my Ink well: December 2011

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Sparkly Christmas

This sparkly card is for this week's Just Add Ink challenge, which is to JUST ADD SPARKLE.

While perusing some blogs yesterday, I ran across THIS wonderful creation by Vicki Dutcher. I loved it so much, and the design really put me in mind of a Memory Box stamp that I just bought. This card is a CASE of Vicki's card.

I just love this Memory Box image, and the die that works with it. OK - Christmas card number 4 on December 20th. Yikes!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Music Therapy

It"s been sooooooo long since I've been able to take some time to craft. This morning after I finally got into my craft room and made this card for this week's LIM challenge, I was reminded that I need to do this to stay balanced. It is my therapy, my grounding, my happy place. I know that, but it really struck me today. I thought about the other night when I was having dinner with family and friends. Here is a snippet of our conversation:

Friend: "Fill in the blank: the Christmas season has not started until..."

Me: "Until I have had my Christmas nervous breakdown."

My 12 year old son: "Well, I guess it must be Christmas!"

Yikes!!

I have been on overload like everyone else. Today with the inspiration of my favorite duo, Chrissie and Mandi, I found my happy place again. This week is Theme Week and Chrissie and Mandi have chosen MUSIC.

I have not captured the beauty of my card with this photo. As Mandi said in her post, white on white is horrendous to photograph. The texture and finish of the two white papers work so beautifully together. Here are the supplies I used:

Paper: Real Red, textured linen, pearl finish.

Ink: VersaMark, Ranger Antique Linen distress ink. VersaFine Onyx Black.

Stamps: PTI Christmas Blessings, Waltzingmouse Musical Backgrounds.

Supplies: Memory Box Flowering Christmas Tree die, gold embossing powder, self adhesive crystals, Scor-Tape, corner rounder.

This is perhaps the third Christmas card I have made so far. Only 147 to go. LOL! I did not send Christmas cards for the first time three years ago. Since then each year I vow that I am going to make and send them, but every year I run out of time. Maybe valentines...

In case this is my last post before Christmas, which is probably a sure bet, Christmas Blessings to you, however you spend this special time. Wishing you peace and some time to enjoy the beauty that is at the heart of the season. Merry Christmas.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Homer and a Bit of Bling - A Thanksgiving story

This week's Less Is More challenge is a recipe - use a bit of BLING.

Well, I always brine my turkey for Thanksgiving, which involves putting the bird in a bath of wonderful things like cider, herbs, apples, carrots, etc. for 3-4 days. I have no room in my refrigerator for the large bucket that he needs to sit in, so my friend Dee boards my bird in her spare fridge every year. After Thanksgiving every year, the bird sends Dee a thank you note, and gives her a little gift. It's very funny. So this is Homer the Turkey's card for Dee.

I had these beautiful leaves in my stash of this and that - I made them a looooooooooong time ago when trying out the emboss resist technique, and never used them. I think the leaf stamps are from Hero Arts, but I am not sure. I mounted them on red then brown, and added a little jute. To add a little interest and texture, I embossed 2 score lines on top and a zigzag sewing line. My bit o' bling is to the left of the sentiment - green self adhesive crystals. The card has been sent along with a little gift of truffles and goat cheese to Homer's boarder. Now on to Christmas. I have very few cards made. Gotta switch into gear now, or give it up for this year. Fa La La La La!

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