Feeling Frosty!!

It's FINALLY chilly in Florida and although we will never see snow...tonight we will see ICE!

My little family will be going to see ICE at Gaylord Palms where EVERYTHING is made entirely of ice.  We try and go every year...Brooke went for the first time when she was 9 months old.  :)    The kids are so excited about going down the HUGE ice slide and riding the carousel.  This year I'm going to TRY to not rush through the whole thing just to get out of the cold.  Although we will be wrapped up in Parka's (so that we will survive the -9 degrees temperature) it is FRA-EE- ZING in there!!  Brooke has been known to climb in my parka (with her parka on) and we hug the whole time to keep warm!! :)    By the end I can't feel my face or my hands...my teeth are chattering and I'm shaking from the cold so badly that I'm exhausted!!  LOL  

The image I've used for my Sweet Stop Sketch this week is Holiday Hugs from My Favorite Things.  I'll be teaching a Copic coloring class at the My Favorite Things Boutique next weekend (December 17th). And one of the things we will learn is how to color Black and White objects, using this image!!  

I'm so EXCITED!!   :)  :)  

And I'm TOTALLY lovin' my new Shimmerz spray...just LOOK at that gorgeous sparkle!!!  

I hope you will find some time to check out what the other Sugar Babies have done with this weeks sketch and then play along with us.

Janice Melton

Monika Davis

Korin Sutherland

Shannon White

Cathy McCauley

Kim O'Connell

Shelby Goolsby

Lorie Ames

Chris Dickinson

Thanks so much for stopping by today and don't forget that I have some Blog Candy going on right now!!  Click HERE for your chance to win!!  

YNS Winter Fun Blog Hop

Hi Everyone and Welcome to the Your Next Stamp Winter Fun Blog Hop!!

This is my FAVORITE release (I say that every time don't I?) and I'm excited about these fun images this month.  If you've arrived here from Amy's Blog then you're in the right place.  If not and you'd like to participate in the Blog Hop CLICK HERE to be taken to the start.

This release is being combined with our regular YNS Challenge which is

~ Holiday Winter Themed Card or Project ~

And of course what fun would a Blog Hop be without prizes? And we don't have just one but THREE!!  There are 3 prizes hidden among the DT blogs and winners will be drawn from the secret prize bloggers comments!!  :)

HOP ENDS: DECEMBER 12th

There are also some fabulous specials going on right now at the YNS Store.  New Bundle Packs will be available plus an awesome variety of stamps in the YNS Bargain Bin and YNS Deal of the Week.  And with every order until Dec 25th...Karen will include a little Christmas gift just for you!!

I just ADORE these snow globes and all the sweet little images that fit inside.  For weeks I've been writing down Christmas gift ideas for the kids on little scraps of paper.  I know...completely unorganized and not like me at all.  But I've been so busy that I just haven't had the time to create a Holiday Planner this year.  Then I remembered this little notebook I snagged out of the dollar bin at Michaels a few weeks ago.  I colored the Christmas tree and Snow globe images with my Copics then cut it out and popped it up with foam tape on a Kraft cardstock tag.  I covered the base of the snow globe with sticky notes before I sprayed the globe with (Sparkle) Sheer Shimmer Spritz and added a touch of Polar White Flower Soft for snow.  Since the notebook had a smooth almost glossy finish to it I had to heat emboss the lettering from Papertrey Inks - Trajan Monogram.  I LOVE the way it turned out and it fits perfectly in my purse to take along shopping.

Well, that's it from me today... Your next stop along the hop is the very talented Diana.  

Good Luck and I hope you enjoy the Hop!!

BEFORE YOU GO....I have BLOG CANDY going on right now.  I'd love for you to enter...CLICK HERE for your chance to win!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!! 

Craft Us Crazy - New Challenge Blog!

Have you heard of the new challenge blog, Craft Us Crazy?  It's run by my very sweet friend, Jeri who asked if I'd guest design for her, and I of course said "YES!!"  

The challenge this week is 

~ Winter ~

And is being sponsored by

I couldn't wait to play along.  The second I saw Meljen's, Yeti Cocoa I was excited to get the chance to make a hot chocolate pouch holder like I had been wanting.

