Happy Friday!

I know, you are going to look at my card today and say, that looks just like one she posted earlier in the week BUT you are wrong!!!  It may appear to be the same but this one has special things in it!!! LOL!!!  Before I forget, Serendipity Stamps has FREE shipping on all orders until Monday so you can hop on over to the website and shop away....

Last Saturday, the Serendipity Stamps DT was challenge to make a shaped card(apparently, rectangle is not a shape!! LOLOLOL).  Because I am so lame, I didn't make mine until yesterday!!!  

The base of this card is Whisper White and was cut using my Circle Nesties.  I then added a piece of DP from the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses Collection.  The image is from Serendipity Stamps and is called Seasons Wonders.  It was stamped on Whisper White using Black Momento ink and then colored using my Copic Markers.  I added new Martha Stewart flurry glitter for the snow.  I mounted the image on top of a scalloped circle that was cut to make a flap that opens.  Here is a picture of the sentiment ~

The sentiment is included in the Seasons Wonders set and was stamped using Black Momento ink as well.  We're still not done!  Here is a picture of the inside ~

I made a little pocket to hold money or a check.  A gift card won't fit in there ~ darn it!!! LOL!!  Please stop by and check out why the girls made using this challenge ~

Amy

Anya

Jennifer

Kathie

Sue

Yvonne

Have a great day!

~Lynda

Good Morning!

Have you seen the new Pure Innocence stamps from My Favorite Things???  Oh my gosh, they are SO cute!!!  Here is a card I made a while ago ~

The base of this card is Whisper White which I embossed using my Swiss Dots embossing folder at the top and then added a strip, just above the bottom, of Basic Black.  The DP is from Basic Grey's Eskimo Kisses Collection.  The image, Flurry of Love, was stamped on Whisper White using Black Momento ink and then colored using a combination of Prismacolor Pencils and Copic Markers.  I paper pieced the jacket and boots.  I added white flock to the hat fold and mitten trim and Martha Stewart glitter to the hat pom pom.  For the snow and snowflakes, I used Clear Martha Stewart glitter and as usual, used my Quickie glue pen to adhere it.  When I cut the image out using my rectangle Nesties, prior to removing the die, I used a black marker and made a frame.  The sentiment was stamped on Whisper White and then I cut that out using THESE Spellbinders dies.  I made a frame along the bottom of the sentiment as well.  Below the image piece I first added a small white border which was punched using my EK Success small scallop punch and then matted with the same DP and then Basic Black CS.

Here is a closer look at the image ~

Have a great day!

~Lynda

Hi!

Here it is Tuesday AGAIN and I'm late AGAIN with my card for today's Jbelle challenge.  The challenge today was to be inspired from one of THESE dresses from the Hanna Andersson website.  I chose THIS dress and as you will notice, it looks NOTHING like the dress I chose!!! LOL!!!  I cannot do inspiration challenges!! LOL!!

The base of this card is Vellum CS and was cut using my scalloped Nesties.  I added Clear Memory Box rhinestones at each valley.  The cute little Stampavie image was stamped on PTI Vintage Cream CS using Brown Momento ink.  I colored using my Prismacolor Pencils and pieced both of their shirts using the same My Minds Eye ~ Merry Days of Christmas DP as the bottom, larger circle.  I added some Stickles to the mistletoe and the little girl mouses' shirt.  The final step was to add the a bow of the brown and white polka dot May Arts ribbon.

Be sure to check out what the girls made!!  You won't be sorry!! 

Keri Lee Sereika

Tobi Crawford

Stephanie Hargis

Jimmi Mayo

Bethany Paull

Michelle Phillipi

Carly Robertson

Shemaine Smith

Jill Dunn

Heather Lee-Reppen

Lindsey Botkin

Trudee Sauer

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

~Lynda

Good Morning!

This month's Verve Project Parade theme is "Home For The Holidays".  I love making Holiday gifts and decorations!  This is going to be a long post so grab a cup of coffee, it will DEFINITELY make it more enjoyable.

I used the Christmas in the Air stamp set. I LOVE that set! It is SO versatile. I cut circles of wax paper for the treats to sit on so the paper wouldn't get ruined. Here is a picture of the top cupcake holder (at the bottom of this post, I will give you the AWESOME frosting recipe) ~

I stamped the snowflakes, again, from the Christmas in the Air set, using Basic Black ink and then colored using my Celery, Razzleberry, Tangerine and Baja Breeze ink pads and a blender pen. I added Stardust Stickles to the centers of all the snowflakes as well as around the top scallop Razzleberry piece.

Here are pictures of each side of the base of the second layer. The snowmen are from the decorative paper. I cut them out and mounted them using dimensionals. Aren't they PERFECT with the trees??? Also, I used a bunch of the different patterns which are included in the Colorful Christmas Collection for the trees which, I might add, are from the Christmas in the Air set ~ see what you think!!!

The "snow" is just Whisper White CS cut using my Wavy Cutter from Creative Memories and then I added Stardust Stickles for shine.  The tree trunks were stamped using Chocolate Chip ink on Soft Suede CS and then cut out and adhered to the backs of the trees.

Here are the step by step instructions for completing the stand.  You can dress it up to fit your theme!

Step #1 ~

Cover the 2 corrugated cardboard circles (I used 1 6" and 1 8") by rubbing the glue stick generously over the entire circle and then press and smooth your chosen decorative paper on top.  Once they are both dry, this won’t take very long, cut the excess decorative paper off.  Before going to the next step, stand each circle on it’s side separately.  You can hold them up by placing anything heavy on each side.  You are going to glue your trim on.  Add some Elmer's glue to the side for approximately 1-2 inches, add your trim, let dry and then do it again until the entire circle has the fringe added.  While the fringe is drying, you can go on to step 2!

