New Memory Box Country House Die

Good Morning Ladies,
Yes I missed yesterday. I don't really know what happened. Early morning flew by and I never got back in the afternoon like I had planned. So my card had to wait until today.
I purchased the new memory box country house die at http://www.atjoansgardens.com/ and here is the card I created with it.....

 The country house was cut from a white pearlized cardstock. The holly leaves were stamped on mirror card and embossed with silver. These are from a Heartfelt Creations stamp set. The poinsettias were stamped and embossed in silver on the same cardstock as the house. A martha stewart around the page punch set was used to create the layer that is textured metallic paper from DCWV. The base cardstock is from a martha stewart christmas collection. I curled and popped the poinsettias.

I am loving the new house die. Memory Box dies are made in the USA. How awesome is that?
Happy Scraps,
Mrs.  Swandog

Wise Men Heartfelt Creations

Good Morning Ladies,
I missed the sky last night. I didn't know it was happening. I guess when you never watch the news keeping up on things can be a problem.
I made dinner with success last night. Nothing was burned except my finger.  But that feels better already this morning.
Today I bring you a card......

 I created this card using the wise men Heartfelt Creations new stamp set. I used foil board to stamp and emboss the ornament and saying in silver by Ranger. I hand cut the ornament out. The ornament and saying sit on a Cheery Lynn die-cut. The side piece is a punch by Martha Stewart. I accented the side piece with blue glitter ribbon. This all sits on top of a field of snowflakes.

 On the inside I used an inkadinkado saying silver embossed on a double layer of spellbinder die-cuts.

Sparkly and shiny the essence of Christmas.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Just Rite Holiday Trees

Good Morning Ladies,
I spent a good portion of yesterday at the table creating. I had to work with some of my new things from Joan's. I also got somewhat caught up on laundry.
Here is a card I created using the new Just Rite Holiday Trees I purchased at http://www.atjoansgardens.com/

 I started out with a base and border punched layer. The dsp is from Echo Park and the punch is an around the page by Martha Stewart. I took the tree stamps and gold embossed them on vellum. They were then cut using the spellbinders banner die. The reindeer and sleigh are cut from Marianne Dies. The reindeer is cut out of mulberry paper.

This is the inside of the card.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge Red And White

Good Morning Ladies,
I took a trip over to Joan's yesterday and picked up so many goodies. I am loving all the new dies, Heartfelt Creations stamps, and 6x6 paper pads. Yes I am hooked like so many others. Joan is always so nice!
The requirements for the challenge this week are as follows....
use a die
use a christmas sentiment
use some kind of light...candle, christmas tree lights, snow ...etc
use red and white...
You can see all the details and entries here.... http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2011/10/joans-gardens-weekly-challenge_19.html
Here is my entry.....

 My light source is the lampost die from Cheery Lynn Designs. I cut this out of black card stock and added yellow stickles for the light. I cut the sleigh from metallic cardstock. This is a Marianne Design die. The reindeer are also a Marianne Design die. They are cut from white glitter card stock. My sentiment is from inkadinkado. I embossed this in gold on metallic card stock and then cut it with a spellbinder die. The bottom border is created using a Martha Stewart punch. This is punched out of glitter card stock.

I purchased these dies some time ago at Joan's. I had not put them to use yet. When this challenge came up I knew they were just perfect.
The variety of very cool dies at Joan's is so great I don't think I will ever have all that I want.
While I was at Joan's yesterday I picked up my prize from the world card challenge. It is a Marianne die...the key. I can't wait to use it! Thanks Joan!
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Purple Floral Yorkie Dog

Good Morning Ladies,
I am up and at it early today. Sleep was good and I am refreshed for a new day. Agility this morning will be a good start to today. But first I bring you a new card...

 I don't know how I did it, but I have the inside first today. I used the dotted swiss paper for the card base. I added a mat punched with a Martha Stewart punch to the inside.