Winter is almost non existent here in Florida but if it's even the tiniest bit cold outside I find that's the perfect excuse to make hot chocolate.  My favorite thing about winter is enjoying a mug of piping hot chocolate while sitting outside by our fire pit in the evenings.  And if we sit by the fire, the kids have to roast marshmallows.  Brooke likes to dunk hers in my hot chocolate and Nathan...well he just likes setting his on fire, LOL.   

I've used My Time Made Easy, Cutesy Cover template (it's FREE) for my holder.  It is the perfect size for my packets of hot chocolate...Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate!!  :)

I've tried coloring this adorable Yeti using the "flick" technique with my Copics to resemble fur.  I REALLY need some serious practice with this!!  The only thing I accomplished was making him look like a hairy elf in need of a shave!!  LOL   But I just LOVE those big feet, don't you?!?!?

Be sure to check out the Craft Us Crazy challenge blog for all the lovely DT creations and to link up your Winter project!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wendy

Supplies:

* Digital Image: Meljen's (Yeti Cocoa)

* Template: My Time Made Easy (Cutesy Cover)

* Sentiment: Friskars (Latte Love)

* Ink: Papertrey Ink (Fresh Snow)

* Embossing Powder: Filigree (White)

* Paper: Papertrey Ink (white and kraft cardstock)

* DP: My Mind's Eye (Signature Christmas)

* Die: Spellbinder's Nestabilities (Lacey Circle & Circle)

* Pop Dots

* Snowflake Brad: My Paper Studio

* Velcro

* Copic's

  

Warm Winter Wishes

It's a new Your Next Stamp challenge, and our challenge this week ~ Create a Winter Scene.

Christmas may be gone, but the weather man says that the cold and snow are here to stay.  However, here in Sunny Florida you never know what kind of day it will be.  Sunday was a PERFECT Florida day... Low 70's and Sunny.  With it being such a nice day to be outside, we spent the afternoon at Disney World.  But just yesterday afternoon it was rainy and the sky turned black as a tornado tore through our neighborhood.  Luckily we didn't have any damage other than a gutter being blown off the house.  But it was a little scary for a bit.

To create my winter scene, I've used Fhiona and her friend penguin along with Fhiona's Christmas Tree. There is Lavendar Stickles and Polar White Flowersoft on the tree's and snow for sparkle and fun. My little one's still keep asking when it's going to snow.  :(  Just the other day my son said, "Mommy, I want to do this in the snow" as he laid on the floor and proceeded to show me how to make a Snow Angel.  hee hee  He didn't know what it was called, all he knew was he wanted to do THAT!!  :)  LOL

Challenges:

Thanks for stopping by!!

Be sure to stop back by later today for a 7 Kids College Fund challenge card!!

Wendy

Mitten Invite

We at Your Next Stamp are squeezing in another challenge before the end of the year.This challenge will be for the next 3 weeks through Christmas and New Years.  So if you get some crafting time over the holiday's I hope you will join us.

 Our theme is Let's Party!!

That means we would like to see all of your party decor, invites, banners, cupcake toppers or anything that screams  "PAR-TAY!!!  LOL  

I've tried something a little different and made a mitten shaped invitation and used Mini Ellie Loves to Skate on a tag.  For the cuff of the mitten I used DP from my scraps stash and some simple bright white ric rak ribbon.  I didn't have any paper to match so I used my white opaque pen to create little dots on the cardstock.  

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and safe New Year!!This will be my last post (with a card anyway) until the end of the year.  I'm taking a little blogging/crafting break for the holidays.  But I will be back on New Year's day with a new card.  And I might pop in and post some Christmas pictures, etc. before then.  ;)

Thanks for stopping by!!

Wendy

Elisabeth Bell's December Release & Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Elisabeth Bell Digital Collection December Release / Blog Hop.

Hopefully, you arrived here from KiKi's blog.  If not, CLICK HERE to be taken to the beginning of the hop.  

