Hearts = Love!!

    One of my favorite embellishments to use in card-making and hearts and to me a heart means LOVE, which is why think they are special and always add a nice touch to any card.  I also think that adding any type of heart is another way to showing "Love"!

     I also love heart stamps and today I am happy to have two new cards to share over on the a2z Scrapbooking blog -- both of which were created with this wonderful heart-shaped stamp -- "Love from the Garden K5942" by Hero Arts.

      Too see the card I created with this stamp, please hop on over to the blog!  I chose to go with a "Fall" look for today's cards, but what I love most about this stamp, is that it can be used all year long and for all kind of card types.  The possibilities are endless making it a great stamp to have in your stash!    Both of my cards, also fit perfectly into our "October Challenge", which you can still play in, as long as you have your projects uploaded be Midnight EDT tonight!

       If you would like to but this today, feel free to use my DT Promo Code, which will save you 15% off of any order of $25 and up, (before shipping) - Including ALL of the newest releases and even our Digital Line!   Simply enter LISAH15 during the checkout process !   Happy Shopping!

       I also want to sent out "Happy Halloween" wishes to everyone who is celebrating tonight!   I   hope it's a quiet night here!   The "Trick or Treaters" scare the pups, so it's not a good night for them and also a challenge to keep them from wanting  to get out, every time some one comes to the door!   We never even recognize the few that come here now and it's odd, since we live on a very tiny dead-end road, not a place I would have gone to when I was little!   I do miss the fun days, when we all had little ones in the neighborhood, but those days are long gone!   Now, I sadly admit, it's no longer a night to enjoy!  It's NOT the same and hard to see the pups upset.....sigh!!  

Card Club Cards!!!

   After having a really fun time at very last "Card Club" (a monthly event that was held at my LSS),  I realized that I am really going to miss the group, and am happy that a few of the gals I really love, want to keep in touch and meet up every month or so to create together, which will be perfect!   On top of that we are all going to be back at the store next Friday, for an all day Workshop that's being taught by "Joanne Sharpe", who I had the pleasure of meeting, when she last came to teach a couple of years back. The class we'll be taking is all bout her fabulous lettering and we'll be working with ideas from her book - "The Art of Whimsical Lettering", which I happily own.  We will be creating a fun little Journal all based on the designs and elements of how she works with the alphabet!  It's a technique class, full of all kinds of great tips and hints and I know it'll be awesome.

    Today, I'm here to share some pics of the card were created in Card Club.  I finished mine up last night and really loved how they all came out.  I have to admit, that I'm NOT very good with using tiny die cuts (bad eyes), but I sure do LOVE how they look on cards and can also see why you need lots of time and patience to create with them, something I admit, I lack in, at times!  I also now prefer the look of "clean and simple cards - but really do love seeing cards that create a scene as a few of these do, especially these first few cards --

Scene Cards!

Created with lots of wonderful die cuts,

some cut from "colored cardstock" and

others are colored with Distress Inks!

Close of up my truck --Colored with Copics and

then covered with 3d Crystal Lacquer!!

Next are cards where the "coloring" and "texture"

is what brings them to life --

Stenciled background with Distress Ink

Copic Coloring and Washi Tape!

This is a favorite and this fabulous image is

 "Spooky Tree"  from Penny Black!!

I also love "techniques" which were used

in each of these cards!!

Distress Inking, Stenciling with

Embossing Paste!

Alcohol Inks on "Shimmer Sheets, Dry Embossing,

More coloring and Distressing.

And the last card, the only one not complete!

Grunge-board Painted with Acrylic paints and Distress ink.

Then layered with Distress Stickles and lots of Glitter and Sparkle!!

    As you can see we always made some really awesome cards in Card Club, which is why I know I'll miss it.  But, Kate, the owner of "Absolutely Everything", has told us, NOT to worry, she is planing all kinds of new classes and thought it was time for a change!  I like change too, so I get that and am now excited to see what she has coming up!    Check out this amazing video and cards that Kate was working on while we had class!!!   Awesome!!!!

    Hope you all enjoyed the cards and hope to see you again soon!   Hugs to all and as always, enjoy Creating!!

Hero Arts 90 Minute Scrambles! Love 'em!

