Penny Black Snowman

What's this????  Three days in a row that I'm posting?????  AMAZING!  Let's hope it's a habit!

Today I wanted to show you the thank you notes I made for our family's Christmas gifts.  I made a few extra and stamped other greetings so I can use them throughout the winter for birthdays or just "thinking of you" notes.

Not only does this card use one of my favorite snowman images, I also got to use my new Cuttlebug machine!  I've been wanting one for years, and Mom and Dad surprised me with one for Christmas - it was, hands down, my favorite Christmas gift!  I'm sure it will get a good workout on my craft table!  Also, I used Copics for the first time.  I definitely need a lot of work on my Copic skills!  I don't have many yet, but they are fun to use.

recipe:  Penny Black Warm & Cold; Hero Arts Everyday Sayings; Recollections Black and red card stock; DCWV Holiday Stack, Glitter Mat Stack; Copics R20,R24, YG63, YG67; Prismacolor Pencils; Tsukineko Tuxedo Black ink; Recollections silver snowflake brads; Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles embossing folder; Sizzix Snowflake Die; Crystal Stickles

Ok, friends, time for me to get my day started!  Hope you have a great one and that you take time to get inky today!

Teacher Gifts - Note Pad

This is my favorite element of this year's Teacher's Gifts. It was inspired by Michelle Wooderson at Mish Mash. If you haven't checked out her blog, you are really missing out! She is wonderful and her creativity is overflowing!

It is a handy little notebook, the perfect size for the many lists that we all have this time of year. The pad inside is a Junior Legal Pad cut in half. I took mine to FedEx/Kinko's and had them cut (12 pads for about $3). I've heard that some office supply stores will cut them for free if you purchase them there.

I will definitely be making these again. They're easy enough to adapt to any holiday or occasion and make a very useful gift. Who doesn't need another pad to make a list? If you have to make a list of all the things you need to get done, why not have a cute pad to write it on?

recipe: paper: Jillibean Soup Grandma's Christmas Soup, The Paper Co; Hero Arts Snow Place, Penny Black Warm & Cold, Hero Arts Winter's Butterfly; Tsukineko Graphite Black Ink, VersaMagic Red Brick Ink; Crystal Stickles; Mark Richards Nailhead Stickers; Marvy Scalloped Circle Punch; Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder & H2O pen

Mish Mash Hip to be Square Challenge

I've never participated in a sketch challenge before, but thought today was the day to give it a go. Check out the details at http://michellewooderson.blogspot.com/2009/12/hip-to-be-square-card-sketch.html. If you've never taken a look at Michelle's blog you are in for a treat! Her blog is one of my absolute favorites and my day is not complete until I read her post. Her creativity is inspiring! In fact, one of the gifts I made for the boys' teachers, was inspired by her (I'll try to get those photos posted tonight!) Anyway, back to Mish Mash.....she has great ideas, beautiful photos and a fantastic Etsy shop. Be sure to check out her blog!

I've never been a big fan of red and pink together, but for some reason this card "works" for me. Once again, it incorporates my favorite little snowman. I'm trying to get in the mindset to work on Valentines, this card is a great transition - not quite Christmas and not yet Valentine's Day. It will be perfect for either Valentine's Day or a February birthday.

Hope you have fun plans for New Year's Eve. We're staying home and enjoying family time. We'll see if we're able to stay awake until midnight to ring in the New Year with Dick Clark. Maybe I'll work on my blog a bit and get caught up on some photos I have for you....that should help me stay awake to see the start of 2010.

recipe: Paper: kisses Me & My Big Ideas, red dots unknown; Martha Stewart snowflake punch; ribbon: Offray; stamp: Penny Black Warm & Cold; Crystal Stickles; Prismacolor pencils; Goo-Gone; tortillons

Snow Globe Card

This was such a fun card to make. I made one for Sweet Alyssa's birthday (one of the 3 cards we gave her). This was my first attempt at a snow globe card and I have to say I was pretty happy with the way it turned out! I'll be making more of these. I think it will be great for any winter birthday. Once again, it uses my favorite Penny Black snowman (I've given that little guy a good workout in the last few weeks.)

recipe: paper: purple swirls unknown; grey The Paper Co.; stamps: Penny Black Warm & Cold, Comotion mini snowflake; Prismacolor Pencils; Goo-Gone; Tortillons; Ink: Tsukineko Graphite Black, Stazon White; Martha Stewart Snowflake punch; Ribbon: JoAnns; Fiskars border punch; Glitter: Stampendous Lavendar Ultra Fine; Crystal Stickles; Liquid Applique; acetate sheet; button unknown

Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with photos of the thank you notes I finished today - this cute little snowman makes another appearance on them. See you then!