CSS - Inspiration Blog Hop - 11/18/2011

It is another StampTV blog hop. I really enjoy these blog hops, it is such fun to see all the different things everyone comes up with - each one wonderful! This one is an Inspiration Blog Hop, look at this great photo, so many options to choose from. 

You should have arrived from Melissa Shultz blog. She always has such wonderful ideas and projects.

This is the first card I made - I focused on the circle and decided to make a round card in blues. The stamps are from the Stamp TV kit called "Wishing you Joy". There are so many really nice images in this set. I love it. In fact the second card is also made with this stamp set. I used a silver doily on the back and stamped the snowflakes in white craft ink. the dove was colored and popped up. The snowflake was purchased at the end of the season last year. The card stock is GinaK Little Boy Blue.

This second card also uses the new StampTV set, called Wishing you Joy. I wanted to show the circles so I used 4 on one. I pulled in a little DP from Jillibean Soup and I also used GinaK Designs Rocket Red card stock and some of her luscious  ribbon. I colored the images with my Copics.

Now hop on over to visit Sharri Seffins! I am sure she has some inspiration for you as well. If you want to start at the beginning  or get lost along the way, just jump directly to the links for all of the wonderful creations on StampTV. 

Make sure to leave a comment as you hop along because on Tuesday morning (November 22), we will randomly choose one of the comments from all the blogs who will get a stamp set of their choice valued up to $24.95!

Joyful Penguin

I am falling way behind in Christmas cards this year! So I decided to pick up the pace and create a few. I now have several pieces of Christmas cards laying on my table - this is the first that came together.

This card was stamped with the newest StampTV kit from GinaK called Wishing you Joy. This set has a lot of really fun images for such a great variety of stamps. Nothing fancy with this card - loved the DP with the stripes. Not too much coloring, just some paper piecing and a button. .

Thanks for stopping by and your comments are always treasured!
God Bless,

Card Recipe:

Stamps: GKD - Wishing you Joy

Paper: GinaK - Green Apple and white

Specialty Paper - Jillibean Soup - Christmas Eve Chowder

Other: Ribbon, a button, Spellbinder dies

Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamps - Button

Card Patterns - Sketch

Top Tip Tuesday -#59 Anything Christmas Goes

Peace: Mark 10:27

Hello Sunday - I love this day of the week, the chores are done and it is a day to relax. Many of you will be attending services this morning at your places of worship, we attended and participated last night. As always it is good to see you, I am so glad you could join us at Stampin' Sisters in Christ for another challenge based on scripture!

This week the every Lovely Linda is the hostess and the verse she chose is Mark 10:27. Be sure to stop by our home page to read wonderful testimony. 

"Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God."

All things are possible for God - yes indeed. I think of this verse a lot, even recite it on a regular basis, especially when a tough choice or obstacle is in my path. "Through Him all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26) is another one that is always on my mind. So many verses give us the same encouragement or sometimes it is the kick in the pants that I need to move forward. Right now it is the encouragement that I seek - and find in Him. 

The challenge this week is anything goes!

Sometimes I hit a dry spell and when I do I look through different challenges and try to use my newest stamp(s). So I came upon the "black magic" technique challenge over on JUGS. Looked like fun so I decided to try it with the newest stamps from Layers of Color. So that is what I did. 

Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp with an adorable stamp set!

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters (listed on the sidebar) to see what they have to share this week:

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

Recipe: 

Stamps: LOC - Glad Tidings
Paper: SU Black and Garden Green

Designer Paper: None

Other: Spellbinders Die - ribbon - jewels - cuttlebug folder - gel pen

Challenges:

Marks Finest Papers -No designer Paper
JUGS - Technique - black magic
Midnight Madness - Sketch

Trim the Tree: Ephesians 4:29

Right off the bat let me say that I goofed. I was supposed to make a card of encouragement - so let me see how I can make this work. Okay, ready? That cute little girl (an image from our sponsor this week, Simon Says Stamps) is wanting to trim the Christmas tree but there is no tree. (do I hear an ahhh) So she is holding the ornament waiting for encouragement. How am I doing? So our cute little girl is given permission to decorate the halls since there is no tree. So did I save face on this one? Yes, you are in the right place, the Sunday challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

Today Patti is the challenge hostess and the scripture she chose is from the book of Ephesians 4:29.

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Everything that I say should be nice and good. Not easy to do for most of us. But so very important especially this time of year. The kids are trying to be on their best behavior (Santa is coming) the parents are a little more stressed than usual and even those of us who are not raising children yet or anymore are a little more on edge. We make our lives busier with social engagements and shopping and a list of things that have to be done. Now is when we should be trying to be good and helpful - I tell the younger students at school "Use your nice words". Maybe we need that reminder too.