This adorable little pair is called Frosty the Snowman and they are doing what my little one's want to do sooo bad.  Play in the snow and build a snowman.  :(  My poor babies don't understand that we don't get snow in Florida.  But they sure liked swimming in the pool after Thanksgiving dinner the other week.  LOL

But, it has finally cooled down here.  I had to actually turn on the heat a few days ago because it was in the 30's when we woke up.   It's really beginning to feel like Christmas time.  It gets a little hard to be in the Christmas spirit when you're still wearing tank tops and flip flops!!  I'm loving it!!! 

Now just like always you have a chance to win this adorable new release (I've highlighted what you need to do)  But if you can't wait and you've got to have it NOW!!  :)  CLICK HERE to be taken to the store.  

* Complete the blog hop and leave comments on each DT members blogs

AND

*  Create a WINTER card using any Elisabeth Bell image and post it on the Digi Bell Blog.  BUT you will only have until Saturday, December 17th to submit your card.

Now as you go along the blog hop you will probably notice that something seems different about my project... I've flipped my image around (Awesome thing about digi's)  because it better suited my card design since I didn't want the ribbon to hide any of the image.    I added a little Stickles and Shimmerz to the snow to give it some glissen.  Oh, and I also used Glossy Accents on the coal too!!

Don't forget to leave me a comment (please) before you visit PATI who is your next stop on the hop.  

Challenges:

Stamp Something = December Digi Day
Paper Cutz = #71 Snowflake or Snowman
Dutch Dare + #92 Christmas Card/Tag/Ornament
Stampin' Royalty = #49 Winter Holidays
Digital Tuesdays = #88 Baby it's cold outside
A Spoonfull of Sugar = #133 Christmas Card
Lollipop Crafts = #19 Welcome Winter
Pear Tree Designs = #29 Winter Wonderland

Thanks for stopping by!!

Wendy

Recipe:

Stamp: Elisabeth Bell Digital Collection - Frosty the Snowman

Ink: VersaMagic Chalk Ink - Aspen Sky

Paper - Papertrey Ink - Spring Moss 

DP: Basic Grey - Figgy Pudding - Forest

Nestablitites: Circle and Scalloped Circle

Stickles: Star Dust

Shimmerz: Pixie Dust

Glossy Accents

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Swiss Dots

Ribbon: Papertrey Ink - Ripe Avocado - Saddle Stitch

Sentiment: Computer Generated - Aramis Regular

No Peeking!!

I'm so excited to be Guest Designing with my girls at Paper Sundae's this week!!  

This week's challenge is to Adorn Those Corners.  

You can use pearls, buttons, bling, stamps, corner rounder, etc...  (I finally was able to use these cute little metal photo corners I've had for seriously 8 + years!! )

 And our fabulous sponsor of this challenge is  

They have a HUGE selection of Magnolia's.

Which is where you can find Sneaky Tilda, Unwrapped Tilda ,Wedding Tilda and the Christmas Tree (which seems to be sold out at the moment).  

I was inspired a few weeks ago to create a door hanger for when you're wrapping gifts when I saw a little wooden sign in Cracker Barrel (A Country Restaurant) that said "Wrapping in Progress...No Peeking!"  I knew right away that I would use my Unwrapped Tilda and Christmas Tree.  But a few days later I saw Mindy Baxter's card where she grouped a few Tilda's together like this and decided that the more Tilda's the merrier!!  :)

Here you can see it hanging on my craft closet door.

I thought this would take me FOREVER to color and started becoming intimidated by it.  So I sat down one evening after dinner and just started coloring while chatting my husband.  It did take me almost 3 hours but I was finished just in time to put the kids to bed.  The next morning I put everything together and added some sparkle!  I wish you could see this in real life.  When the light hits the Christmas tree it looks like it's lit up and shining, it's so beautiful.    I only added Stickles on their hair bows, the Christmas tree and the ribbons on the packages.  I really didn't want to over do it.  The sentiment is computer generated and has Stickles along the edge too.  I also used my last sheet of Bo Bunny ('Tis the Season) DP.  :(

Challenges:

Totally Gorjuss = #58 Oh Christmas Tree

One Stop Craft = #108 Christmas Cuties

Stampin For The Weekend = #51 Winter

Craft Challenge = #78 Christmas Present Project

Charismacardz = #47 One For The Girls

A Spoonfull of Sugar = #131 Anything Goes

Pear Tree Designs = #27 Colorful

Really Reasonable Ribbon = #12 Christmas

Copic's Used:

I promise to update later...or you can email me.