   One of the online challenges I really is the Hero Arts 90 Minute Scrambles, which are hosted every other weekend at Hero's Flick Group.  Every Scramble is hosted by a member of the group and we encourage everyone to not only play, but to also take a turn at being a hostess!

    I have had the chance of hosting three since I joined this group a few years ago and I love that almost as much as playing.   We have sign up posts every so often and the schedule is provided several weeks ahead, making it easy for all to chose a time that works for them.  Once you choose you week, it's all up to you as to when you want to host your Scramble -- most often they are on the weekends, but it is up to the hostess.   You also have the fun part of choosing theme and creating a few sample projects to help inspire the players.   Each hostess also offers a prize (your choice), and a second "Digital" prize is provided by Hero for every scramble!

     Yesterday, I played in the Scramble hosted by Kim, who is from Australia, where the time difference is 12 hours (for me in the Eastern Time)!   Even longer for those across the country. Thankfully, Kim is an early bird, who was up at 5 a.m (Sunday) her time, to post her Scramble was went Live here in the East at 5 p.m. Saturday evening.  How sweet is she!  I also absolutely loved here theme, which brought a new word into my vocabulary -  Triptych!   A Triptych ia a work of cart (typically a panel), that is divided into three sections!

  To see Kim's Scramble Sample cards -- Please go to her Scramble  POST here!   And to see all the projects that were entered into Scramble 96 -- Click HERE for the Gallery!   I loved this idea and style and was very happy to complete these two cards for Kim's Scramble.

    For my first card I started with a stamp set (now retired) called "Designer Snowflakes" along with a Hero Arts sentiment set, "Winter Wishes".  I also used two Hero Ink colors -- Pool and Soft Granite, which I stamped on each of the three white panels!   I added the three to a "Mixed Pool" card base and finished off that card by adding my sentiment and some matching Hero Pearls/Gems.

                                          

                                   Designer Snowflakes                               Winter Wishes

    The second card "my favorite" of the two, (it's Purple), started with "Scraps" of Purple patterned Halloween paper left over from Friday.   I changed the orientation of the panels to vertical on this card and adhered each purple strip directly to a Snow Card.   My sentiment, which I LOVE is from one of my favorite Christmas Sets, -- "Sparkle with Happiness", which I stamped in Grape Juice Shadow Ink.  I used the same ink for my Star image, which also happens to be from a retired "cling" set, called "Snowflake Shapes".   Cleaning my room and doing all this organizing is truly like a HUGE shopping spree --- so many stamps have re-appeared and I'm loving using them all again!!

                 

Sparkle with Happiness                       Snowflake Shapes

    As it turned out, those were the only two cards that I made this weekend, so I'm delighted to have played in the Scramble!   Additionally, I plan to submit both cards to the current Holiday Challenge sponsored by Hero Arts, which you'll find along with all the challenge details on their blog! 

   I do hope to create more today, but instead spent a lot of time putting the house back in order.  I'm thrilled with the new flooring we have downstairs in the Family Room and love that there is no longer any carpet on the first floor!  Yay!  Today, was the first day that Hubby has had off, since the new floors were installed -- so it was the first  chance he had the time to move the furniture back into that room.    It was nice to have a chance to totally clean and re-organize the whole room, even the coat closet, with all our boots and winter shoes!  

  I also took the "girls" Skye and Zeva for nail trims at Pet-co, while Scoutie relaxed at home.  He just has his done at the Vet's office, being he did not have to go through it today.   He was happy to see Alex and Acacia who were also her all morning cleaning out Alex's fish 25 gallon fish aquarium, they have generously gifted to us.  They did not have room for two in their new place, so they are using Acacia's tank.  I bought all new stone and will be changing the color.  I also bought the new heater and a few things it needed. Tomorrow, Alex, Acacia and I are heading out to one of their favorite places to shop for supplies, a store called Tropic Isle Aquarium.    It's like an aquarium super store and has the best variety, plus great prices too.  I'm looking forward it buying plants and hopefully my first few fish.     I'm excited to finally add my own fish and am going along with how Acacia has her tank set-up.  It's low maintenance and also looks so pretty....lots of plants and a nice selection of easy to care for small fish!   Alex had only one large Betta fish and a gorgeous Blue Lobster and those two could not be kept with other fish, or they would eat them!   It was a bit too boring for me, so I hope ot find all kind fun things at the store,   Plus, I just LOVE spending time with the kids and now that Alex is out on his own, I don't see him or Acacia, nearly enough.  W'ell have a nice day.  