Now on to the front. The water can with flowers is a Heartfelt Creations stamp set from http://www.atjoansgardens.com/ I stamped this on bristol board. It is colorized with prisma pencil and gamsol. I used liquid pearls for the centers of the flowers. I then hand cut it out. The little yorkie dog is from Inky Antics he/she is also stamped on bristol board, colorized with prisma pencil and gamsol. He is also hand cut. The lotus die is cut from glitter paper with a spellbinder die. The light purple mat is punched with a border punch set from Martha Stewart.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Vintage Santa

Good Afternoon Ladies,
Yes I am posting late in the day today. I went to take photos this morning and my battery was dead in the camera. Now I knew it was close to being dead yesterday. But I thought I could get one more day out of it. Well I was wrong. So while I was at work today is was charging and now I have taken the photos I needed to take for the blog.
So here is my card today....

 I call this card vintage Santa. Santa is a stampabitlites stamp. A new one for me. I just love him. I stamped him on La Blanche paper that I purchased at http://www.atjoansgardens.com/ I stamped the image with black archival ink by ranger. I then colorized him using Tim Holtz distressed inks and pen nibs. I added stickles to the chrismas star and stickles to santa's hat. Crystal laquer creates the lenses of his glasses.

For the inside of the card I used a spellbinder die and a clear stamp sentiment from inkadinkado.
Yes still working on Christmas cards, along with other themes.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Sweet Little Bunny

Good Morning Ladies,
The rain has stayed. I think it will be gone soon though. It always seems just a little chiller when it's damp. So of course I pay Nipsco the big bucks to keep me toasty.
I have a sweet little bunny card for you today....

 This card was created using a cute bunny stamp from Motivet as the focal point. I stamped him on bristol board cut with a spellbinder die. My second die-cut is glitter cardstock. I colorized him with prisma pencil and gamsol. I used stickles for the dandelion. The dotted dsp is some I had in my stash. Don't know where it is from. I still had pink flowers left over from Joan's Challenge last week and hated to see them go to waste. So I used them on this card as I felt they were a perfect match. The rhinestone and pearl flourish is from K&Company.

I popped the flowers using pop up pop dots. This gives a better view of the diamond dust in the center of the flowers also.
Well...off to do laundry...
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Girl With Presents

Good Morning Ladies,
We are having a good rain this morning. I was commenting to my sister last night that the flowers she potted for me out by my front door look better now than they did all summer. So I figure we must be having a pretty good fall.
I am still working on Christmas cards. Here is a new one for today...

This card was created using a Cheery Lynn die and a Martha Stewart punch. The little girl with presents is an image my sister stamped out for me. So I don't know the company. I colorized her with prisma pencil, gamsol, and stickles. The sentiment is from inkadinkado. Liquid pearls accent the sentiment.
Well off to get ready for my day job...
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Heartfelt Creations Poinsettia Christmas Card

Good Morning Ladies,
All of us that create for Christmas should be well on our way to getting our Christmas cards done. Of course I am working on it as hard as I can. Products from http://www.atjoansgardens.com/ are a tremendous help. Here is my card for today....

I created this card on Sunday but it is no longer in my possession. My oldest sister liked it so well she took it home with her. So she had some input on it. I was going to add a sentiment but she wanted it just like this with thoughts of framing it. The die is a cheery lynn in metallic cardstock. The vine leaves are also a cheery lynn die. The poinsettias are created using a Heartfelt Creations stamp set. I gold embossed them on vellum and then hand cut them out. I added liquid pearls for the centers.Glitter ribbon tops this card off. It does have plenty of glitter elements.
Off to feed Windy....
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

"Hope You Can Cling To" Challenge at Joan's Garden

Good Morning Ladies,
I had a great time creating yesterday. Good food and family was the ticket. And I finished my challenge card. I just finished posting it to splitcoast stampers. And here I am to post it here.
Here was the challenge over at http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2011/10/joans-gardens-weekly-challenge.html
Here is my card.....

