CCCB 37 (2)

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As 2010 comes to a close, we in America still find ourselves at war. Not often in my lifetime, if ever, has there been a New Year's Eve where we did not pray for peace.

In my youth it was my peers who died in such great numbers, and now my friends' children, and my children's friends.

Some say we can find peace within ourselves.

As mothers we can become the greatest forces of all for peace - teaching our children love and tolerance, accepting differences, playing fair, telling the truth, performing secret acts of kindness with never a whisper to others.

Let us take one step closer to peace by being the best we can be in 2011.

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This card is linked to City Crafter Challenge.

Papercraft Star 26 !

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I don't do birthday cards very often, and I think it is because I love to have someone special in mind before I make it. But sometimes, well people in my life want a card to give to someone else, so I must replenish the stash that was completely dissipated over the holidays. Two of my sisters-in-law walked out the door with a box under each arm, filled with the cards I made during 2010, as did my BFF. I figured I had made about 230, based on my posts, so those girlies had a fine old time picking them out ! They did leave me about ten orphans, and I have no sentiment attached to those poor fellas - they will be "chopped" and used again !

Hope you enjoyed today's Executive reveal - remember to link up at Papercraft Star before noon tomorrow to be eligible for both the weekly and monthly prizes !!

Stampin' Up
Cardstock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red
DSP: Love Story

Other:
Jewelry cording
Rub-on sentiment: American Crafts

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CCCB 37

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My daughter gave me some incredible gcd studios paper for Christmas, and I am afraid I did not do it the justice it deserves here.

Nevertheless, in the spirit of full disclosure and at the risk of being thought of as less than perfect, I am still going to enter it into City Crafter's stamp challenge this week.

Can you see what I got for Christmas ? Yup a new sewing machine, and I am lovin' it.

Oh you CCCB ladies - thank you for the Artist Spotlight Award again last week !!! I have 11 on my "mantel" now, and I am darned proud of each and every single one. Being judged kindly by your peers never grows old.

Well, I didn't do so hot this time, but I will get back to work, and see what I can come up with and try it again. Have a wonderful day, and Happy New Year !!

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BLOG HOP WINNER !!!

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Aren't they just gorgeous ~ two of my three favorite guys!

Hope you had an incredible Christmas, as we did. Now to clean it all up !!

It was so nice to spend the week preparing for Christmas while my blog kind of took care of itself with the Papercraft Star blog hop !

The winner of a gift voucher to My Favorite Things is...

LYNNE FROM N. I. !!!

Lynne, leave me a note here and the prize is yours, but claim it by Wednesday 12/29 !!

We have a whole new year of challenges for you at Papercraft Star - some great sketches, some fabulous prizes and sponsors, and more inspiration from our gifted team of designers. Hope to see you there !

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CCCB36

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Aspen is the perfect "city" for this week's challenge at City Crafter. This golden picture is our inspiration for a vintage card - isn't it just so cozy looking !

I chose a G45 Santa for the image, and a wide range of paper - coredinations, Cosmo Cricket, Flower Soft, Basic Grey. The type is Tim Holtz, of course.

I think it looks pretty rich looking, and hey, that is Aspen too !

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas ! I see a box that looks suspiciously like a tripod under the tree, hmmmm.... Spencer told us that Santa was still up at the north pole, getting ready to bring him his Handy Manny Speedboat, which we had no idea at all that he wanted, and started one of those wild Christmas shopping panics as we searched for it.

Merry Merry to you !

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Christmas Blog Hop

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Merry Merry Merry !!

We are so happy you could join us for this special event, sponsored by Catherine Pooler! You should have arrived at my blog from our down under talent, Liz, if that is not where you arrived from, then please join us at Papercraft Star to start the hop from the beginning so you don't miss a thing! You must be a follower of Papercraft Star, visit all the blogs and comment in order to be entered to win our fantastic Grand Prize!

During this hop we hope that you'll find a wealth of inspiration among the beautiful projects our Designers have created especially for you! To add to the fun, we've got fabulous prizes along the way at many of our Designer's blogs and you'll be entered to win a full month subscription to Club InBox by our generous sponsor Catherine Pooler, if you visit every blog and leave a comment with all of our Designers! You have until midnight (Eastern Time) on Saturday December 25, 2010 to leave all your comments and be entered to win the Grand Prize. We'll draw the winners of the prizes and announce them beginning Sunday December 26, 2010.

