Trick or Treat! ... and A Hostess Code for my Party

Happy Halloween, everyone.  I don't do coffins or tombstones, but I love little Halloween critters.  I dug out a retired set that I kept ... because they are so adorable ... and made up some little treats.  I've had so much fun sharing these in random acts of kindness.  I gave out my last 2 today.  Enjoy the treats and scroll down to read my party info, while I get back to work on Christmas projects for my Open House this Sunday.  Yikes!  I have a lot to do yet.

If you live in the area, please RSVP that you're coming to the Open House/Christmas Party.  You'll have a ton of fun!!!

If you cannot attend the party, but would like to place an order to qualify for my special 'perks' you can do so online.  Use this Hostess Code and you will be included in our order.  Your own order will be sent separate - directly to you!
HOSTESS CODE ---   9QEY2V9Q  

Some of what you can expect:
- Fall ideas and inspirations --- cards, decor and 3-D projects...  just a taste.
- Christmas ideas and inspirations --- cards, decor, 3-D projects, and gift ideas...
- Refreshments, of course...
- Make and Take projects...
- A special gift for those placing orders of $25. or more...
- A special coupon for those placing orders of $25. or more...
     The coupon will be for a discount toward my 2017 Christmas Retreat Class!!!
- My Christmas Boutique, where you can shop for gifts and stocking stuffers...
     Bill will be my cashier and I will help with the party.
- Prizes and/or coupons may be earned for participation in various activities...

Remaining classes / events for 2017:

November Classes / Events:
November 5 -- Open House Christmas Party / 2:00-5:00
November 13 -- Scraps and Prayers
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Home Decor Project for Christmas
November 18 -- Christmas Retreat
     10:00-3:00 / $45.00 / 18 Cards: 6 Designs - 3 Cards Each
     Fee includes materials, light lunch, and a ton of fun. 

December 11 Scraps and Prayers Class:
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Christmas Cards and Tags

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration.

- Let's create something beautiful today.

Ribbon of Courage

I'm up to my eyeballs with Christmas prep for my Open House/Christmas party this Sunday and thought I'd go a different direction for today's post.  
As a cancer survivor of 15 years now (Yay!), I was looking forward to trying this stamp set.  I chose a soft pink for my design.  I know ... you don't see me use pink very often.  Sometimes, it's what you need for your design to work. 

I lightly went over the raised embossing with my white ink pad, to highlight it.

I like how this one came out.  I try to live up to its message each and every day.  It's a good one!

If you live in the area, please RSVP that you're coming to the Open House/Christmas Party.  You'll have a ton of fun!!!

Some of what you can expect:
- Fall ideas and inspirations --- cards, decor and 3-D projects...  just a taste.
- Christmas ideas and inspirations --- cards, decor, 3-D projects, and gift ideas...
- Refreshments, of course...
- Make and Take projects...
- A special gift for those placing orders of $25. or more...
- A special coupon for those placing orders of $25. or more...
     The coupon will be for a discount toward my 2017 Christmas Retreat Class!!!
- My Christmas Boutique, where you can shop for gifts and stocking stuffers...
     Bill will be my cashier and I will help with the party.
- Prizes and/or coupons may be earned for participation in various activities...

Remaining classes / events for 2017:

November Classes / Events:
November 5 -- Open House Christmas Party / 2:00-5:00
November 13 -- Scraps and Prayers
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Home Decor Project for Christmas
November 18 -- Christmas Retreat
     10:00-3:00 / $45.00 / 18 Cards: 6 Designs - 3 Cards Each
     Fee includes materials, light lunch, and a ton of fun. 

December 11 Scraps and Prayers Class:
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Christmas Cards and Tags

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration.

- Let's create something beautiful today.

Medallions Anyone?

If you've read my recent posts, you can remember that I took my glue gun on vacation with me this year.  Doesn't everyone take their glue gun to the beach?  You can also remember that I made a ton of medallions while I was there.  Here's a little peek at what I did with a few of them.  This was fun!

These medallions are also called rosettes and even lollies.

Some went on mini pizza boxes.  These little boxes are just stinkin' cute!

So... medallions, anyone?

If you live in the area, please RSVP that you're coming to the Open House/Christmas Party.  You'll have a ton of fun!!!

Some of what you can expect:
- Fall ideas and inspirations --- cards, decor and 3-D projects...  just a taste.
- Christmas ideas and inspirations --- cards, decor, 3-D projects, and gift ideas...
- Refreshments, of course...
- Make and Take projects...
- A special gift for those placing orders of $25. or more...
- A special coupon for those placing orders of $25. or more...
     The coupon will be for a discount toward my 2017 Christmas Retreat Class!!!
- My Christmas Boutique, where you can shop for gifts and stocking stuffers...
     Bill will be my cashier and I will help with the party.
- Prizes and/or coupons may be earned for participation in various activities...

