest gets to me...

I signed up to bring cupcakes to my church Halloween party, and after deciding that although I love the cute decorated cupcakes made into Halloween figures you can find all over, I would never spend that much time frosting and decorating them...but I still wanted to make something other than ordinary cupcakes.

Enter the fabulous Halloween cupcakes posted by The Sugar Turntable. 

Aren't they cute? And easy...so easy! Which is just my style!

Click through to The Sugar Turntable to get full instructions, but the short list is to mix up a white cake mix, divide it in half, tint one half orange and one half black, then alternate adding them to the baking pan. Bake normally...you're done!

The cupcake wrappers were cut on my Silhouette Cameo, the file is here. It is just a basic scallop, since I figured that rather than purchase a different file for every holiday, I could purchase this one, and use up some of the stash of patterned papers that I have.

Have a blast if you make some...and thanks for stopping by!

Meredith

Snowmen & Holidays

Oh wow, can you believe that we are already at the end of October! 

Where has this year gone? I feel as if the year just started...yet, when I look back at my calendar I can see just how much has happened! Lots of exciting things!

Dh has asked that we actually send out Christmas cards (and a letter) this year, so its looking a bit like Christmas around here.

The perfect image to start out with arrived in my email last week...

Faith at Designed 2 Delight restarted her progressive challenge last month, if you didn't join in then and receive this image for free, then you can purchase it in the shop and play along to receive the next one!

I also came across a delightful blog that lists current challenges for cardmakers and papercrafters, Feline Playful. Exploring their listings has introduced me to several new and fabulous challenges that I'll be entering as well.

Such as this one at 52 Card {Christmas} Throwdown to use diecuts or punches on a Christmas card.

My second card also qualifies for the challenge at Rogue Redhead Designs ~ Get Dotty (use dots in your creation).

I've been working on my coloring with pencils since taking a class a few weeks ago...sometimes it turns out really well, sometimes only okay...I still need more practice with choosing color families to blend, I think. Who would have thought that 92 colors of pencils wouldn't be enough? ;-)

In light of that effort, I used the same lovely image to make two cards...one turned into a snow-lady...

The second into a snow-man. 

I'm particularly pleased with the snowman's scarf...I think I did pretty darn well with the shading on that!

Supplies:

• image: Designed2Delight
• stamp: Penny Black
• cardstock: Wausau
• patterned paper: snowlady (K&Company), snowman (DCWV)
• pencils: Prismacolor
• ink: Ranger Distress Ink
• die cuts: Spellbinders
• punch: Paper Shapers

Thanks for looking!

Meredith

Baby Bunting

Well, I haven't been posting much...but I have been creating! I'll just share one tonight...

I have a friend who is in a neighboring state right now waiting for clearance from the authorities to bring her lovely newborn daughter home...oh, so heartwarmingly precious!

To congratulate her on the new addition, I used some Unity KOM stamps and some sweet heart buttons I had lying around...

This card was inspired by the banner/pennant challenge that Unity had for the last month...I'm posting too late to join in...but the card was too cute not to share anyway!

I'll link it up to Friends with Flair on friday!

Lots of pink, of course...

I pop-dotted the onesies after fussy cutting...

The sentiment on the inside was part of the prize package I won for commenting on a Friends with Flair post a bit ago...25 whole stamps...I couldn't believe how generous a prize it was!!! Thank you, Unity!!!

Supplies:

• Stamps: Unity KOM
• Card base: Recollections
• Patterned Cardstock: Recollections scrap pack
• Twine: LSS
• Buttons: stash

Thanks for looking!

Meredith

Friends with Flair

It's time to link up with Unity Friends with Flair and show off your Unity style!

I must admit, I linked up a couple of times just for the fun of it...but the camaraderie and love shown in the comments lifted my spirits in a special way! And the talent...wow!

Thank you to Unity, for hosting such a wonderful party to get together! And a sincere thank you for the prize that I won a couple weeks ago for being a commenter...really...25 whole stamps!!! Wow! I was expecting maybe an itty bitty or something...to receive such an envelope full of goodies was lovely!

My project today isn't from the prize stamps...although I'm sure that those will start appearing soon. :-)

I'm using the 'Just Chillin' stamp of the week, aren't they so cute!

5 Little snowmen all in a row, bundled up snuggly and ready for the snow!

And a big red button to set it off!

Truly a quick and simple card today...as I've just had a molar extracted and I am sure that the pain medication will be wearing off soon!

Supplies:

• cardstock: Wausau (white), unknown (blue)
• patterned paper: DCWV
• ink: Memento (black), Ranger Distress Ink (blue)
• stamps: Unity
• colored pencils: Prismacolor
• other: twine (stash), button (stash), ribbon (Dollar Tree)

Thank you for looking!