Step #2 ~

For the top single cupcake holder ~ punch a 3” scallop from your chosen decorative paper AND 2 from your cereal box chipboard.  NOTE:  I added an extra scalloped circle using my Nesties and cut it from the striped patterned paper.  Use your glue stick to glue the chipboard together.   While this dries, cut a strip of card stock for your single cupcake holder base.  This strip needs to be 2” X 8 ½”.  Score this at 1 ¾” a total of 4 times.  Stamp and decorate as you desire.  Adhere the short flap to the inside of the last square using red line tape to hold it firmly in place.  Using Elmer's glue, glue the stand you just made, to the bottom of the scalloped circle piece.  You might want to lay something on top of it to make sure it glues together evenly.

Step #3 ~

For the second tier (assuming your fringe has been glued on and dry at this point), you need to cut 2 pieces of card stock  measuring 2 ½”x7 ½””.  Score these at ¼”, 3 ¾”and finally at

7 ¼”.  Again, decorate as you desire.  To adhere these 2 together, put a strip of red line tape on the SCORED edge on the opposite sides of each panel (this is so you will not double up on the adhesive to adhere the flaps together).  Adhere these together to make a square.  Now glue this square to the bottom of your middle layer using Elmer's glue.  NOTE:  You can make your strips wider for this layer to be up higher. 

Step #4 ~

This final layer will have 2 bases under it to add extra support!  The inside square will be (2) 2” x 7” and will be scored at ½”, 3 ½” and 6 ½”.  The outer square will be (2) 2” x 11” and will be scored at ½”, 5 ½” and 10 ½”.  If you choose to decorate these pieces (the outside one) you will want to do that now.  Adhere these just as you did the middle base using the red line tape.  You will also want to glue these using Elmer's glue. 

Here is the frosting recipe (my cupcakes are just boxed white cake) as well as the Peanut Butter Cup Kisses recipe!  My daughter tried one and said it was AWESOME! LOL!!

Ingredients:

1 Cup white sugar 

1/3 Cup water  

1/4 Teaspoon Cream of Tarter

2 Egg whites

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Directions:

1.  In a saucepan, stir together the sugar, water and Cream of Tartar.  Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is bubbly.

2.  In a medium mixing bowl, whip the egg whites and vanilla to soft peeks.  Gradually add the sugar mixture while whipping constantly until stiff peaks form, about 7 to 10 minutes.  Frost the cake of your choice.

Here is the recipe for the Peanut Butter Cup Kisses ~

Ingredients:

72 Hershey Kisses, divided

1 Cup Peanut Butter

1 Cup powdered sugar

1 Tablespoon butter or margarine

Directions:

1.  Line 24 small muffin cups (1 3/4 inches in diameter) with small paper bake cups.  Remove wrappers from chocolates.

2.  Place 48 chocolates in small microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 1 minute, stir. Microwave at MEDIUM an additional 10 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, just until chocolate is melted when stirred.  Using small brush, coat inside of paper cups with melted chocolate.

3.  Refrigerate 20 minutes; reapply melted chocolate to any thin spots.  Refrigerate until firm, preferably overnight.  Gently peel paper from chocolate cups.

4.  Beat peanut butter, powdered sugar and butter with electric mixer on medium speed in small bowl until smooth.  Spoon in to chocolate cups.  Before serving, top each cup with a chocolate kiss.  Cover and store in refrigerator.

So, now it's your turn! We'd love for you to play along with us and show us your homemade goodies for the upcoming giving season! Verve stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em, why not show 'em a little love? ;)

And, as with all of our project parades, we've got prizes!
To enter, just link up your Home for the Holidays creation to the Mr. Linky widget on THIS post before midnight MST on Thursday, November 26. One lucky stamper will win a $30 gift certificate to the Verve Store. And for another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout out in the comments as they parade their fabulous creations inspired by this month's theme. One lucky commenter during the course of the parade (Nov 11 - 25) will win their choice of any Verve set.

Good Morning!

I will be back later with my Serendipity Stamps card.  Today's C4C challenge is to use acetate.  I know, let's all give a collective sigh......I actually am happy with my card today.  I have NEVER been able to make a card using acetate but have tried and then would just end up all frustrated!   All acetate has ever done for me is to hate it more and more every time I use it!  Be sure to check out the C4C blog as Frances has included lots of awesome ideas about how to use acetate.

For the acetate card base I used a piece that I had bought from SU!  I forget the collection it was in but I just cut it to the size I wanted and then score it!  I stamped the cupcake image, again SU!, using Basic Black ink, on Whisper White CS and then colored using my Real Red, Wild Wasabi and Pink Pirouette ink pads and a blender pen.  Of course I added clear Martha Stewart glitter for the frosting and added Crystal Effects to the cherries to give them a 3-D look.  I matted the image with Basic Black CS and then on the inside added first a mat of Real Red and then a scalloped Whisper White piece.  The sentiment was stamped on another rectangle scallop piece and adhered on the inside.

You can get LOTS of inspiration from the C4C girls here ~

• Barbara Anders
• Cindy Haffner
• Frances Byrne
• Jessica Diedrich
• Jessie Rone
• Joanne Grzelak
• Joycelyn Turner
• Lori Boyd
• Mercy Kerin
• Robin Willis
• Vicki Garrett

I hope you have a great weekend and don't forget that my Verve project will be posted tomorrow!  I have some baking to do to get ready for it!!!

~Lynda