Remaining classes / events for 2017:

November Classes / Events:
November 5 -- Open House Christmas Party / 2:00-5:00
November 13 -- Scraps and Prayers
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Home Decor Project for Christmas
November 18 -- Christmas Retreat
     10:00-3:00 / $45.00 / 18 Cards: 6 Designs - 3 Cards Each
     Fee includes materials, light lunch, and a ton of fun. 

December 11 Scraps and Prayers Class:
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Christmas Cards and Tags

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration.

- Let's create something beautiful today.

Let's Have a Little Talk ..... About My Upcoming Open House/Christmas Party

Each and every time I host an Open House Party, I try to make it as special as possible.  I keep what works and change what I want to make even better.  The creating with friends is always there, but I think it gets better each time, too.   You'd better study your holiday catalog because you'll be trying to guess a few of my favorites from it.

Some of what you can expect:
- Fall ideas and inspirations --- cards, decor and 3-D projects...  just a taste.
- Christmas ideas and inspirations --- cards, decor, 3-D projects, and gift ideas...
- Refreshments, of course...
- Make and Take projects...
- A special gift for those placing orders of $25. or more...
- A special coupon for those placing orders of $25. or more...
     The coupon will be for a discount toward my 2017 Christmas Retreat Class!!!
- My Christmas Boutique, where you can shop for gifts and stocking stuffers...
     Bill will be my cashier and I will help with the party.
- Prizes and/or coupons may be earned for participation in various activities...

Here's a sneak peek at a few things.  Enjoy!

I have already finished a lot of fun, new displays to share with you featuring some really cute Christmas critters.

I have K-cup holders, mini pizza boxes, mini coffee cups and holders...

... and lots and lots of medallions.  You'll just have to wait to see how I used these.  Believe it or not, I took my glue gun on vacation and made them during my rest times.  It was so much fun to sit and enjoy seeing and hearing the ocean while working on super fun projects.  I was really glad to have them finished when I got home, too.

Remaining classes / events for 2017:

November Classes / Events:
November 5 -- Open House Christmas Party / 2:00-5:00
November 13 -- Scraps and Prayers
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Home Decor Project for Christmas
November 18 -- Christmas Retreat
     10:00-3:00 / $45.00 / 18 Cards: 6 Designs - 3 Cards Each
     Fee includes materials, light lunch, and a ton of fun. 

December 11 Scraps and Prayers Class:
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Christmas Cards and Tags
This will be my only event for December.

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration.

- Let's create something beautiful today.

My Elegant Fall Card

This is the crazy time of year for you when I am now posting a Fall card but spending my creative time working on Christmas cards and projects.  I have more ideas than I could ever finish in one year.  What a happy problem!  I wanted to make an elegant Fall card that included lots of artistic elements.  I love making Fall and Christmas cards better than most any other season, but I truly love it all.  Here's my elegant Fall card.

My background is watercoloring, along with a bit of spritzing.  the leaves are all stamped, cut with thinlits, and then sponged with multiple colors.  This was very intensive, as I made a bunch of these for our church to send for all the October birthdays.  I did some of the work on vacation.  I took several projects with me and spent my rest time working on Fall and Christmas projects.

This is the kind of art work that fills my soul with happiness.  I took a lot of cut watercolor papers with me on vacation and played with creating lots of watercolor backgrounds.  These will be used for future projects.  I'm off to play with Joey and work on more Christmas projects.  I'm making tons of stockings right now.  They're so cute.  Have a blessed day.

Remaining classes / events for 2017:

November 5 -- Open House Christmas Party / 2:00-5:00
November 13 -- Scraps and Prayers
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Home Decor Project for Christmas
November 18 -- Christmas Retreat
     10:00-3:00 / $45.00 / 18 Cards: 6 Designs - 3 of each:)
     Fee includes materials, a light lunch, and a ton of fun. 

December 11 Scraps and Prayers Class:

     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Christmas Cards and Tags 

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration.

- Let's create something beautiful today.

A Happy Card and VERY Happy News ... X 2!

Enjoy today's happy card and then scroll down for my happy, happy news.
I've been so busy lately with doctors, physical therapy/exercises, and ... best of all ... LOTS of creating.  Remember, I warned you that this is the crazy time of year, an artist, when I switch from All-Occasion - to Fall - to Halloween - to Christmas - and so on .....  This includes cards, canvas projects, framed projects, home decor and lots and lots of cute ways to package treats.  And ... I still have cards and projects to share with you from the summer, so you won't lack for inspiration.   

Today's card is proof that I have a fondness for card designs with large circles.  On this one, I included a smaller circle, as well.

I absolutely LOVE this color story--- Lemon Lime Twist and Berry Burst.  This makes for a wonderful birthday card.  These are truly happy colors.

I think anyone would love a bright and lively birthday card like this one.

