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.

Beary Sweet Mouse Baby!

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

Stamps: Stampendous 'Beary Good Friends', Pink Cat free digi sentiment. Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi, Textured Barely Banana, Basic Grey 'Two Scoops', GP 110 white. Ink: Memento black, Copics. Accessories: Long rectangle Nestabilities, wide pink grosgrain ribbon.

A new baby girl in the family arrived recently, so I wanted to make a sweet holder to dress up the gift card we would be sending out. This pop-up tutorial by Jane (Whoopsie Daisy) gave me a quick and easy template and I only needed to add a set of pink monogrammed cards to complete the gift!

Have you seen the new Pink Cat digis yet? So adorable I couldn't resist purchasing a few. As I was browsing, I discovered they also offer a whole set of sentiments that coordinate with the images, but also work for this House Mouse image for FREE. Isn't that generous?

A baby footprint stamp by Stampcraft and the SU! 'Congrats' sentiment completed the inside, still leaving room for a personal note:



The layout is inspired by the Midnight Madness Sketch #29, done on a miniature scale with a ribbon added for closure.

Now it's time to spend some time organizing my craft area -- it looks like a natural disaster hit after it was dismantled to search out a missing phone line!

Saturday Spotlight on Hidden Potential: Hats On!!

Stamps: Stampendous 'Contented Mudpie', Papertrey 'Signature Greetings', 'Vintage Labels'. Digital image: Shirley's 2 Girls 'Cheers'. Cardtock: Textured Red, Papertrey white, Bashful Blue, Daisy D 'Paisley Sugarplum'. Accessories: Label One Nestabilities, Bazzill red gingham ribbon, glitter snowflake brads.

This week's Saturday Spotlight on Hidden Potential Challenge #9 is Hats on! As Vicki describes it: Use hats for your creation or put a hat on something, make your own, use stickers, etc. Just put hats on it!

This little 'Contented Mudpie' is one of my all-time favorite House Mouse images, as is or dressed for the season with a Santa hat I cropped from a fun image 'Cheers' by Shirley's 2 Girls. Before:

And after, with a touch of glitter for good measure:

This week's card layout is inspired by the ever-versatile Tuesday Morning sketches, Sketch challenge #21.

Be sure to check out the other Spotlight Diva 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)

Play along for your chance to win this awesome blog candy: Don that thinking cap and show us some 'Hats'!

Saving the Earth

Digital sentiment included in November e-issue of SheetLoads. Cardstock: SU Berry Bliss, Purely Pomegranate, GP 110 white. Accessories: Martha Stewart scallop border punch, Purely Pomegranate satin ribbon, chocolate bar.

Our family tries to help Mother Earth along by reducing, reusing, and recycling because she really does deserve a little respect. Still, a little humor never hurt and neither does a taste of chocolate. Here's one gift that can be savored and and the wrappers recycled (except the foil in our area) without leaving too large of a carbon footprint!

This altered chocolate bar is also a nod to Opus Gluei challenge #34: Sweetie Pie which challenged us to let our sweet tooth be our inspiration!

You still have a few days left to check out the great sketch by Barbara Debose and download your free e-copy of the November SheetLoads issue with bonus sentiments sheets.

Here are a few sneak peeks from the December SheetLoads issue which will debut December 1st!