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Wendy

Recipe:

Christmas Planner

It's time for another monthly challenge at Elisabeth Bell's World.  

This time we'd like to see a gift for someone with a card or a gift bag.  I might have cheated because I made this for ME!!  LOL  Although if my mom and sister see this they will try and steal it for themselves so it might be a gift after all.  

Last year I made VERY elaborate Christmas planners for my mom and sister.  They were spiral bound books (made with the Bind-It-All) with lots of tabs for Calendar pages, Wish Lists, To Do, Meal Planning, Etc..  It was so pretty that I never even wrote in mine!!

Well, as much as I would have liked to have done that again, I simply did not have the time this year.  So instead I covered a little notepad and will use it for all keeping track of all of those holiday Things to Do, Buy and Bake.

Inside I created a little pocket for receipts, etc and a ribbon loop for my pen.

I've used Shopping Willow and  gave her festive Christmas bags by paper piecing them.  Now, if only I could look that fabulous while out shopping.  LOL

Challenges:

Creative Inspirations = #88 Color Scheme (Red, Gold & Green) - There is gold in the DP

A Spoonfull of Sugar = #131 Anything Goes

Lollipop Crafts = #11 Christmas

Pile It On = #46 Winter means....Christmas shopping!!

Stamptacular Sunday = #86 Time for Giving

The Crafty Pad = #98 Red & Green

Copic Creations = #39 Shading Paper Piecing

Bunny Zoes Crafts = #6 Christmas - Anything but a Card

ABC Christmas - X is for Xmas

Happy Thanksgiving to those of you in the States!!  My family and I are at my Mom's today enjoying a yummy Thanksgiving dinner, taking naps, writing out our Christmas lists and decorating her tree.  That's my family's Thanksgiving tradition and I'm going to enjoy every second of it!!

I am very blessed and have SO MUCH to be Thankful for ... My sweet little family, my health,  my faith, and my friends.  That includes all the the new friendships I've made because of this little blog of mine.  I know that I always say "Thanks for stopping by", but I want you to know just how much I really mean it.  I know that there are millions of blogs out there and I am very thankful that you have come by to visit ME!!  :)  

So THANK YOU from the bottom of my HEART!!!

Wendy

xoxo

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues" - Cicero

Copy Cat

Good Morning!!

  It's a new challenge day at Your Next Stamp and this time we would like for you to CASE a member of the Design Team.  CASE is an acronym for Copy And Share Everything.  The idea is that you chose a specific piece of work and take inspiration from it.  You can be very literal and create an exact copy of the work you have chosen OR you can lift just one or two elements.  But whatever you choose we need to be able to see that you have CASE'd a specific creation.  So when you enter the challenge you must post a picture of the DT member's creation that you CASE'd on your blog along with your creation.  

When I saw this as a challenge coming up, I knew right away that I would CASE Kerri.  I've loved Kerri's work long before we were on the YNS DT together.   Her blog was one of the first I started following when I stumbled upon this "stamping stuff".  Her gorgeous creations inspired me so much that I bought some stamps, ink, markers and started stamping away.  I'd been making Cricut/die cut type  cards for years (they weren't that good) but never with a single card that had a stamped image.  (And now look at me!!  LOL I have more stamps and Copic markers than I can use and keep buying more!!!)

I actually choose a different card originally to CASE but mine did not "live up" to Kerri's.  Soooo I started over and Ta-Da!!!  I think this is one that Kerri will be "proud of"!!  I knew I wanted to use one of the new Mini's that is from the last YNS November Release.  They are sooo teeny and C-UTE!!!  I used Mini Ellie Loves To Skate along with some scraps DP from last year.

Here is Kerri's card that I CASED

I hope you will join us in the fun.

Once again....this post is being scheduled super late.  Eddie is actually staring at me as I type this and waiting for me to be finished before he will go to bed!!  

(See...I gotta go!!! - I'll update with the recipe and challenges tomorrow!!  Night Night!!)

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Wendy

YNS November Release Blog Hop

Welcome to the Your Next Stamp November Release Blog Hop!!  