So the challenge this week is to create a card or project that will compliment, encourage, or cheer someone in need of uplifting. Like the little girl who needs a tree to decorate. :-)

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters to see what they have to share this week:

Chris Olsen: Twinkles Glow With Stamps

Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow
Patti J Gilliam: Cherish Each Precious Day

Peggysue Turner: Roses By My Window

Rebekka Reed: Diamond in the Rough
Randi Barret: A New Creation (On break)

Thanks for the visit.

Recipe:

Stamps:Simon Says Stamps -  Trim the Tree 

Paper: SU - Blue Bayou
Designer Paper: Graphic 45

Other: flowers that I colored with a marker, a couple of buttons and gold thread

Other Challenges:
Simon Says Stamps - Christmas card with no red or green
Card Patterns - sketch
Sassy Studio Designs - non traditional Christmas Colors
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Christmas Card
Papertake Weekly - Christmas with no red or green

Christmas Blessings: Isaiah 1:18

My goodness what a busy week! I think that these few weeks out of the year are quite busy for many of us. Holiday get-togethers, shopping, cooking, making Christmas cards AND sending them. It is time once again for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

Today Rebekka is the challenge hostess and the scripture she chose is Isaiah 1:18.

Come now, let let us set things right, says the Lord: though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool".

"Come now, let us set things right" - I love that! God forgives - no matter what we do, or fail to do, it can be set right - through the healing love of our Father. I am happy today - well, truth be told I am usually happy. But I have lived in darkness, a darkness of my own doing. When I thought that I had made too many mistakes to ever be forgiven of all of them and that I really did  not deserve to be happy. That was then and this is now. I am happy! And I have my relationship with God to thank for that and my acceptance of the fact that I have been forgiven and I have been washed white as snow and I have every right to be happy. I was able to set things right - with His help.

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters to see what they have to share this week:

Chris Olsen: Twinkles Glow With Stamps

Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow
Patti J Gilliam: Cherish Each Precious Day

Peggysue Turner: Roses By My Window

Rebekka Reed: Diamond in the Rough
Randi Barret: A New Creation (On break)

Thanks for the visit.

Recipe:

Stamps: Ornaments and Snowflake Background by ODBD

Paper: GinaK Pure Luxury white and SU Real red

Other: Ornaments and tag Nestability - some red ribbon and a red brad

Other Challenges:

Christmas Ornaments

** To see the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge please scroll down. **

Another Christmas card - I am on a roll! Sure wish I had more time! This card was made for a few challenges and I really do like how it turned out. I didn't expect to like it (I am more of a traditionalist) but I do.


I used the Nestie on the Ocean Mist then cut out the center. I then stamped the ornaments on white twice. The first was used behind the Nestie and the second I colored and cut out each ornament and popped it up. I also popped up the frame. I used a Cuttlebug folder on the green panel.


Card Recipe:
Stamps: Gina K's - Vintage Borders
Paper: Gina K Pure Luxury Ocean Mist and Green Apple
Specialty Paper: BG - marjolaine
Other: Lace ribbon, a shiney brad, Copic Markers, Nesties, Cuttlebug



Challenges Entered:
Stamp TV - Color Challenge
Card Patterns - Sketch 
Mark's Finest Papers - Add a bow
Stampit Crazy - Christmas Free for all

Christmas Stampin All year long - Anything Goes


Thanks for the visit and the comment!

Warm Christmas

** To see the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge please scroll down. **

I am falling behind in my Christmas cards so now I am playing catch up. I am also trying to get a few challenges in! Today's card just came together. The most difficult thing on this card was cutting out the bow and holly on the candle. I sponged around the edges just a bit on the candle image and the sentiment with green. I used some vintage looking paper (with the dots on it) that I found in a clearance bin at Target. It is from Making Memories and the package had been damaged. Still worked well for me! :-) 


I colored the image using Copics and some gold Stickles for the flame. I had some of the red pearls, used Nesties for the images and a Stampin Up scallop punch.


Card Recipe:
Stamps: Gina K's - Light of the Season
Paper: Gina K Pure Luxury Lipstick Red and  Fresh Asparagus
Specialty Paper: Making Memories
Other: Ribbon, peals, Copic Markers, Nesties



Challenges Entered:
Stamp TV - Sketch Challenge
Color Throwdown - Colors - reddish - greenish - yellowish
Mark's Finest Papers - Add a bow
Stampit Crazy - Christmas Free for all
Christmas Stampin all year long - free for all



Thanks for the visit!