To win a $10 voucher to My Favorite Things, here at chai tea 'n me, you MUST qualify by doing the following:

1) become a follower, or let me know you already are

AND 2) leave me a comment telling me your Christmas Eve tradition(s).

Gotta have both !

Happy Holidays to you and yours and thank you again for joining us for the Papercraft Star Tags of Christmas Blog Hop, your next stop on the hop is the beautiful and talented Kristina !

Stampin' Up !
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red
Paper: Love Story Designer Series Paper
Crochet Trim, Tinsel Trim & 1.8" Black Taffeta Ribbon

other products:
Library pocket - Kraft Outlet
Image - Tim Holtz
Stickles
Stamp - craftsmart
Distress Ink - Ranger
Brads: unknown (purchased at Eyelet Factory)

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CCCB 35 (2)

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Oddly, I found some unexpected time this week, and since I haven't done as much "for fun" work lately, I thought another entry into City Crafter was completely and absolutely necessary. I am also entering this into the new Kraft Journal challenge that ends today.

Today is very crisp and clear here in Eugene - not a really typical winter day, but so lovely. It reminds me of the kind of wintery days I experienced when I lived in Minnesota - except of course, not THAT cold ! Brilliant blue sky. How thankful I am that I live in a moderate climate, whew !!

And now, back to work.

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Papercraft Star 25 Now Open !!!

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Welcome to Papercraft Star 25 !

Our challenge this week was a photo inspiration, which you can see on my left hand side bar. I don't do dainty little cards very often, so this one surprised me ! It just sorta turned out that way.

Our Senior Design Team is being sponsored all month by Catherine Pooler and her Stampin' Up products. If you have never tried them, drop in on Catherine and have a look - just about the very highest quality of paper and ribbon you could find I think !!

Link up between now and Saturday noon at Papercraft Star ! See you there.

Cardstock - Stampin' Up, Cherry Cobbler, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Paper - Stampin' Up, Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper
Ribbon - Stampin'Up, Certainly Celery Satin
Brads - Recollection
Paper Clips
Swirl and tag - K & Co
Embossing powder
Stamp of unknown origin
Punch - Martha Stewart

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CCCB 35

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I have barely had a moment to get out a card here, but I just HAD to get in on City Crafter this week as their challenge is Kraft ! My newest love.

I am just all about the tags right now - I know you all will understand as you have, no doubt, gone through a similar phase.
It grips you, and you just gotta run with it, for as long as it takes, huh. And Kraft, and tags, well they are a true marriage.

My BFF came over and helped me with my photography - Rufina is such an incredible photographer, and with her help I could see results right away. It is funny that you start out making cards, but if you don't become competent with your photos you can't progress along the way.

For her Christmas gift this year I let Rufina go through all of the cards I have accumulated (that are still at home) and keep as many as she wanted. Her husband told me that was very generous, but the truth is, after I photograph them the thrill is pretty much gone ! (I know you know exactly what I mean here !!!) I am not so sure Dan knew what I meant though...

What are you giving your BFF this year ?

Stop in at CCCB if you haven't ever been there, one of my most favorite challenge sites EVER and some truly lovely ladies who brighten my day every time I post there !!!

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Christmas is almost here !

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I sure do love Christmas ! It used to be my obsession, prior to my paper of course !

Today I hosted a little luncheon for some lady friends, including my blogger friend, Susan.

My daughter cooked a marvelous meal, zucchini spaghetti, green beans, and london broil, followed by a creme brulee.

Now the kitchen is clean, and tomorrow is the next of our parties, an open house for my husband's coworkers.

We have a busy week ahead, with two more sit down dinners planned for next weekend, and an afternoon tea if I can fit it in without exhaustion.

Hope your season is also merry merry ! I hope to be back with a card or too real soon.

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Papercraft Star 24 Now Open !!!

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Our challenge this week was to create a project from something we recycled.

Everyone in Oregon recycles, there is never another thought about it. Oregon was the first state to pass a bottle bill, over 30 years ago, and our children don't know any other way. If we don't recycle, then we re-purpose!

This is a gift bag originally given to my by my oral surgeon - it was filled with gauze, pills and instructions. As I flitted out the door dangling my oh so charming, silver embossed bag I felt quite beautiful - except for the Novocaine induced drool, lopsided face and gauze packed jaw. Now it will become a gift for another.

I have not used the Stampin' Up products before, and I loved the paper, and that lace, isn't it fabulous.