I created this card using a glitter paper for the card base. The cheery lynn lattice die was cut from white glitter paper. My little fairy girl was colorized using prisma pencil, gamsol, stickles, and liquid pearls in pink. The image is from whismy stamps. The sunflower heads are a Heartfelt Creations stamp set colorized with pink prisma pencil and gamsol. For the centers I applied diamond dust. The side cut is from a Martha Stewart punch using the white glitter paper. On top of the punched border is sequin trim that did not photograph very well. A white ribbon bow with a stamped saying "hey girly..." finishes this card off.
Now off to find the address and get this card mailed off...
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Artful Thinking

Good Morning Ladies,
I had plenty of rest yesterday and am ready for a new day!
Here is a card for you today....

I call this creation artful thinking. Sometimes I am moved to create something that has my feelings deep inside. This is one of those cards. Our world has changed so much in recent years. Things just don't seem to be working as they used to or as many would like them to. Soul searching is needed on everyone's part in these changing times. A sort of coming together for the greater good of mother earth and her children.
This scene was created using the thinker stamp from Grey Wolf Graphics. The starry background and mother earth are from Stampland. The thinker was stamped and masked first. Then the earth was stamped and masked next. The starry background was stamped over the two. Color was added using distressed ink and prisma pencil.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Happy Birthday Turtle

Good Morning Ladies,
I'm sorry that I have been MIA this week, but this stinkin' cold has me down. Today I am home resting and creating. I know that will make me feel better. I have many things started that just need to be finished. So I finished one up this morning and am posting it now.

This is a Happy Birthday Turtle card....

This is another stamp by Stamping Fools. Don't you just love their turtles. They are so cute and easy to work with. For this card I stamped the cupcake turtle on bristol board that I die cut with a spellbinder die. I colorized him with prisma pencil and gamsol. I added stickles to his shell. On the cupcake I added liquid pearls in blue on the sprinkles and the heart on top. I layered this on a matching die-cut. I mounted this on to a card with a piece of birthday balloon paper. Across the bottom I used a piece of handmade mint green paper. I stamped happy birthday on it in black archival ink and added two rhinestones. This birthday card is sure to delight any wee one.
Well ...back to the table...
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #5 Halloween Bag

Good Morning Ladies,
I should be at a dog show right now...but I am home with a nasty cold. Too sick to show. I think this is the first time this has happened in all my years of showing. And the show was so close to home. So instead I am creating between sleeping, coughing, and sleeping.

Here is my entry for Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #5 Halloween Bag....

■ Decorate a Fall or Halloween Bag
■ Create a bag with a topper on it following Selma's tutorial
■ Your bag must have leaves and a pumpkin on it
■ Use some kind of letters/words on it

This is my take on this challenge....and the link to http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2011/10/thursday-card-challenge.html

 My bag was created using sizzix dies that I already had here at home. The leaves on the bottom portion of the bag are silk leaves. The haunted house has yellow stickles for the light in the windows and orange Tim Holtz distressed stickles to accent the roofs and the door knob. I ran the ghosts through a cuttlebug embossing folder inked with grey ink to give this bag texture. Their eyes are black stickles.

 The topper of this bag has punched leaves. I added bazzil letters that I colorized with Tim Holtz distressed stains in rusty hinge, and picket fence.  The cat and moon is a sizzix die. I added lime green stickles to the cat's eyes to make him a little spooky. I did not have any boarder dies so I had to settle for a Martha Stewart  punch.

 A side view of the bag. I scored my topper in two places on the top so as to create a nice flat sitting. 
I was not going to do this challenge being sick and all, but then I knew it would be the perfect trick or treat bag for my little buddy Lucas. I also like the idea that I can take this bag challenge into christmas and make bags for all my loved ones gifts.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Warm Holiday Wishes Christmas Reindeer

Good Morning Ladies,
I am off to a dog show this morning, but had to post a card first.
Warm Holiday Wishes Christmas Reindeer ....and here it is...

