Since I had some new stamps from Unity Stamp Company, I decided to play along on a sketch challenge yesterday over on Splitcoast Stampers ~ HERE's the link for the Challenge.
Here's a better shot of the title ~ I just love the little buttons on the stamped flowers.
Because I had so much journaling for this page, I did it on the computer. Make sure you always print out your journaling on plain paper first to make sure it is set up correctly ~ you don't want to waste card stock or pattern paper.
Here's a look at the pattern paper that I also stamped ~ it just adds a little extra touch to the paper & ties the page together.
I'll have more holiday goodies to show you later today or tomorrow ~ don't worry!
Today at i{heart}papers, the design team is having a new challenge and we are making Christmas thank you notes. It's a great way to use all those wonderful Christmas cardmaking supplies after the holiday. Now I love to scrapbook, so I will be using mine for quite some time.
For the Circular Thank You sentiment, I used Word Art on my computer and printed it directly on my cream cardstock in burgundy ink. Here are the instructions:
Go to Insert>Picture>Word Art. Select the half-circle shape with simple black letters (the third shape in the top row). In the box, shoose your font and size, then type your text and click OK. Click on your words to select them, and the Word Art tool bar will appear. Click the WordArt Shape button, and choose Circle (Curve) from the menu. The words will be all messed up. Click on your text again to select it, and go to Format>WordArt. Click the Size tab and enter the height and width (set them the same for a circle). I used 1.2" x 1.2" so I it would fit inside the punch I was using. Click the Colors and Lines tab. Under Fill, select a color for your type. Under Line, select No Line. Then click OK. (I found this tip in Simple Scrapbooks Magazine).
Look for all the fabulous projects by the i{heart}papers designers ~
Sarah Anderson;
Cathleen Torina
Loretta Lock
Amber Kroening
Lori Tecler
Deb Felts
Tracy Schultz
Meredith Socha
Carolyn Mustopa
I did a layout earlier this year with one of these pictures of my beautiful daughter; however, I had so many from that day, that I really wanted to use more of them & decided to create another layout. The layout idea came from the current Stampin' Up! Catalog & Idea Book (with a few tweeks here and there).
Isn't this journaling block stamp cool? It's big enough to write out all the details of an event. I hand wrote my journaling ~ which is something I don't do often, eventhough I know I should. And look at that cool flower! I stamped it in chocolate pigment ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder so it would really stand out. Then to give it a cool look, rather than a straight cut, I followed the curves for a fun wavy look.
I also had fun with buttons! I stamped a piece of textured cardstock with the circle cluster stamp in the Flirty Flowers set ~ it made a great subtle pattern on the paper. Then I added all different buttons to the strip of green cardstock. For the brown polka-dot pattern paper, I stamped the row of flowers (also from the Flirty Flowers set) at the bottom and stamped the "memories" stamp ~ both in chocolate ink.
Here's another Riley image I've had colored forever, but completely forgot about. I also found this fuzzy paper in my stash that I've had forever and thought it would be perfect for this little guy on the slopes.
And all through the house...were some very excited kids! We LOVE Christmas eve in our house. Each year we celebrate at a special Christmas Eve church survice and then we come home to open presents. After that, we have ice cream sundaes and then we set out cookies for Santa and spread Reindeer food on the lawn (making sure it's done in an area that the dogs can't get to it).
Well I finally got this last picture to load correctly ~ not the great picture I wanted to use, but at least you don't have to tilt your head! I'm getting very frustrated with Blogger because it keeps rotating my pictures. So if you see me switching to Typepad soon, you'll know my frustration level reached it's limit. Anyway, here is a closeup of my cute little Inchie squares.
Supplies Used: Inchie Arts ~ white Inchie Squares; Stamps ~ Lockhart Stamp Co, Hero Arts; Cardstock ~ SU; Pattern Paper ~ My Minds Eye (Be Merry) from i{heart}papers; Ink ~ Palette, Copics, glitter pen; Velvet ric-rac ~ May Arts; Cricut ~ Jasmine cartridge. 
You gotta love Target ~ the Cocoa tins & the cups I found MATCH! I also found some other fun things that match this pattern too.
OK ~ I LOVE these Riley Moose images! They are way too fun ~ and so darn easy to color too. I've actually had them colored for months and just found them in the drawer the other day. I'm so glad I found them before Christmas was over!
Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Hanna Stamps (Riley Collection); Cardstock ~ SU & PTI; Pattern Paper ~ American Crafts; Embossing Plates ~ Cuddlebug; Ink ~ Palette & Copics; Ribbon ~ May Arts.
Today I want to say Happy 12th birthday Megan!
My true love gave to me... A card with 12 embellishments! That's what the challenge is today on the 12th and final day over on Paper Crafts Planet. 
My next happy little dog is also features stamps from Our Craft Lounge ~ it's the Pat the Dog set. This card wasn't part of the challenge, but I wanted to include it in this post anyway.
Supplies from i{heart}papers:
Basket:Stamp snowflake stamp around the band of the basket using a hybrid ink. Stamp round Holiday stamp (from Holiday Cheer set) on white cardstock & stamp sentiment in black ink in the middle. Cut out circle & red scallop circle using Nestabilities dies. Punch 1/8" hole & set red eyelet at the top of the tag. Attach to basket handle with red gingham ribbon.
Jar/Hot Cocoa/Hot Fudge Tags:Fill jars with toppings. Stamp round Holiday stamp (from Holiday Cheer set) on white cardstock. Cut out circle & red scallop circle using Nestabilities dies. Punch out layered circles & stamp sentiment in black ink & attach to center of large image. Attach to the tops of the jars with foam dots. Attach ribbon with adhesive around the band of the jar.
Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Lizzie Anne Designs ~ Holiday Cheer and the snowflake from Build-a-Bauble; Ink ~ Palette ink (red, green and black,); Cardstock ~ red, white, and green; Nestabilities circle and scallop circle dies, circle punches, red gingham and stripe grosgrain ribbon, canning jars (Ball 1/2 pt. #61162 canning jars), ice-cream scoop, basket, bowls, 3 ice-cream toppings, hot fudge, hot cocoa mix, gift card to purchase ice cream.
On a more serious note ~ today I am a 3-year cancer survivor, which comes with some mixed emotions because it isn't a day I feel like I can celebrate yet. I'm happy to have come so far, to have it behind me (for the most part), and to have learned so much. I know God had lots of lessons for me in that experience (and still does) and I also met some wonderful people because of it. However, my life was totally turned upside down from it and I wish I could make the constant fear go away that it will return. I keep praying that as the years go by, the fear will subside a little.
Here's my last new Hanna card for this week. I saved it for today because it's Hanna Stamps turn over on Paper Craft Planet for the 12 Days of Christmas Challenge. (See the home page for all the instructions).
I have just been bursting at the seams to show you this project! I've had this fabulous Advent Box (from Karen Foster Designs), for about 3 months. I knew the second I saw it, I was going to use it for an Inchie Arts project! In fact, when I saw it, I grabbed it so fast that my friend Michelle was nearly knocked over! Sorry about that girlfriend!
The box measures 8" x 8" and has 25 individual pull-out drawers. They are perfect for hiding some special Christmas treats when counting down the days until Christmas.