Saturday is here....

...and today I am here to invite you to hop on over to the a2z Scrapbooking Blog to take part in our October Challenge!    With only a few more days left in the month, time is starting to run out for your chance to enter a win a $25 Gift Certificate to the a2z Scrapbooking Store!!

   Our theme for October is all about using your Hero Arts products and we want to see projects that use at least two "main" products -- (stamp, stencils, dies etc.,)!!   You are free to create any type of project a long as you use(2) or more Hero Arts products and follow our regular challenge guidelines.

    I have a little sneak peak to share with you below, and you can see the entire card over on the blog.  As you can see, I am creating with my "signature color" -- Purple -- but not to worry, if purple is not or passion, like mine -- the blog is fill of a fabulous array of inspiration from all the members of the a2z Design Team!

    I also want to remind you that you may use my Design Team promo code anytime you are shopping over at the a2z Store.   All you need to do is spend $25 (excluding shipping) and them enter the code - LISAH15 - during the checkout process.  You'll automatically send the savings, once you have $25 or more in your cart.   And, as always you can use this discount on ALL products, even things from Hero's most recent release!   Enjoy!

    I'm heading over to the blog now to check out all the latest projects in the Inlinkz Gallery, which you'll find HERE!    I will be looking forward to seeing your cards and projects there too and as always - Good Luck!!

..A Not so Freaky Friday...

....and for me it's a fun Friday, as I am creating some cute new Halloween Cards, all of which were first inspired by a new challenge sketch from "Fusion".  

    It reminded me that I had pretty much forgot all about Halloween this year, at least in my card-making and have already moved into Christmas!   But, today after seeing the challenge image and peeking at the calender, I was quickly reminded that Halloween is only a week away!  Another month that has flown by....

     I also admit now that my boys are grown, I do forget about the "kid" side of Halloween, which is the fun and happy side and to be honest, the only thing I like about it.  I'm not a fan of any of the scary of creepy side of Halloween, and that you'll see in all of my cards today!   I also don't mail out many Halloween cards, so I really only needed a few --- One for both the kids and one for my Mom!

     I'm starting with the card I created for Brian & Meghan, and this adorable Bugaboo image 'screams" Meghan to me, because she LOVES "Candy Corn".  YUK! if you ask me, but it's her favorite candy and when I was out in San Diego visiting, she bought her first "fix" of the season one day while we were out shopping!  LOL!  It makes me smile to think of her anytime I see Candy Corn. She is the only person I know, who loves this candy so much!

  Oh, and speaking of both Halloween and Bugaboo Stamps, they currently have all their adorable digi images on sale!    Happy Shopping!

   

  The next two cards are also cards that I created using more of my favorite digi stamps, all from Bugaboo, which happens to be one of my favorite places to shop for whimsical stamps!  Love them!!

  All of these cuties were color with Copics and also highlighted with a combo of Wink of Stella markers, 3d crystal lacquer and some very sparkly glitter!   All of the fum little sentiments I used today are from a set by Lori Boyd that I bought a part of a special when she first sold them along with her adorable "digi stamps" at By Lori Designs!   

   My last card of the day is the card that 'started' me on my Halloween mode and was based on the current "Inspiration" image from the new challenge at Fusion!    This is a copy of that image and as you will see in my card -- I combined both the Sketch and the Photo together to make my card.

     It turned out to be a fun (and not freaky) Friday for me and I'm so happy that I pulled out my "Halloween" stash and to put together all these "Happy Halloween" cards!   ENJOY!! 

Peace.Love.Joy.

  Three words that all are very special and three word that also are wonderful sentiments to put together on any cards, more so it seems, during the holiday season.   Today, I have three new Christmas Cards to share and love that one of the cards, not only features this sentiment, it also has those sweet words on the patterned paper I used to create the card.

  I'll start with that card, which is also my card for the brand new "Cas(E) This Sketch" challenge just posted today over on the CTS blog.  Let's start with the sketch, which I think is fabulous and one I know I will use again or future cards.

