Back to the city

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Today finds me improving after my (surprise!) gall bladder removal on Sunday.

I was even able to leave the house for a trip to the dentist, and a lovely breakfast.  I always thought those laproscopic surgeries were a great idea - and now I can speak from experience.

Today's card looks like this ...

 here is the little tag

This is going out to the following challenges:

The Sisterhood of Crafters - embossing

365 Cards - a card to be proud of

IBS Inspiration - with this photo ...

merry merry !

Cardstock - Recollections

Design Paper - Authentique

Tape - Recollections

Flower - handmade

Stamp - Recollections

Eyelet, jewelry cording, ribbon, doily, tulle - stash

Scrabble tiles

Ink - Ranger

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Papercraft Star 122 - Holiday greenery

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This week Papercraft Star is featuring the theme of 

Holiday Greenery !

Now I did something completely foolish, and way out of character for me ...

I didn't schedule this week's post when I uploaded my photo to the Papercraft Star posting.  I always do those at the same time, just to stay on top of things.  And when I say ALWAYS, don't you know this is the very first time I haven't done that.

Well yesterday found me in the emergency room, and I had to undergo a gall bladder removal.  GREAT !  And I thought about the fact I hadn't posted this over and over and over.  The one time my OCD would have completely paid off !

Luckily, the surgery was done laproscopically, and I am home already.  However only two of my 5 Christmas trees are decorated, and the rest of the house has 8 open bins strewn from corner to corner.  The upside of that ?  Well I will tell my visitors it is all part of the MAGIC BEHIND THE SCENES, a one time only tour.

And, oh yes, here is my card, lol.

This was a fun card to make, but then most of them are !

Stop by and play along with us this week at Papercraft Star !!

Card stock - Bazzill

Design paper - Bo Bunny, K & Co

Bird - K & Co

Merry Christmas tag - Michaels

Stickles and green ink - Ranger

Hemp - The Kraft Outlet

Ribbon punch - ek success

Hand painted button - stash

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The Kraft Journal 98 - Holiday Gifts

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Our theme this week at The Kraft Journal is

Holiday Gifts !

This is a gift card holder, a ten minute project, and it doubles as a tree decoration until Christmas Day.

I began with a  Library Card pocket, and covered it in design paper.  I added two rows of different lace to the bottom, and some sparkly yarn, and adhered two glittered snowflakes.  I attached a piece of Adelaide Seam Binding as a hanger, threaded with three Pandora-like jewelry beads and bound it to the pocket with buttons and some  Natural Hemp Cord  tied in a bow. 
Right now it is hanging on my fall tree, but I plan to hang it onto a more Victorian type green themed Christmas tree.

This requires no talent at all, and it looks pretty cute !

Here is a photo of my fall tree ...

The library card pocket, the seam binding and the hemp cord all came from 

the Kraft Outlet.

Design Paper - Authentique

Lace, snowflakes, trim, buttons, beads - stash

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Just Us Girls - photo inspiration

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This post concludes my final week this month as the Guest Designer at Just Us Girls.  What fun it has been !!

The fourth Saturday of the month JUGS always uses a photo inspiration.

And here it is !

Judging from the lack of footsteps to this door, I thought of it as a door somewhere off of the main "trail" - and probably decorated just to please the occupant.

How often we fail to do that for ourselves ...  something just to please us.  A hot drink, a chapter mid-day, a shopping trip with no agenda.  This is just the time of year a woman needs a special treat for herself.  AND, if you won't do it for yourself, do it to make ME happy !!!  

Here is my card ...

As this Christmas holiday approaches plan a little fun just for YOU.

Merry Merry !!

Card stock - Recollections

Design Paper - Authentique, DCWV

Flowers - Recollections

Sentiment - K & Co

Holly tape - Anna Griffin

Stickles - Ranger

Twine - stash

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The Kraft Journal - a Holiday card !

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This is my favorite time of year, right before Thanksgiving, knowing that the holidays and all the smells, lights and cozy nights are just around the corner !!

At The Kraft Journal we are starting off this holiday week with a holiday card !

Holiday cards are my most MOST favorite !!  Brown Kraft Blank Note Cards are just the right beginnings for this holiday card. I added some design paper, and a DREAM Adage Ticket, along with  Cork backed paper with a Headings rubbing and 12/25 Number Flag Banner stickers.  Lace, a chipboard button, a chipboard snowflake, a bow tied with Earthy Hemp Cord and some distress embossing complete this sparkly creation. Wish you could really see how it shines.

Stop by and join in with us this week at The Kraft Journal, with your holiday card !  We would love to have you play along !

The Kraft Outlet - kraft note cards, adage ticket, cork, rubbing, banner stickers and hemp cord

Design Paper - Kaisercraft

Ink - Ranger

Lace, staples, chipboard button and snowflake - stash

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Just Us Girls - Color Challenge

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Hi !  I am in my third week of challenges as the Guest Designer over at Just Us Girls.  Our color challenge this week encompasses autumn - brown, green, orange and ivory as our neutral !

Here is my card ...

Hope you can join along and play with us this week !!