 I created this card using the cute reindeer from Motivet. I colorized him with Prisma pencil, Gamsol, and Spica pens. He was then hand cut. The evergreen christmas tree is a die-cut from Spellbinders. The tree is cut from Tim Holtz all seasons collection. I sat the reindeer on a splash of liquid pearls for snow. The tree has stickles and a snowflake for the star. The bottom layer is from the Tim Holtz all seasons collection. The striped layer is from My Mind's Eye. Lace and picot ribbon grace the side.

 A close-up of this little cutie.

This is the inside of the card with a holiday sentiment stamped on a Spellbinder die-cut. A matching die-cut was placed on the bottom. A wee ribbon topped the inside off.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Stamping Fools Turkey Turtle Thanksgiving

Good Morning Ladies,
It's friday! I am taking Windy to a dog show this weekend. We are looking forward to having lots of fun.
Here is a card I created for you today.... I call it Stamping Fools Turkey Turtle Thanksgiving....

I picked this stamp up at the show in Fort Wayne along with a couple of other turtles. I thought he was just so cute. He is colorized with Prisma pencil and Gamsol. I stamped him on a spellbinder die-cut of bristol board. The second scallop I think accents him well. The two background papers are from HL. Their loose paper is half off this week so I snagged a few sheets. An orange ribbon and flat back pumpkin top this card off. He is ready for thanksgiving in his turkey feathers.
Off to create before going to my day job...
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Sitting Polar Bear

Good Morning Ladies,
Yesterday was a beautiful day and I think today is suppose to be more of the same. Good to enjoy it now as it will be gone soon. And yes I am creating many winter and Christmas cards right now. I have to or they won't be finished in time for Christmas.
The card I created for you today I call Sitting Polar Bear....and here he is...

This polar bear was stamped on bristol board in black archival ink by Ranger. The polar bear image is by Third Coast Stamps. I masked him and stamped the snowflakes. The snowflakes were then embossed with silver embossing powder by Ranger. I colorized the polar bear with a grey Prisma pencil and gamsol, just to give him depth. I used a makeup sponge to colorize the background with Tim Holtz distressed ink. Liquid pearls were used in the center of each snowflake. Three mats were used. The center mat is glitter card stock punched with a Martha Stewart around the page punch. The accents are grey buttons that I added stickles to the centers.
This polar bear image is just one out of a set of many. If you haven't checked out Third Coast Rubber Stamps you should do so. All of their stamps come unmounted which is a great savings all the way around. All images are sold singly, but also come in sets.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Autumn Days Are Here Again

Good Morning Ladies,
Windy and I are up a little bit early today. A good way to start out a Wednesday. A little extra time to create before going to my day job.
Here is a card for you today....

I created this card using a new stamp I purchased at the stamp show in Fort Wayne last weekend. The stamp is by Motivet. For this cute little squirrel sitting on a pumpkin I used Prisma color pencil and Gamsol to colorize her. She is stamped on bristol board and inked with archival ink by Ranger. I used a spellbinder die. Her eyes and teeth are highlighted with crystal laquer. The moon is an old earring part. Going green once again. The three layers are created using an old stack I had in my stash. Using a border punch I created the base for the saying. And as the card says Autumn days are here again...
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

A Fun Pocket Card

Good Morning Ladies,
These fall mornings are sure crisp. I do enjoy the colors of fall and the bugs going away. Fall is always a slowing down time. A time to take in nature and just enjoy it.
I have entered a contest for world card making day at http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2011/10/world-card-making-day-lets-celebrate.html Please click on the link and go vote for a card...maybe one of mine?
I also did a pocket card for a fun challenge over at http://scrapshack.ning.com/group/cardswapforsoldiers/forum/topics/pocket-card Here is the card...