My Card

    I just love how this turned out and think having this sweet "Peace, Love, Joy" Paper Set by Lawn Fawn, was the perfect banner piece for my card.   It's also one more of my stash goodies that I found this week and I used it in some way on all of today's cards!  Love it!   

   For this one, I used that paper as my center banner and trimmed it down to fit the center of my card  I them pulled out a new set of stamps/dies from Simon Says Stamp -- and used the large heart to cut out two half pieces from the blue paper, which I them added to a "Snow" cardbase using foam tape. Next, I used the same die, to cut two full red hearts, also from the Peace Love Joy Pad.  I added those directly to my card base, like little puzzle pieces, lining them up to the die cut piece.  The final step was choosing a sentiment and I was thrilled I had this one, which is from another fabulous SSS Set --"Ornaments" which is one of the many awesome exclusives from the Stamtemeber Release!  

    In addition to the CTS Challenge, I am also submitting this card to Simon's - "Show us What you Made" Challenge!  I hope you'll also play along in both these fun new challenges!  

  And speaking of Simon Says Stamp, which I sure you know by now is one of my favorite stores -- this next card was created and inspired by the latest challenge over on the  SSS Wednesday Challenge Blog, where the theme is "Great Crafty using Kraft"!!  

My Card

    I started this one with some Neenah Desert Storm Cardstock for my card base.  I also pulled out some new "Theresa Collins Cardstock Tags", a new set, I had picked up last week at my LSS!  Each tag is different and they are all adorable!  I'm so happy to be putting them to good use already!   This one, with the little white stars being Kraft in color, was perfect for this card theme.  I then used the same "Cold Hands Warm Heart" die set, from SSS to die cut my little tree and a little heart both from more of the Peace Love Joy - Lawn Fawn set.  I used a larger piece of the red "Rudolph" paper from the set create a large banner the front of my card.  I then using foam tape and added on the tag, which I had decorated more using my little cut tree, some black twine and a "Itty Bitty black and White polka dotted bow"!   The final element was to add a sentiment and I did  that using this adorable SSS Stamp Set, which was actually part of the 2013 December Card Kit!   For this card, I went with Hero's Royal Red Shadow Inks one of my favorite Reds!  

  And once again, it's time for my last card of the day and this one is going to be a card that is sent off to the fabulous "Caring Hearts" Card drive!  

 

   This cute little "pre-colored" image is another one I bought quit awhile back from "Lili of the Valley", long before it was retired.  But, not to worry, the still have many more new "colored art pads" in stock HERE at the store!   And these already colored, cardstock quality images are perfect to use for some super fast and easy carsd.  In this case, I simply trimmed it down a bit,  layered it onto some more of the fabulous Lawn Fawn Paper and added that to another "Snow" card base!   I punched a red heart and added that along with one sparkly red gem.  To complete this one, all I needed was a sentiment and and I found the perfect one in this set by Mama Elephant!  

Bye Bye for today...............

Old and New!!

...and today I have a couple to new cards to share, created with more of the stamps I recently, re-discovered now that I am organizing my new craft space.   It's also "Out" with the old carpet in our family room today and I'm delighted with the new flooring the was installed today!  It's going to be sooo much easier with my pups and I'm also really loving how it turned out!  YAY!   

    I was also so happy with how well the dogs behaved with the two workmen here for most of what is a very storm day, we've having a Nor'easter storm here and boy is is wet and terrible windy, almost a bit scary at time, like when two of the deck chairs went flying across the deck.  Guess it's time time to finally put them away for this year!    The pups and I spend a great day of time in my old craft room today, which will become our new "Dog Room", once it's finished and I still have quite a bit of "craft" stuff there that I need to figure out where to put it or where to donate it.   They were so good and later when I was done in that room, we moved into my craft room, where they played and then napped!  I was so impressed with them, especially the girls, who tend to NOT love it when "strange" men come in !

