Birthday Cards

 Well, had a little time so I decided to get a jump on cards for an upcoming swap.  I used Doodle Pantry digi stamps for the images (http://doodlepantry.com/shop.html).  All the papers are from my scrap basket.  Had to get some bling in so, the flowers have rhinestone centers and the Popsicles are completely covered with Stickles.   

Now to work on scrap booking :)  I have a plan that will hopefully help me to not only get COMPLETELY caught up, but stay on track for the year...there are a few things I have to get in place though. 

Finally....

I can share what I made for my Secret Santa Swap.  I didn't want to spoil the surprise so I had to wait...I had a lot of fun with this swap.  My recipient was a friend of mine...I tried to do as much as i could to fulfill her questionnaire.  She likes purple, wanted a brag book, and liked embellishments, so....here is what I created to give her...

I fell in love with this brag book.  It is a paper bag album with double tags in each pocket.  I used the remainder of a stack pack, some handmade papers and lots of fun embellishments:  flowers, flocked stickers, jewels, pearls, velvet butterflies, etc.  I kept the color palette simple...white, black and purple.  I decorated the front with her initial cut on my Cricut from glitter card stock.  I hope she likes filling it as much as I liked creating it!

Then I made this recipe card tin.  She has been participating in our recipe card swap on the FB group, so...I kept it simple as I could not remember her kitchen color palette.  the stickers are from Martha Stewart and the papers were from my scrap basket. 

To mail her gift, I put the mini album in the tin and then added embellishments and Stickles I had purchased for her.  I also added a simple set of cards I had made. 

Card for my son....

Ok...made two cards for my DH now one for my DS...I used this free digi I had saved...and I can't remember where I got it...because it looks like his dog Thor.  I kept it simple...colored with Stampin'Up pencils & used gamsol to blend and I added Crystal Effects to the eyes and nose of the dog.  All the papers are from my scrap basket.  I really like this dog....now I have to remember where I got him as I bet they have him for other holiday/seasons! 

Melt My Heart

I had so much fun coloring, I decided to do another card for the challenge at Pixie Dust Studios:  http://pixieduststudiopixiechallenge.blogspot.com/ and ABC Challenge: F is for Frosty  http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/  This time I used the "Melt My Heart" digi from Pixie Dust Studios and again patterened papers from my scrap basket...only 3 this time :)  This is going to be for my DH on our anniversary, only 3 days after Christmas..I added some chipboard embellishments, Prima flowers, stickles and Crystal Effects to the carrot noses.  Cute!  Another great digi!

Under the Mistletoe

Had a little time and needed to make my husband's Christmas card, so I decided to do a 'twofer"...card for hubby and to enter in Pixie Dust Challenge:  http://pixieduststudiopixiechallenge.blogspot.com/  the challenge was to use 3 patterned papers...I actually used 4!  The image is from Pixie Dust, "U is for Under the Mistletoe".  I colored it with my pencils.  I added stickles to the mistletoe berries, Crystal Effects to the eyes, beaks & feet; and a few miscellaneous embellishments from my scrap basket. I made it an easel card so DH can put on his office shelf.  I love it!  The digi is just so cute, I couldn't go wrong!

Just for fun...

 so I had a little free crafting time this weekend and I decided I wanted to create ATC's for two of my fellow divas.    One of my divas had posted a picture of an ATC she made for me of Keith Urban...my absolute favorite artist, so  that was my inspiration.  I went to her profile on FB and read through her favorites & interests....Elvis...perfect.  Now which Elvis...I decided to do two...young and Hawaiian.  Here is what I came up with...

Now for my other girlfriend...that was easy...George!  She loves George Strait.  Here is what I came up with for her....

Now to get them in the mail to them!

Busy, busy! It is that time of year...

...birthdays to celebrate, decorations to put up, presents to buy, parties to attend, etc.  And this past weekend was no exception.  on Friday Jarek had a few friends over to celebrate his 14th birthday.  They did what most boys that age do...ate, played PS3, and watched movies.  On Saturday he went to the mall with his friends to go to his favorite frozen yogurt place.  How simple these parties are as they get older...no pinatas, no treat bags, no party games...just give 'em $20 and send them for yogurt :)

While they were at the mall, I finished up my ATC for the last swap of the year.  The theme was, Winter Wonderland....and as usual I had too many ideas in my head.  So, as i was scouring through all my crafty stuff I found these 5 glass pebbles and I knew what it was going to be...snow globe!  the rest just fell into place...I used inked card board for the base of the snow globe.  If you look closely you can see their is a picture of the Snow Queen.  The background papers I had on hand...one of those from my paper pig stash ;)  I embellished the globe with all different snowflakes I had...felt, buttons, and pearl brads.  I then added a swirl of aqua flocking.  I like the finished card...actually came out the way I had it in my head!

Christmas Crafting: Ornaments

OK, we have a BIG open house every year for our neighbors & John's co-workers and, in the past, I have given a little something for each family to take home.  Usually it is something baked, but this year I decided to do something different.  This will probably e our last year (John will more than likely be transferred in June) so I thought an ornament might be more fitting.  Gingerbread house building is the big event that evening so I knew that had to be incorporated into the ornaments, so...here is what I came up with. 

I made several different variations of this ornament, but this is the one I am going with. 

First I printed the gingerbread image & colored it.  Then I took the glass ball, added some "snow", glitter and star shaped sequins.  I then attached a neutral colored thread to the back of the image, inserted it into the clear glass ball and arranged it the way I wanted it.  I the added a fluffy bow.  I am going to make some takes to hang on the side that will read, "From our house to yours.  the Franklins ~ 2011"  I think these will be a nice keepsake for those who have attended all our open houses....hopefully one the neighbors will carry on the tradition we have started once we are gone.

Now, on to cards and our annual letter.