O Christmas Tree ...

"It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!... Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!" ~Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Good morning Everyone!

Week one of the New Year has been lived! I hope you made amazing memories this week for yourself and others!

This week I am sharing a 6 x 6 pop up Christmas card. I have to admit, every time I use this particular die from Stampin Up, I am reminded why I don't use it often. While it makes beautiful cards it can be frustrating to put the tree together and attach to the inside of the card in such a way to ensure it pops up correctly and folds back in when the card is closed.

Outside

Design paper unknown

Green metallic card stock from Provocrafts

Merry Christmas Border die from Fawn Lawn

Wreath die from Gina Marie Designs

Inside

Design paper unknown

Fancy Vine Frame die from Gina Marie Designs

India Ink from Memories

Labels 25 die from Spellbinders

Pop up O Christmas Tree Die from Stampin Up!

Sentiment stamp from Inkadinkado

That's it folks! Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Butterflies and Bling ...

Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life.  And everyone deserves a little sunshine.  ~Jeffrey Glassberg

Good morning!

Today we start another color Challenge at the Outlawz Challenges and this week we have a lovely color choice and twist from Ursula.

My card is 4.25 x 5.50 using a layout from PageMaps December 2008 and my "B" twist is Butterflies and Bling!

Supplies

Card stock from Stampin Up and The Paper Studio

Design paper from Heidi Swap: Sugar Chic

Dies from A-muse Studios: Scalloped Borders

Dies from Sizzix: Ornate Labels

Dies from Stampin Up!: Bold Butterflies and Butterflies

Embossing folders from Sizzix: Damask and Fluttering

Ink from Palette

Rhinestones from my stash and CTMH

Stampin Up! stamps "Happiest of Birthday Wishes"

Thanks for stopping by!

Don't forget to check out the other challenges too.

A new one starts every day.

Baby Bag ...

Thought for the day: “Don’t wait for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel, stride down there and light the bloody thing yourself. ~ Sara Henderson

Good morning One and All!

Today is the start of a new color challenge at The Outlawz Challenges.

Jeanie picked out these fun colors and twist for us to play along with.

Use 3 - 5 colors.

Twist: Must say "New" or "Baby"

I decided to try my hand making a bag using a tutorial I found on SplitCoastStampers.

I used all the colors plus the "Baby" twist.

Supplies

Cardstock from Stampin Up!

Design paper from Amscan

Ink from Stampin Up!

Martha Stewart Train Edger Punch

Stamps: Terrific Tags from Stampin Up!

Tab punch from Stampin Up!

Tag punches from Stampin Up!

Yarn and mini clothes pin from my Stash

So come play along with us!

(Hugs) Cara

It's the Little Things! ...

Time, the years, the seasons, the dreaming and the hopes which throb with life even under the ice and snow. There is an order to all things, a pressure of progression, and the winds themselves will die into nothingness and the tides wither away before the hopes shall have ended, the aspirations frozen forever. Year builds upon year, even as the seasons follow. And year's end is no end at all, but only a pause, a time for the deep breath that marks the next step forward. There is no halt, no turning back. Tomorrow rises in the east, and all tomorrows. ~Hal Borland (1900–1978), "The Song of Time," 1945 December 31st

Good morning Everyone! 

Today is January 1st ... the first day on 2017 and a new Progress Freebie Challenge has been kicked off at The Outlawz Challenges.

Each month we will send you a free digital image to use in the Freebie/Progressive challenge. Once your creation is completed, upload it into the freebie challenge and you will automatically receive the next month free digi.  We will have one image per month so you have plenty of time to create a project using the image.

To receive your image, please register with your name and email address to: outlawzprogressivechallenge@gmx.com 

Our sponsor this month is All Dressed Up!

http://alldressedupchallenges.blogspot.com/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/alldressedupstamps

This card is 5.50 x 4.25

SUPPLIES

Image from All Dressed Up, colored with alcohol markers

Aleen's paper Glaze

Cardstock from The Paper Studio, Stampin Up! and Bazzill

Die: Fancy Vines Frame from Gina Marie Designs

India ink from Memories

Ink from Stampin Up!

Ribbon from my stash

Stamps: It's the Little Things from The Angel Company

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Happy New Year

Good Morning and Happy New Year to all my Friends and Followers!

I pray you are awakening to a New Year filled with much anticipation! For me, I have high hopes for this year! Many changes coming to my life and so far all are positive! 

2016 may not have been the best year but it was a good year in that it saw my daughter returning home after 4 years abroad, my son completing his Associates in Chemical Engineering and my husband and I celebrating our 31st Wedding Anniversary. In fact, in December, we had a large open house and unknown to all the guest in attendance, we renew our marriage vows. We also had a guest from Japan. A friend of our daughters. So 2016 ended with a trip to Zoolights, the Grand Canyon and Sedona. An awesome way to end a rather questionable year.

But 2017 is looking to be promising. 

On the 6th of this month, I end 32plus years with a company that helped put a roof over the head of, feed, clothe and educate my two children. Sadly, it has become a not so good/healthy place to work. Only by God's Grace, am I able to walk away with dignity and the anticipation of a new adventure!

My daughter has reconnected with an old school mate and found love. He is a great kid with a good head on his shoulders. They are a good match and I am looking forward to seeing their relationship grow and bloom.

My son has (FINALLY!) admitted he has a girlfriend, I am anxious to meet her as I have known about her for a long time but he would never admit it (the trials of having a child with Asperger's!). It took my daughter calling him out for him to confirm it. She does live in another state, so hoping he will now make the arrangements for us to meet her face to face.

We have a new president coming into office. Whether or not we like him, we have a responsibility to respect the office he will occupy and to continue to pray he keeps this Nation's best interests in Heart.

All in all ... 2017 looks to be a fantastic year and I look forward to seeing what it brings us all!

(Hugs) Cara