   I have finally come up with a new plan for all the "stuff " I still have and simply can not keep!  I'm going to open a small store on Etsy and list those goodies along with a huge variety of cards I have made over the past few years!   I'm not trying to make money, but hope to cover the costs of the stuff I always "have to have"!   My goal is to be open right after the Holidays and maybe sooner, if we get all these home projects done first!  I have already donated hundreds of dollars worth of goodies to charity and love doing that, as well!   But, now with all these home projects, I really can use the money and need it too!  This makes more sense and goes along with my new goal of cutting back on my craft spending and ONLY adding news things, when I have something to sell, donate or toss out!  No more buying on whims or because I fall in love with a new product on day one of a release.  I know I'm not alone in doing this, but life I also know, I've spent too much and want to focus on also being debt free in the next year!   No more credit cards -- cash only!!   Wish me luck and stay tuned for more info on my little store and when it will be open!  I also hope to donate a portion of all sales to my two favorite Dachshund Rescue Groups - both very near and dear to me!!

     Both of today's cards were created with some of my favorite (long lost) stamps from Little Tangles.   I saw their latest challenge and right away, I pulled out all my sets and began the work of putting them in their new clear pockets and filing them with all my other favorite clear stamp sets. I also then headed to their blog to pick a card as my inspiration and this is the card I chose by was created by Betty J --

Challenge Inspiration Card

by Betty J

My Card

  I decided that I would the same two Little Tangle Stamp sets "Across the Card" as well as "Ink Splash", which happens to a favorite!   I also loved her design and incorporated that into my card too!    I changed the colors a bit as well as my card base, sentiment and embellishments, but I do think it's clear that I loved her card -- !  Hope you will too!!

  And because I still had my LT stamp out, I decided to make a second card, featuring my all time favorite set, which is this ONE -- called "Kindness Matter"!   I love the words and have used this set many times since I first added it to my collection!  

  This card was also very easy and fun to create!  I started with a pretty "purple" Hero Arts Notecard, and then chose this pretty paper, which is from a set by My Minds Eye, another "find" that has recently appeared.   I stamped the lovely sentiment directly to some white cardstock and then cut that into a strip to run across the middle of my card.  Next, I cut two more strips of the stripped MME patterned paper, in two sizes, one for the top portion and one for the bottom.  I adhered each strip to the card leaving space in between for my card base color to show through.  I finished off this card with an adorable felt heart that is another "oldie but goodie" embellishment from my stash - I believe it's from Echo Park, but I'm not 100% on that!   Feel free to let me know, if you know otherwise!

  In the end I had two new cards and was thrilled to be inking up these wonderful stamps from Little Tangles!   Re-organizing has really been a lot of fun, especially on days like today, when I'm using some of my stash and totally thrilled with having this sets out again !  I'm using Jennifer McGuire's Stamp Organization idea and it's awesome. It really takes UP so much "less" space but also has all my stamps so easy to find I now have them all in their own pockets, assorted by Brand and then have them in the same bins that Jennifer uses.  I still have more to do and need to create my labels and inserts, but it's a big start and it's a great way to store them!  I am doing the same with my dies!   TO see how this is done, from the master herself, hope on over to Jennifer's Blog and go to THIS post!! I adore her and it's been so great getting to know her and her family, all from following her blog, taking a workshop with her at my LSS (a few years back) and also from being a student in each and every class that she and Kristina have offered in their fabulous Online Card Classroom!   I think of her as a friend and she's also been so kind and sweet to me!  I'm lucky to know her!!

  Oh, and in case you have not heard, the next fabulous class being hosted over at the OCC is the 2014 Holiday Card Workshop  and I am already enrolled.  You can Go HERE and sign up today!   It's the "4th Annual Holiday Card Workshop" and I know it'll be awesome, believe me, because I have had the pleasure of taking them ALL and have never been disappointed!    --Not to mention all the other Workshops and Holiday card events that both Jennifer and Kristina  have shared with use for many years way back to the days when they both were "Garden Girls at Two Peas"!   I love both their styles and can hardly wait for class to begin. Kristina is also currently hosting her annual Holiday Card daily blog posts, which you can find Here,  Day 8!   Two of my all-time favorite designers and two wonderful gals--who I truly love and adore -- Great people!!   Hope to see you all in the Holiday Card Workshop!

My new craft space...(sneak peek) + new cards!!