Christmas Peace: John 3:30

Happy Sunday and what a glorious day it is! Welcome back for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. It is not yet Thanksgiving and we are already being bombarded with advertisements to buy now for Christmas. Sigh - can't I just enjoy Thanksgiving first!

Today our challenge hostess is Grace and the scripture she chose is John 3:30.

"He must increase; I must decrease".

Oh how true that is especially this time of the year! I want the upcoming Thanksgiving Day to be perfect with every one of my family members happy to be together and thankful for our many blessings. I want to start thinking of the perfect gifts for our children and grandchildren for Christmas. I suppose I want to live the Hallmark movie concept of "The Holiday Season". What I struggle with is the fact that I am not living the Hallmark version of the perfect life because I am not perfect (shocker isn't it?). I have to decrease so that He will increase. The more I expect my idea of perfect to make me and others happy the less I open my heart to every wonderful non-perfect moment as a wonderful blessing from God.

This week our sponsor is once again Simon Says Stamps. Grace gave us 2 choices this week:1. Make a CAS card, (representing "you" needing to decrease); or 2. Make a More is More card, (representing that He must INCREASE) or 3. Show us a simple version of a card and then show us the "More is More" version. I did just the CAS version - me needing to decrease!

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters to see what they have to share this week:

Chris Olsen: Twinkles Glow With Stamps

Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow (On Break)
Patti J Gilliam: Cherish Each Precious Day

Peggysue Turner: Roses By My Window

Rebekka Reed: Diamond in the Rough
Randi Barret: A New Creation (On break)

Thanks for stopping by - Peace!

Recipe:

Stamps: Stampin Up - Naughty or Nice sold by Simon Says Stamps

Paper: GinaK Pure Luxury White and Stampin Up Real Red

Other: Some polka dot ribbon, Copics to color and dots Cuttlebug border. 

Other Challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenges - Christmas
Anything Goes Challenges - Embossing

Golden Trumpet

Another Christmas card, there are a lot for me to make so it is nice when I can fit a challenge or two into it. This was for JUGS (sketch) and StampTV (color). Also for ODBD (used gold cord). This turned out to be a pretty simple card but I do like the way it turned out.

I just love those labels from Nina B - sold by Gina K. The designer paper was from Basic Grey called Jovial. Didn't that work well with the color challenge? It was simple to just add a few gold brads and some ribbon. Card done - quick and easy. So happy when that happens! 

Thanks for the visit - may have another one tomorrow - I am on a roll! 

Florida Snowman

*** This is my second post today - for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge card please scroll down. 

This card was fun for me to make. It was really for a challenge on StampTV to make a non traditional colored Christmas card. Well, I decided to go totally non-traditional and build a snowman out of sand using sand colored Flowersoft. It really turned out better than I thought it would and certainly is non traditional. 
 
It is also for a challenge on Little Paper Shop to use a button and a bow and The Paper Players to use a snowman (hope sandman is okay). ABC Christmas Challenge wanted winter. This is our winter! And last but not least is the challenge from Belli Challenges to use Flowersoft.

I stamped the images on Gina K Pure Luxury Mother of Pearl (hoping for a glittery sheen). I stamped the snowman image twice so that I could pop up the hat and the heart and the scarf. I used the Flowersoft on the sandy beach and for the "sandman" itself. I added the Christmas tree and put some oranges in it so that it was obviously a Florida tree. The waves are from a DP from October Afternoon's Seaside. 

Thank you for stopping by. 

Merry & Bright

** Looking for the Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge Card? Scroll down.... there it is!**

I know - it is just too early to think of Christmas, in fact I agree with you. Gina at StampTV has put a Christmas in July challenge and even had a new stamp set introduced this month. So now I am making Christmas cards with a few groans and moans thrown in. I mean I am on SUMMER VACATION and do not want to think of Christmas yet - but I know that when November and December roll around I will be sending Gina {hugs} for head start on the busy season. 

I made this card using Gina's new stamp set and for a challenge this week on StampTV to create a split negative card. I made this one and another one with the reverse image and a different layout. This card is also for the CPS175 sketch challenge.  Thanks for stopping by - I always like your visits and comments too!

Recipe:
Stamps: Blessed is the Season - Gina K. Designs
Paper: Pure Luxury Fresh Asparagus and Cranberry Tart 
Other: Lace, burgundy and vanilla embossing powder, MS branch punch, spellbinder die.