Sleeping Like a Baby?

Stamps: Stampendou 'Dreampuff', Papertrey 'Limitless Labels'. Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Blue Bayou', Papertrey white, Basic Grey ' Two Scoops'. Ink: Memento black, Copics. Accessories: circle and oval Nestabilities, heart brads, flocking.

I'm stocking up on baby cards since I was rushing to make a last minute card for a new arrival last week!

Inspiration was Midnight Madness Sketch #30; the image panel reminded me of a cloud or cottonball which in turn reminded me of this cute House Mouse image. I flocked the cotton ball for a little touchable texture:


Be sure to stop by the Midnight Madness blog for the Christmas Blog Hop, full of inspiration and great prizes. You might even recognize one of the cards on MMSC Design Team member Jeni's blog: I was honored to have my 'Follow Your Heart, Edwin' card chosen by Jeni for the 'Pretty Paper Christmas Card Pick'!

Birthday Cupcakes

**To view this week's Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential: Christmas Flowers post, click HERE**

Stamps: Magnolia 'Tilda with Cowberry Muffin', 'Cowberry Muffin'; Papertrey 'Birthday Basics'. Cardstock: Papertrey Dark Chocolate; SU Riding Hood Red, Cosmo Cricket 'Honey Pie' DP. Ink: Memento, Copics, Riding Hood Red. Accessories: Long rectangle Nestabilities, SU circle punches, Quick Cutz die cuts, glitter pens, Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

My new favorite type of swap are the card kit swaps and this is a prime example why: Angela (SCS monkeymama) created this amazing kit full of wonderfully coordinated images, papers, and embellies like buttons and ribbon. There's plenty more supplies for additional cards!

If you are interested in a card kit swap, Angela is currently hosting a Magnolia card kit swap on SplitCoast Stampers that isn't due until February 2010. You create 6 kits with two images, two sheets of DP, and embellies then receive five different kits in return; one is for the hostess.
It's a perfect way to stock up on images you may not have and go-to kits for those last minute cards!

This sketch is based on Tuesday Morning Sketch #22 with a slight modification; I cropped one long side of an A2 card thinner and used the circle element as a fastener to 'lock' the card closed. Here's a view of the card when opened:

Another December birthday card complete!

Saturday Spotlight on Hidden Potential #10: Christmas Flowers

Digi stamp by Integrity 'Favorite Doll'. Sentiment by Papertrey 'Signature Christmas'. Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Soft Sky, Old Olive, GP110 white. Ink: Copics, Rich Razzleberry. Punches: Martha Stewar branch and scallop border, EK Success 'Daisy', white organdy ribbon, gold Stickles.

This week's Saturday Spotlight on Hidden Potential challenge is all about the flowers, Christmas style. As Vicki describes challenge #10: With the colors/theme of Christmas in mind, use some flowers on your Christmas creation this week!

Our sponsor this week is Inktegrity:

The very generous creator of Inktegrity, Joni, gave us our choice of images so I chose this sweet doll. Ever since I read Melissa (Stamp It, Scrap It, Share It)'s Digi-Stamping Paper Piecing Tutorial, I've been wanting to try this paper-saving technique and thought this doll's dress would be perfect for it!

This card was also inspired by In Style's 'Punch It Out' which challenged us to use three different punches on our project. The wreath was shaped by using a circle Nestie as the base and then layering a ring of branches once, then filling in with a few more in a slightly lighter cardstock for more fullness. The poinsettias are actually a daisy punched out of holiday DP and modified with a few dots of gold Stickles. The scalloped border punch is one of my new favorites and added the final shape for the challenge.

Check out the other Spotlight Divas' Christmas flower creations:

Vicki (Stamped Smiles)
Chris (Twinkles Glows with Stamps)
Boni (Bonibleaux Designs)
Crystal (Crystal's Crafty Creations)
Darlene (Dar's Crafty Creations)
Dawn (My Stamping Thyme)
Debbie (Crafting Fairy)
Erin (Scrap, Stamp and Be Merry)
Maria (Joyful Stamper)
Susan (Stamping Tink)
Jodi (Inked Inspirations)

Then share your own holiday floral creation by linking it to the SSOHP10 post for your chance to win a $15 gift certificate to Inktegrity!

Shout Out to December SheetLoad!

Over at SheetLoad of Cards, we are having one final "Shout Out and Win" challenge.

Find out how you can be entered to win a Scrapbooking 'Grab Bag', donated Doodle Palace (our December sponsor) valued at $40!!

Even though this is our last issue, we still would LOVE to get some new readers. The Archive of issues will be available until at least May of 2010.

SheetLoads Walks Down Memory Lane

As I mentioned in my post on the 1st of December, this is the final month for new issues of SheetLoad of Cards, the December e-issue of SheetLoads marks its final publication. Please head over to the SheetLoad blog today for a little 'walk down memory lane'.

Here's my first card featured in this super-sized issue; I went straight from the sketch using this sweet Doodle Palace image 'Doggie Stocking':

Stamps: Doodle Palace (Doggie Stocking); Papertrey (Signature Christmas); Patterned Paper: Basic Grey (Figgy Pudding); Cardstock: Stampin' Up (Soft Sky), Georgia Pacific (white 110), unknown source (textured red); Ink: Stampin' Up (Always Artichoke); Markers: Copic; Gems: unknown source; Die Cuts: Spellbinders (Nestabilities Long Rectangle); Paper Punch : Creative Memories (corner rounder).

I've managed to pare down my Christmas card list, but still never seem to have enough thank you cards on hand so for the rest of the month, I plan to fulfill my wish to create Christmas cards, but in a thank you theme. Now if I can only finish my own list of gifts to make....

Happy Birthday, Princess!

Stamps: Stampavie 'Lily From the Heart', Papertrey 'Birthday Basics'. Cardstock: Basic Grey 'Bittersweet', Purely Pomegranate, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip. Ink: Memento, copics. Accessories: Circle Nestabilities, 'Bittersweet' brads, white/silver organdy ribbon, Stardust glitter pen, silver gel pen, gemstones.

'Tis the season to celebrate birthdays -- we have six coming up this month (that I can remember!) among friends and family. This is the card I made for our middle daughter who is celebrating her 11th birthday today.

Kara is truly our princess, although she rules with a gentle touch. She has had major health issues her whole life that have put her through more pain than I can even imagine, but she still has a smile for everyone. Here's a photo of her in full princess costume from last year's Halloween:

Since the birthday has a princess theme, I made a little princess hat to match Lily's paper-pieced dress. I've been having fun outfitting my images with a special hat since I was inspired by the Saturday Spotlight on Hidden Potential #9 challenge: Hats On!

The layout is inspired by Card Patterns Sketch#42.

Happy Birthday to our little princess and all the other December babies out there!!

FINAL SheetLoad Issue Now Available!

**Click HERE for Saturday Spotlight on Hidden Potential: Hats On! post**

Head on over to the SheetLoad of Cards blog today to download your FREE copy of the December '09 issue!

This issue features a sketch by Alicia Ekermans and digital stamps from Doodle Palace. There are tons of lovely samples from the SheetLoad Artists, as well as the sponsor's design team. It is the biggest issue ever!!

Today also brings a big announcement about the eZine - so make sure to check it out.