    Brrr!!!  Was I ever chilly when I work up today!   I can already tell that winter is starting to creep in and fr this girl, that's not fun -- I LOVE Summer and dread the long cold and gray days of Winter! UGH!!   We even had our first "Freeze" warning last night we all know, it's get a LOT colder before the warmth of Spring return here in New England!   Some day, I hope I never have to endure cold winters and would LOVE to be heading to a warmer year round climate, right about now!!  But, we need to wait for Hubby to retire and still have some time to go!!   On a happy note, it's a sunny day today and I'm happy to savor every moment of the warm sunshine!  Especially when the forecast for the rest of this week is "Rain".... and rain is never good me!   It's hard on Fibro and achy joints and  my pups are terrible about going outside to do their "business" when it's rainy!  Something "Dachshunds" are well known for -- they do NOT like wet feet, especially cold wet feet!

    I guess the good thing is that all this "indoor" time will give me more time to create and also continue the move into my new room!  I'm doing it little by little and try to spend at least some time "every day" moving more things in or organizing what I have!   I am slowly making progress and if things go well, I may just have my old room 'cleared out' by the end of the week.   And because it's taking so long, I though I would start sharing some updated pics of who the move is going!   This first picture was taken in my "old" room and was taken the morning that we started the "move".  As you can see we had a LOT to get moved and I also have the huge task of completing a major purge and also totally re-organizing all of my craft supplies.  My new room is smaller, but that's okay with me, as I really do HAVE to much, as do many of my fellow "crafty" friends.  And everyone who does eventually scale back, is also happier.  It's not nearly as overwhelming and it's MUCH easier to find and USE what you love!

    As you can easily see by the first picture -- I had a LOT to move and purge!!    NOTE:  Happily I donated several boxes of supplies to one of my favorite Dachshund Rescues "Little Paws", who held their annual fundraising yard sale this past Saturday!   Happily, they have now raised over $1000, all for the doggies and every thing they sold was donated!   YAY!!

My "Old" craft space!!

Overflowing !

This is my new "Craft Space"  

Before, we started moving things in!

   As you can see even from this one angle, this room is nice and sunny and offers a lot more light!  I also love the nice 'old' Pine floors!   I was so excited the morning I took this picture!  It was the day the "move" began!!

  It's come a LONG way since this day!  All my "IKEA" furniture is now moved in, as well as my work desk and my computer desk and about 80% of my supplies!  I am already out of space, so it's NOW the big decision time and that's why I'm taking it slow and continue to toss things and put things aside that I'll donate!  !   I have a LOT done and still have more to do, but will definitely share more pictures, very soon!   

    Today, I did quite a bit organizing in the morning and then hit my craft desk for a fun-filled afternoon of cardmaking.  I completed four new cards today and I'm happily sharing each one with you now.    My first card was inspired by the newest challenge over at "Addicted to CAS" where our code word is "Vellum".  

  I knew right away that I wanted to stamp on Vellum and also heat-emboss my image.  It's a trend I'm seeing more and more of lately and I really love how it looks!   The hardest part for me, is choose which "Stamp" to use, especially since I feel like I have a huge new Stash, after finding so many favorites that were kind of buried in my old room.   I chose this wonderful "new retired" Wire Star from Hero Arts and it's one bought in 2012!  If you love the style, then you'll be happy to know there are two newer versions, still available, including this beauty "Big Star", which I also own and love. Once I had my stamp, I went to work on the card and quickly inked it up with Versamark and stamped it onto a sheet of Vellum.  

    Next, was choosing what color embossing powder and I picked a fun new one I bought over the weekend at my LSS.  It's one of my first bottles of the popular WOW brand of Glitter embossing powder and this one is called "Vintage Champagne"!  A very pretty combo of white powder with clear and gold glitter!   Fabulous and one I know I'll use often, ow that i have it!   Once I had my star all embossed, I decided to add a hint of color and covered it with Ranger's Lilac Ink, a favorite for me.   I then cut it out using my dies, and also cut a second larger star from some Purple Polka dotted paper.  I added my Vellum star on top of that piece and added it to a piece of white cardstock which I embossed with this new "On Point" embossing folder, which is from Stampin' Up!   I used foam tape to add that panel to my pretty "purple" cardbase and stamped on this cute little "Twinkle Twinkle" sentiment, from Studio Calico!  Its' actual a free set that I received for signing up in Lisa Spangler's "Send Joy" Card Class!   Super cute !!   