Check out our challenge this week ! Link up your submissions - I am dying to see what everyone creates with this fun challenge !! Submissions close on Saturday, noon (Eastern,USA). See you there !

Supplies:

Stampin' Up – Old Olive Cardstock, Autumn Traditions Specialty Paper, Victoria Crochet Trim
Recollections - Green brad
K & Co - paper for flower
Liquid Pearls
Westrim Crafts - sentiment tag
Recycled bag

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More Kraft Journal

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While I was making invitations for our open house I realized I should probably get some photos in the Kraft Journal challenge. One, never let a project leave the house without being photographed ! Two, if it fits a challenge, enter it !

These invitations are being hand delivered to people in my husband's office.

The envelope is simply kraft paper scored and embossed. Very very simple and plain. I wrote on it with white Gelly Pen, and added this darling closure, a treble clef paper clip I bought at Staples. (Thanks to Tracy who turned me on to those !)

The envelope that holds the invitation is a library card envelope I purchased at Kraft Outlet, one of my best purchases EVER, perfect invite holder. I did different colors and different stamps on each one. The black color is Ranger paint dauber, smooshed across the paper a couple times. I stamped and embossed with gold detail power, added some distress inking around the edges, and added some stickles. (I have an invitation inside of it)

The invitation itself was done in Word, cut, punched, rounded edges, then a texture fade with distress ink stamped all over it, and inked edges. I added a little ribbon pull.

Everything is covered in a mist of Marshmallow, and then Gold Glimmer Mist.

Doing different colors and stamps on each card envelope made the task much less boring.

I am so pleased with how they came out. Hopefully the guests will enjoy them too !!

Spencer is visiting today - hearing a (barely) 3 year old trying to say "Abominable Snowman" is pretty hilarious....

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CCCB 23

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Oh dear, it is getting really close now to Christmas, and any cards I make must already have a destination. Our parties start next week, and my lovely home is still not QUITE ready, ok not at all ...

City Crafter Challenge has a Blue Christmas theme this week - therefore I named my little snow fella Elvis in His Later Years. A little chunky in a white jump suit, with a scarf to throw to the ladies. I don't quite remember an orange nose, but then again, I didn't see him up close, or at all for that matter.

Ok, off to do breakfast with Dom, and then back for some major housework...

Have a wonderful weekend. GO DUCKS !!! Win today, and on to the National Championship!!!

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More Papercraft Star Challenge 23

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Part of Papercraft Star's new daily format is to include an extra tidbit from our Executive Committee each Thursday. This week it is my turn ! (though I don't know why Beth, Kristina and I thought we needed one more thing to do, lol !!) Well, it is ALL for you, dear readers ...

You can see the challenge details on my sidebar.

This week I made use of one of Kraft Outlet's darling little bags (official name, Mini Kraft Merchandise Bag). I stamped the bag, added the Melissa Frances paper, popped up the oval "tag", and added the NOEL tag with a little bling brad. The tag itself (made from kraft cardstock) was stamped, and highlighted with a white Gelly Roll pen. I did a little paper piercing around it, added the Santa and another bling brad. Everything got a little Ranger Ink on the edges, and some edge Stickles here and there.

Everything took about half an hour to make, so it was pretty quick for me ! I usually agonize over it all for hours, lol... Very simple, but I think a lot of fun. I especially loved combining the Santa with the perfect stamp !!

Supplies:
Bag and Tag paper - Kraft Outlet
Paper - Melissa Frances
Images - Making Memories
Stamps - Recollections
Distress Ink, Stickles - Tim Holtz
Ink - Versafine
Brads - stash
Jewelry cording - stash

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Challenge 23 at Papercraft Star !!

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Welcome to Papercraft Star Challenge #23 !

We are in our final week of goodies from Kraft Outlet, and this is what I have happening !

I have really enjoyed this past month working with these products, seems like I cannot get enough Kraft.

Head on over to Papercraft Star for this week's challenge (see my sidebar for the requirements), link it up and go back to vote in our public voting booth. Submissions close noon on Saturday !!



and for the small print...

All paper tags - Kraft Outlet
Ranger Inks, fragments, stickles, safety pin, grunge frame, metal clasp, acrylic paint - Tim Holtz
Background paper - Melissa Francis
Paper in frames - Graphic 45
Blessings - Making Memories
Bling - Recollections
Cuttlebug folder
Stamps - Inkadinkado, Recollections
Ribbon - HugSnug seam binding
Brads - Recollections, Tim Holtz, stash
Fibers - Stash