Meredith

I'm a Guest Designer!

So, just a bit ago, I started participating in a new challenge at 3GirlJam, and the first time I entered my card was chosen a winner!

I received a lovely stamp set from Joy's Life Stamps, got to choose a bundle of ribbon from 3GirlJam...and got the chance to be a guest designer for the next challenge!

The challenge for this time is Anything Goes! The sponsor of the challenge is the Saturated Canary...wow, her designs are so creative! If you win, you will get Two digi's from the store! Lucky you!

I used the Up, Up, Away design...I could not resist those wonderful balloons and that sweetly mischievous expression!

I went with decorating a gift bag...printed the darling image twice on cardstock, colored the balloons on one and the girl on the other, then pop-dotted the fussy cut balloons on top, matted on contrast cardstock and added a stamped sentiment...then finished it all off with a cute little ribbon bow!

Supplies:

• gift bag: Hobby Lobby
• cardstock: pink(stash), white(Wausau)
• image: Saturated Canary
• stamp: StudioG
• pencils: Prismacolor
• ribbon: 3GirlJam

Here are some closer shots for you...this was so much fun to put together!

Here's the soft bow...I love this seam binding ribbon!

And the popped up balloons with the curled banner...just to add some more dimension...

And the entire image...doesn't her expression look a bit mischievous to you?

It doesn't look a bit like the 99 cent bag that I started with, does it?

The completed project is destined for my daughter...she is working hard at her first duty station in the Coast Guard and is passing off her training requirements quickly, and with great scores!

I hope that you have a chance to participate in the challenge...I'd love to see you play along!

Thanks for looking!

Meredith

Whooo's Ready for a Challenge?

I'm so excited...Designed 2 Delight is back to having a progressive challenge! 

It works this way...you grab the first image here, and make a project with it then post it and link up here...after the first challenge is up (by Oct 19th), you will receive the next challenge image in your email! How generous is that? All you have to do is keep creating with the images, and you will continue to receive them!

I love her images, and the creativity of the participants (ooh, the gorgeous coloring!!!) inspires me to keep trying to improve my own designs.

You've got plenty of time to grab the image and create...and if you miss this first one...that's ok, you can purchase the next one and jump right in!

Besides, its a fantastic fall image...and I need a slew of Halloween cards to send out pronto!

I watched a youtube video on coloring with pencils...then pulled mine out and tried...I didn't do too poorly...but then I got impatient while I was putting the card together and managed to smudge the orange ink that I was using to distress the edges of the black cardstock...oh well, design change! I think it turned out all right in the end!

I glued a row of green buttons across the bottom of the card...and pop-dotted the matted image to have it on the same level.

The inside has room for a short stamped Halloween greeting, with a sparkly web punch to set it off.

And the envelope couldn't possible escape without some embellishment as well...I inked the edges in orange and gave a hint to the card inside with another Halloween stamp.

Supplies:

• cardstock: Wausau(white), unknown stash(black,orange), Coredinations(black glitter)
• digital image: designed2delight
• stamps: StudioG
• buttons: unknown stash
• ink: stampabilities(orange), Tsuneiko(black)
• punch: MarthaStewart

Thanks for looking!

Meredith

Friends with Flair

Just a quick card tonight, with my Unity Stamp of the Week to participate in Friends with Flair. 

Pull out your Unity stamps and play along next week! The inspiration is gorgeous!

This one is definitely for dh...he's been making some tough decisions lately, but he always manages to do the right thing...and like the stamp says...i love him!

Supplies:

• cardstock: Wausau
• stamps: Unity
• ink: Ranger Distress Ink
• twine: DollarTree
• button: stash

Thanks for looking!

Meredith

StampoftheWeekaPalooza!

So, my daughter recently graduated from Coast Guard basic training, and while she was there her dad, brothers and I made an effort to write at least one card a day to her, just to help her keep her spirits up and give her something nice to look forward to.

It was fun, and we succeeded in our goal fairly well...but keeping up with the cardmaking necessary was an effort as well! One thing that definitely helped, was the little package of red rubber that arrived in the mail every week...my Unity stamp of the Week! 

Here are some of the cards that I sent that I did not get the chance to take a pic of before they were snatched up and sent to Elizabeth...not all of them are  Unity Stamp of the Week (SOTW) stamps...but most are! The others are from some Unity Kit of the Months and other Unity Itty Bitty Stamps.

I'm linking this post over at Unity Friends with Flair, where Unity stamp lovers can post their creations and ooh and ahh over all the creativity that is shared!

Thanks for looking!

Meredith