    I was very happy with the "Vellum" card and it reminded me of how much Vellum can add to a project!  I plan to use it even more in the next few weeks!!

   My next card of the day, is my card for the brand new "Muse Challenge"!   After almost being too late for last week's challenge, this week I'm done very early --- the first day!   And it was a lot of fun because the Muse Card was so inspiring and just happened to feature a die that I have owned for ages, but don't ever recall using - (hanging my head in shame)....how many things do YOU own that you have yet to use?   Me --- too many, but with my new plan, that should soon be a thing of the past! Wish me luck!   Hubby to me that I should only buy new things if I am getting rid of something older - something he does with his tools and such.   Good idea, I might add, but he's far more stringent then I'm sure I will be.   He said it keeps him from spending too much and keeps his cellar neat and organized!  I'm going to give it a try...(soon)!!  It's hard with all the new Holiday goodies, but its' a NEW goal that I want and NEED to work on!!

Marion's Muse Card

My Card

  I am so happy that I finally put this die to use and it's a beauty, called "Sunshine" and is one of the many exclusives from Simon Says Stamp.  It was so great to see it used this week and that's just one more reason, why I LOVE challenges.   I totally changed my card to a simple "Hello" them and chose a color them or Teal and Aqua.  Hope you like it and hope the "Muse" team will too!!   Thanks to Marion for getting me to use another product that i had never touched!  Yay!!

  My next card also featured another fun SSS exclusive die and this one is one that I think is perfect for more Christmas Cards and since that's my goal, since I am creating the for card drives, I thought I would continue making some more today!  I also used some of the "scraps" left over from my card above and put together this sweet card, which I am entering into the new "Anything Goes" 

challenge over at the SSS Monday Challenge !

  This turned out to be another card that I love and one that I do think I'll re-create in different colors.  I love the teal and white, but think it could work in pretty much any color combo an with a variety of sentiments, including the other three stamps that are part of the wonderful "Winter Wonders" set that I just LOVE -- by Hero Arts!    It's a set I've used quite a bit lately and will continue to do so!  The font is amazing - Kudos to Heather Ruwe, the gal who's amazing handwriting inspired this set  :)

 I will also be sharing this over the the new "Simon Says Stamp" Flickr Group, that I happily now belong too!   They are now hosting challenges there too!  Come on over and meet the group!!!

  And now moving on to my last card for today, which is another card that all started with one of the adorable "Art Pad" images from Lili of the Valley!   I simply picked out this sweet little "Bear" family image and then using a Circle Die, cut it into a circular shape and layered it onto a larger circle die cut from the my new "Fave" Christmas papers - Snow Day from Lawn Fawn.  I used the same paper set to create to banners that I placed behind the circles and added them all to a Hero Arts notecard, another of my favorite products, which are really handy to have when you are making lots of cards!   Love them and we have a ton of great colors over at the a2z Scrapbooking Store!!

   I have a question for you all and its' about the "We R Memory Keeper's"  Evolution  Machine, in particular this new bundle which is being sold on HSN.  One of the gals in the card class I took at my LSS on Saturday, had recently bought this, (I believe with it was the deal of the day) and she LOVED it and said it's going to replace her Cuttlebug and Big Shot, plus also now allows her to do Letterpress, which she also raved about.   She also loved how it has "dials" which can be set for each cut or embossing, so that you get the perfect cut every time !   While I have not tried Letterpress (at least not yet), it does interest me and this bundle does seem like a great price for all it includes?  I'm really tempted to order this, especially since it's still available at a good price and also offering the option of "three" payments - (Evil Pay), as I call it because it makes the purchases easier and you dish out less money.  I also could return it, and only have one payment invested and that's what is even more enticing?  But, do I really NEED this and will I use it?   I could easily and happily donate my older machine to charity, but want to hear from someone I know who has this, uses it and can tel my your "honest" opinion!  Here's a picture of the bundle and this is a link to HSN, where there are also videos!   Please tell me more, if you can and/or if it's something you might ask Santa to bring YOU for Christmas -- that's my thought??

Thanks everyone!  Have a wonderful night!!