AND NOW, FOR MY HAPPY NEWS:

ONE:
Recently, I learned that my infection from my surgery is FINALLY healed.  I am a little anemic from it all, but not alarmingly so.  I am continuing my exercise/physical therapy and working on getting stronger and being more active each and every day.  (Joey is helping me with that, as are the pups:)

TWO:
Last week, I became officially 15 years out since my cancer diagnosis.  I don't talk about it a lot, but it's always in the back of my mind.  My cancer specialist told me that he thinks my arthritis has become an even bigger battle for me than was my cancer.  I don't know, but I'm happy to be cancer free ... and for 15 years.  Such news is always a relief, but it is also terribly humbling because so many are still being diagnosed and treated for cancer.  I thank God every day for blessing me with such good doctors, medical resources, His love, the love and care of my family and friends, and my inherited stubbornness that just won't let me give up on fighting for a better life.  God is in the details and I will never forget that.

Remaining classes / events for 2017:

November 5 -- Open House Christmas Party / 2:00-5:00
November 13 -- Scraps and Prayers
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Home Decor Project for Christmas
November 18 -- Christmas Retreat
     10:00-3:00 / $45.00 / 18 Cards: 6 Designs - 3 of each:)
     Fee includes materials, a light lunch, and a ton of fun. 

December 11 Scraps and Prayers Class:

     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Christmas Cards and Tags 

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration.

- Let's create something beautiful today.

Seasonal Chums Get Spinning

I haven't made a spinner card for a long, long time.  I thought the Seasonal Chums stamp set would be perfect for one ... or maybe two.  These are surprisingly easy to create and don't take much longer than a regular card.  The most difficult part for me was in getting the circular openings to match up correctly.  I'll share more on this in a future post.  For now, I want to share my spinner cards with you.

Aren't they cute?  I love them!  Here's the front...

...and here's the back.

These will be fun to send to anyone who enjoys a little whimsy in their world.

That's it for now.  I'm off to get ready for my class today.  It will be fun, for sure.

Remaining classes / events for 2017:
October Classes:
October 21 -- Saturday Stampers --- Today:)
     1:00-4:00 / $20.00 / 2 Fall AND 4 Christmas
     Registration Closed

November Classes / Events:
November 5 -- Open House Christmas Party / 2:00-5:00
November 13 -- Scraps and Prayers
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Home Decor Project for Christmas
November 18 -- Christmas Retreat
     10:00-3:00 / $45.00 / 18 Cards: 6 Designs - 3 Cards Each
     Fee includes materials, light lunch, and a ton of fun. 

December 11 Scraps and Prayers Class:
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Christmas Cards and Tags

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration.

- Let's create something beautiful today.

Who Says You Can't Have an Island Indigo Sunflower?

I wanted to create a second Fall card for my Saturday Stampers class and have it be a little unexpected.  I love how this one turned out.  I'll be anxious to hear how others feel about an Island Indigo sunflower.

 I'll continue to keep sharing more details about the cards for this class.  In the meantime, I thought you might like to go ahead and take a peek at all of them.  I'll share more about them in another post.

Remaining classes / events for 2017:
October Classes:
October 21 -- Saturday Stampers
     1:00-4:00 / $20.00 / 2 Fall AND 4 Christmas
     Registration Closed
 
November Classes / Events:
November 5 -- Open House Christmas Party / 2:00-5:00
November 13 -- Scraps and Prayers
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Home Decor Project for Christmas
November 18 -- Christmas Retreat
     10:00-3:00 / $45.00 / 18 Cards: 6 Designs - 3 Cards Each
     Fee includes materials, light lunch, and a ton of fun. 

December 11 Scraps and Prayers Class:
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Christmas Cards and Tags

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration.

- Let's create something beautiful today.

An Elegant Deer is Always Welcome

Today's card comes from a stamp set in the Christmas section of our Annual Catalog.  As soon as I saw him, I fell in love with this deer.  He is whimsical and elegant, all at the same time.  I've seen a lot of cards created that were similar to mine, because the deer just begs to live on an oval background piece, be embossed in gold (or silver) and live on the most gorgeous papers ever to come our way.   I kept my cards very simple, letting the deer and the DSP be the stars of the show.  I tried a little bow at the bottom of the oval, but liked it best without.  Simple elegance is always good:)

I still have two more cards to share with you that we'll be making at my Saturday Stampers class this week.  I finished them all and just love them.  Come back to see my super elegant Fall card and my spinner card ... for Christmas.  Like I keep saying, this is going to be one of my best classes.

Remaining classes / events for 2017:
October Classes:
October 21 -- Saturday Stampers
     1:00-4:00 / $20.00 / 2 Fall AND 4 Christmas

November Classes / Events:
November 5 -- Open House Christmas Party / 2:00-5:00
November 13 -- Scraps and Prayers
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Home Decor Project for Christmas
November 18 -- Christmas Retreat
     10:00-3:00 / $45.00 / 18 Cards: 6 Designs - 3 Cards Each
     Fee includes materials, light lunch, and a ton of fun. 

December 11 Scraps and Prayers Class:
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Christmas Cards and Tags

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration.

- Let's create something beautiful today.