The design team along with 2 guests have some fabulous new YNS Stamps to showcase today!  These new stamps (along with your other favorites) are available today to purchase from the Your Next Stamp store.

If you've arrive from BETH'S blog then you're on the right track.  If not, please CLICK HERE to go to the start of the hop.  

One lucky blog hopper (drawn at random) from the comments at Karen's Blog will win a new release stamp package.  You're not required to leave me a comment, but I would really appreciate it if you would....PLEASE...with sugar on top!!! :)

I also want to mention that Karen is holding a 20% off your order sale which starts today and is good through November 25, Midnight EST.  Be sure to enter the code YNSNOV when checking out to receive your discount.

Okay...now I'm excited to show you my blog hop creations!!

This is Ellie Building A Snowman and I just think she's super cute and was sooo much fun to color.   I love her earmuffs and that adorable smile on the snowman.  Since there was so much sparkle on the DP I decided to not go overboard on the image.  I've used Flowersoft (Polar White) for the snow and Star Dust Stickles as snowflakes.  And even a little Glossy Accents on the snowman's eyes and mouth to give it some shine.  The image panel and the sentiment are both popped up with foam tape for dimension.

This card is for the following Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp - Sparkle

Creative Cottage = #27 Someone Special at Christmas

Meljens Designs = #34 Sparkle & Shine

Lollipop Crafts = #16 Very Girlie

The Crafty Pad = #97 Christmas Sparkle

Sentimental Sundays' = #29 Childhood

ABC Challenge = H is for Holiday

Speedy the Cat's Challenge = #29 Snowflake

Now with my next card I also had so much fun making.  This was one of those cards that almost put itself together.  (That doesn't happen for me very often so I REALLY enjoyed it)    

This image is So Sorry and I thought that made the PERFECT sentiment too!!  :)    Doesn't he look so pitiful?!?!  How can you be mad at him?!?!  This will be great for belated birthdays too!!  I popped the image panel up with foam tape for dimension.  And then I played around and did a dotted background; which I regreted almost immediately.  But after leaving it alone for a few hours and seeing it again I decided it wasn't so bad after all and that I kind of liked it.  I had so much fun playing with my new scalloped die and cork from My Favorite Things.  That cork is soo YUMMY!!! 

This card is for the following Challenges:

Cards for Men = #23 Animals

Well, that's all from me!  Now it's time for you to hop over to the next stop which is CHRIS' blog for more inspiration.  

But before you go, a quick reminder...

  Click HERE for a chance to 

win my BLOG CANDY!!

and

 We would love for you to join us for our current YNS Challenge going on until Tuesday November, 23.  The challenge is being co-sponsored by Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Stamps and Ribbon Prizes!!  What are you waiting for?!?!  :)

As always, thanks so much for stopping by today!!  

Wendy

Recipe 1 (Christmas Card)

Stamp: YNS - Ellie Building A Snowman

Ink: Memento (Tuxedo black) and  Stampin Up (Pink Passion & Pixie Pink)

DP: DCWV Christmas

Sentiment: Papertrey Ink (Stocking Prints)

Chipboard Snowflakes: K & Company (Life's Litte Occasions - snowflakes)

Misc: Glossy Accents,  Flower Soft (Polar White), Stickles (Star Dust), Ribbon (Unknown)

Nestibilities: Circle and Big Scalloped circle

Copic's Used:

Coat/Hat/Scarfs:  R83, R81, RV10, BG13, BG11, BG10

Carrot: YR16, YR04

Hair: E35, E31, Y23, E30, E25

Skin: E11, E00, E50, R00

Outline: C2, BG0000, B00 (Snow)

Recipe 2 (Donkey)

Stamp: YNS - So Sorry

Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black)

DP: Basic Grey (Wags n' Whiskers)

Sentiment: Handwritten

Cork: My Favorite Things

Scalloped Border Die: My Favorite Things

Nestibilities: Oval and Scalloped Oval 

Misc: Ribbon and Button (Unknown)

Copic's Used:

Donkey: W7, W5, W3, W1, E43, E42, E41, E31, E55, R00

Background/Outline: C3, C2, C1, BG0000, BG72, E43, W3