 To create this card I stamped my scene on a spellbinders die-cut. The tree was stamped first. I next stamped the kids on the sled. No masking was needed. I colorized the tree with prisma pencil and gamsol. I added stickles diamond on the tree and the ground under the sled for snow. I stamped a matching die-cut with the sentiment and colorized the holly leaves and berries with prisma pencil. The pocket is created using glitter card stock. The pull-out base is also glitter card stock.

 Card with the tag inserted half way.

The card with the tag inserted all the way.
What a fun way to celebrate the season. Perfect for a little extra pazzaz to that special package!
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Nature Challenge At Joans Gardens

Good Morning Ladies,
Another Monday morning in northern Indiana. It is a little chilly this morning but it has been said we will be within normal temps for this time of the year.
I have created a card for Joan's new challenge over at
http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2011/09/new-challenge-for-this-week.html
The requirements are:
■ Create a Card using something from nature
■ Create a card using several layers
■ Create a card using glitter
■ Created a card using a border around the card

 This card was created on a glitter cardstock base in white. I used two different sets of Martha Stewart around the page punches to create three of the layers. My bunny with daffodils is a La Blanche stamp that is stamped on La Blanche. This bunny piece was hand cut and colorized using the Ranger pen nibs and Tim Holtz distressed ink. I added glitter around the edges of the daffodils. It barely shows in the photo but it is there. An old button, ribbon bow, and three rhinestones give this card the finishing touch. The punch sets, rhinestones, La Blanche paper, La Blanche stamp, pen nibs, and Tim Holtz distressed ink can all be purchased at Joans. This was another fun challenge at Joans, if you have not entered a weekly challenge yet you should come join us.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

I took a close up of the bunny thinking you could see the glitter, but you can't. 

World Card Making Day Card Two

Good Morning Ladies,
Here I am again. Very chilly out this morning. I am not ready for this yet. I have been goofing off on the computer way too long this morning.
I am here to post my second card from world card making day yesterday. You can win a prize over at http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2011/10/world-card-making-day-lets-celebrate.html for posting a card. Come join us for the fun. Plus she has a great sale on adhesives. It's a buy one get one free.
Here is my card...

 Now this one was fun to make. I took a spellbinders mitten die and cut it out of bristol board. I stamped the sled dog and masked him. I then stamped a tree scene behind the dog. I stamped the peace and star stamp and embossed it in silver. Tim Holtz distressed ink was sponged over the whole thing and I stamped snowflakes in the same color. I removed the mask and added liquid pearls and glitter under the dogs paws. For my layers I used dsp snowflake, glitter paper I punched with a Martha Stewart around the page set. I took hologram sticky paper and cut with a cheery lynn dollie die. The upper left hand corner has a K&Company rhinestone and pearl accent.

A close-up of the mitten.
Well...off to do laundry..
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Card Making Challenge at Joans

Good Evening Ladies,
Well I had a busy day today. I went to the stamp show in Fort Wayne and I went to see the Lion King 3-D tonight. Plus I made cards before I left this morning.
Joan is having a contest for cards made on world card making day...that's today...here is the link...
http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2011/10/world-card-making-day-lets-celebrate.html
Here is one of the cards I made today...

 This card was fun to make and has a twist to it. I used three layers of dsp. The top one being a Tim Holtz paper from the season stack. The Merry Christmas is stamped in archival coffee ink. I stamped the La Blanche santa stamp on La Blanche paper and then ran it through the scallop spellbinder die. I colorized the santa with tim holtz distressed ink and ranger pen nibs. Here is the twist....I took an old bangle bracelet that my dad got at an auction and placed it on the santa. I then filled it with crystal lacquer and let it dry. The bracelet became adhered to the card and looks like a glass lens. So another green card.

close up of the bracelet with the crystal lacquer.
It is late so I will post the other card I made tomorrow.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog