Belated challenge cards

I have a couple of cards to post today. I'm starting to catch up on some challenges that I'm late on. I know, I know, you're never late, LOL.

The first one is for SCS Sketch Challenge #205. I still need to go back and do #204, but I liked this one for this paper and for a masculine card. This one is for my DH's birthday (I gave the first one I made for him away!) that's coming up SOON! I'm using Basic Grey's Archaic paper and a stamp from Verve's Wonderful Wishes set. Some brads in the corners, and this was an easy man's card--no frou-frou about it, and I love this paper.

















The second one is for SCS Sketch Challenge #206. Cute sketch and fun to do. I love this luscious Heidi Grace paper with it's shimmery and soft pink and green, and the Kraft really sets it off.




















Thanks for dropping in today. I'll be back tomorrow with more cards :)

~Recipe~
Stamps: Wonderful Wishes (Verve)
Paper: Very Vanilla (SU!), Achaic (Basic Grey)
Ink: Always Artichoke (SU!)
Accessories: copper brads (craft store), paper piercer/template/mat

~Recipe~
Stamps: none
Paper: Kraft, Pretty In Pink, Sage Shadow (SU!), Shimmer Glitter DP by Heidi Grace: Christmas | Words and Holly and Holly Leaves
Ink: none
Accessories: ribbon, snowflake brads (craft store), Martha Stewart snowflake punch, foam squares (3-M)

Card gifts

I have two card-related gifts to share today. The first one is showing the packaging for some card sets that I gave to a couple of people I work with. I packaged six different occasion cards in each package, put some pretty paper in the front of the box, and tied a bow around it with some gawjus periwinkle ribbon. I must get more of this ribbon--it ties like a dream! I got the boxes from Clear Bags. Anyway, I'm showing this first, because the next gift card, which was *for* me, will put this one to shame. Here's the package I did:





















This package is somewhat different. There is a card, which is quite sweet, but the BOX is exquisite. It was given to me by my good friend and stampin' buddy, Betty. She gave it to me at my open house and said, "Here's your Christmas card." Yeah, a card. What an understatement! First, I'll show the card, then I'll show the "envelope".

Here's the outside of the card:
















And here's the inside:
















See, isn't this a sweet card? Well, hold on to your seats.



Here's the "envelope" top:
















Can you tell yet? Here's another view:
















It's a music box!!!! I love it to pieces!!!! Thank you again, Betty!! Hugs!!!!

Thanks for checking by today! I'll be back tomorrow with a new card!

More Christmas decor items

Are you getting sick of seeing these, LOL? OK, three more projects in this post and that's the last of them for now--I think ;-)

The first project is more letters--these are for the fake mantle in our library/media room. We have a free-standing gas log stove in there and no mantle so we mounted a mantle on the wall behind the stove. It works! These letter are NOEL and done in a woodland tone to match the other Christmas decorations in this room.

Here's the overall look of the "mantle":


















And here are the letters close-up:
















The next project is for a cute little metal "envelope" I found a couple of years ago. I thought it needed a "letter" in it so I typed out the "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" letter, embellished it slightly with some holly leaves punched with a Martha Stewart punch and some red "berry" stickers, and put it in the "envelope". I have it hanging on the door knob to DH's Man Cave. Here's the overall look:





















And here's a closer view showing the embellishments:
















OK, the last one. I have a couple of white feather trees sitting on the step to our whirlpool tub with purple ornaments on them. I wanted a little something else to group with the trees, so I took a white pillar candle and embellished it a bit. I stamped a snowflake border and a greeting from the Just Rite Christmas set with Versamark and heat embossed with silver embossing powder. It's matted with Lavender Lace and silver metallic card stock, as is the band that wraps around the candle. Here's the overall look:




















And here's a closer look:

















I think most of these are pretty self-explanatory so I won't do the recipe thing. But if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Thanks for bearing with me, LOL. On the next post I'll be back to cards!! Woohoo!!

Oh, JOY!

Last one today!!!

More letters, this time it's JOY. I wanted something to go in front of some feather trees with bright-colored ornaments and this filled the bill. I used some scrapbook paper using non-traditional colors which was perfect for this.

Here's the overall scene:





















And here's a close up of the letters:
















Thanks for sticking with me, LOL!!

~Recipe~
Stamps: none
Paper: craft store Christmas scrapbook paper
Ink: none
Accessories: glue stick, X-Acto knife, cutting pad, emery board, sanding block

Making Christmas sweeter.

Yep, another post today. Hey! I've got some catchin' up to do, LOL!

I wanted to have a little favor for my open house guests, so this is what I did. On some candy canes, I attached a tag that read: Open House 2008 Thank you for making our Christmas a little sweeter. John and Barbara. I printed these from my computer, using a label template, punched them out with my SU! oval punch, and tied them on with red crochet cotton. I then put them in a basket with a large tag, using my Just Rite Christmas collection and large round Harmony stamper. I'm not totally pleased with how this part came out--I'll have to work on that since I'm planning on this becoming a traditional part of my open house.

Here's the candy cane label:
















And here's the basket label:
















Thanks for looking again! One more post for today and I'll quit. I promise, LOL!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Just Rite Christmas
Paper: White GP card stock
Ink: Real Red (SU!)
Accessories: oval punch (SU!), 1/16" hole punch, red crochet cotton