Card stock - Recollections

Design Paper - My Mind's Eye

Leaf and acorns - K & Co

Autumn rubbing - MAMBI

Felt flowers - me

Ribbon - stash

Punches - Marvey, ek success

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Papercraft Star 121 - a Thank You

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This week at Papercraft Star we are celebrating

Thank Yous !

Only one simple requirement, a thank you card.

I had some oral surgery this week to remove some of my gumline, yikes.  I have a lot of people to thank for  helping me out, carmels are coming their way.

Here is my simple card ...

Papercraft Star will have this challenge open for two weeks, so we can give our ladies a little holiday !

Card stock - Cordinations

Paper - Recollections

Sentiment stock & border - K & Co

Stamp - TPC

Punch - Martha Stewart

Cording, beads and bell - stash

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The Kraft Journal 96 - Turkey Time !!

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 The Brown Kraft Note Cards from the Kraft Outlet have proven to be one of my favorite bases for my cards.  Today I used one again, and layered some design paper on top.  I added a small rectangle of C-flute Corrugated Kraft Paper, after wrapping the card with some raffia and Adelaide Seam Binding.  Atop the Small Kraft Shipping Tag is a turkey sticker from the Salvage Sticker - Seasonal book, some lace and raffia.  Leaves and tiny flowers were included along with a wooden button threaded with Natural Hemp Cord, and tied into a bow.  

I am dreaming of turkey and mashed potatoes, how about you ???

Hope to see you at The Kraft Journal this week !!

 From the Kraft Outlet - Brown Kraft Note Cards, C-flute Corrugated Kraft Paper, Adelaide Seam Binding.,  Small Kraft Shipping Tag, Salvage Sticker - Seasonal, and Natural Hemp Cord

Design Paper - Authentique

Punches - ek success

Lace - Bo Bunny

Flowers - Recollections

Leaves - Creative Imaginations

Heart button, raffia - stash

Ink - Ranger

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JUGS 162 - Technique

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Throughout November I am a guest designer at Just Us Girls, one of my favorite challenges !

This week we are featuring a ribbon weaving technique.

The wreath is really pretty simple to make.  One thing I would suggest, is to use a ribbon with different shades or different colors to give the wreath a better 3D look.  It also looks a lot more complicated, a nice illusion.

Here is the link to a how-to video !

Hope you will join us at JUGS this week, and give this ribbon weaving a try.  It is completely perfect for a Christmas card !

Card Stock - Recollections

Design Paper - Authentique

Flowers and Bling - Recollections

Sentiment rub-on - K & Co

Lace and Ribbon - stash

Punch - Martha Stewart

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Papercraft Star 120 - Gray and Yellow

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Papercraft Star's weekly challenge opens today !  Our challenge this week is Yellow & Gray.

Two colors I think are wonderful together.  

Many many years ago, when Harvest Gold was a popular color in decor, I had a friend who was immensely talented.  Her darling off-kilter condo was done in yellow and gray, and it was perfect in summer and winter.  No one anywhere used that combination.

Here is our inspirational photo this week ...

I really love this gorgeous photo !

Why not join us this week ??  We would love to have you !!

Card stock - Recollections

Design Paper - My Mind's Eye

Flash cards - Tim Holtz

Flower - Michael's bin

Pearls - Studion 112

Ribbon & jewelry cording - stash

Punch - ek success

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Cards for Men tutorial at TKJ

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Hi Everyone !  This is the last in a series of tutorials on Cards for Men over at The Kraft Journal.

Probably the hardest thing about cards for men is adding an embellishment.  I have several jewelry bead organizers I use just for metal type embellishments.  Metal is inevitably thought of as manly, isn't it !  You have a few metal things around your craft space - sort them separately and you will find you already have some good stuff.

Metal keys, buttons, brads, beads, and jewelry findings take up this space.

Tim Holtz buys are a natural.

A broken watch, and game pieces fit right in.  The dominos are threaded for use as beads -  or you can attach them with glue.

If all else fails, hit the garage for these goodies.  Several of these would make a great stop on an easel card.  Note I added a little bit of script (from the Kraft Outlet's dictionary pages) to the washer.  The little green clamp was less than 50 cents.  The screws you see here are actually brads !

Here are a tag and a card with tag showing how I used some of these in practice.

Note the wire and metal beads at the top.  This was for a steampunk challenge, but works for a man too.

I hope you have enjoyed this series on Cards for Men, and picked up a few tips !  Next month I will be back with a tutorial on making a light box for your photos out of almost nothing.  Have a great week !!

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Jugs - sketch

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For the month of November I will be the guest designer at

 Just Us Girls

Way way back a long time ago, JUGS was one of the very first challenges I ever saw, and I am really tickled to now be a GD this month !  

JUGS was the third challenge I entered, and here is my (completely awful) card from back then ...

Pretty terrible ...  lol

The first Saturday of every month JUGS always has a sketch

and here is my glittery card for this week's challenge ...

A little better ??

Come and play with us !!!

Card stock - Recollections

Design Paper - Basic Gray, Recollections

Ribbon - Hug Snug seam binding

Pins - Little Yellow Bicycle

Flower - Recollections

Embossing folder - Cuttlebug

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