Our Creative Journey in Cardmaking

April's Sketch

2011-04-01T11:11:00.003-04:00

2 posts? is it an April Fool's Day prank?.....nope its the real thing. Here is the sketch for April that we are doing, its a Mojo Monday sketch.

How Long has it been since I posted?????

2011-04-01T10:56:00.006-04:00

Well so much for the goal of trying to keep this blog up-to-date with posts. I have just been too busy......or at times I would just say I will do it later and then I never get back to the computer. Well I am now back from a winter's vacation in the Sunny and warm Caribbean and hopefully that holiday has helped me to get my mojo back ....only time will tell. So what has our little card exchange group been doing? We have done two sketch challenges and with one more to happen this weekend.So the pictures will say it all for me. Until the next time I post.....hopefully sooner than later...keep your fingers crossed!

February's sketch challenge cards

March's sketch March's cards

A Quick post

2011-01-23T10:50:00.003-05:00

Not too much happening around here to report on, except maybe that its been very VERY cold. Hope everyone is keeping warm where they are. Its Sunday and today I'm off to the scrapbook store to teach a fancy fold card class. Today I thought I would post a picture of one of the layouts we have done in the Christmas Album series, we go every Tuesday in the month of January and do 4 pages each time, 2 classes done - 2 more to do. Come back later and I will post the cards from todays class. Keep Warm on this very cold day. Enjoy your week!

Start of a New Week

2011-01-16T01:50:00.003-05:00

Well good morning to all who see this just after I post this........nothing better to do at 2am when I am not sleeping; than to post something on the blog. I probably should be creating or read my book.....tried all that....it didn't seem to work....so very wide awake right now....Help I want to sleep like a normal person......or someone relatively so. Ahhh but I digress. I thought for today's post I would put up the picture of our card exchanges' next sketch challenge. It is a bonus sketch in the back of the Scrapbook and Cards Today calendar. Our group meets up on the 6th of February.....I can't wait to see what everyone has done........what about you?
Well I'm going to sign off the computer now....checked my e-mail, played some games, talked to my friend out west(its a normal time for her), posted on the blog....hopefully I can sleep now. Enjoy your week.

2011-01-11T15:50:00.003-05:00

Happy Tuesday! Well I was thinking of posting another Christmas card that was made this past holiday season but decided on showing the Magnolia cards we made for the class we taught on Sunday at A Scrapbookers Dream. We used Prismacolor pencil crayons and the Prismacolor Blending marker.

How is your week going so far? I'm off to the store again tonight for the start of an album series that is done there....we are going to be using Basic Grey - Jovial Line, and yep! you guessed it, the whole album will be about Christmas, check back later and I'll try and post a picture of one of the layouts.

Here is the Magnolia cards....wait til you see next months....sooooooo cute!!!!

January's Card Exchange

2011-01-10T12:34:00.003-05:00

Getting off to a good start here. Our card exchange group met yesterday Sunday January 9th and here I am ready to post with a picture too......lets hope I can keep this momentum up all year....fingers crossed!

All of our group members were not able to attend, they must still be re-couping from all those holiday parties and festivities. We were 5 out of 8 members this month. I do believe we all agree on doing "The Year of the Sketch".....we just have to pick out sketches for March and the remaining months. The cards for this month's exchange turned out really well....the sketch came from the bonus sketches in the back of the Scrapbook and Cards Today calendar.As usual the cards are all great. I enjoyed doing this sketch and look forward to the rest of the year. Have a look at what our cardmakers did thiss month.

First Post of the Year!

2011-01-05T18:16:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year to all! Just a quick little post to get my New Year goals started on the right foot....or maybe its the left one....LOL. I was thinking about a post with no pictures added but then thought different and decided to post a picture of one of the many Christmas cards I made this past holiday season. Just one of a few goals I have made for myself.....not resolutions but GOALS. One is to post more here on cards that I have made and/or maybe even some of the scrapbooking I am planning on doing.....another goal of mine - to get more scrapbooking done too. Thats just a couple of my goals for this year. SO, have you made any resolutions or Goals for yourself this New Year?

So the picture is a Christmas card I made with a Magnolia stamp - Reindeer Tilda, I coloured her using Distress Inks.

Our card exchange group is meeting up this Sunday for the first time this year. Its a sketch challenge. Check back to see what everyone has come up with. Enjoy the rest of your week!

January's Sketch

2010-12-31T13:13:00.002-05:00

I apologize for the quality of the picture. This is the sketch for our January exchange. It was taken from the Scrapbook and Cards calendar for 2011, have you got yours?

A New Year Resolution

2010-12-31T12:45:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year to all!!!! I believe all who read this blog from time to time hope that my New Year resolution is going to be.......wait for it................to blog more and post our creations more - sooner than later......hahahahaha! I hope that for myself too however I promise nothing

It has been a wonderful and busy year.....doing lots of classes, even teaching some, so lots of my time went to prepping and organizing for that....lots of knitting happened this year for me......a new baby girl happened into our lives here.....Now I can be called Gramma....so more knitting will be happening. Our card exchanges were lots of fun this year with the challenge of sketches and themes. Our little group welcomed new members this year, so all has been very good.

I have the last two exchanges to post; the first one is November's cards which was Hostess themed and the second picture is our December exchange which was Christmas themed, who doesn't like making Christmas cards!

I hope everyone has been having a wonderful and safe holiday and that the New Year brings all your dreams and wishes. Enjoy your New Year Eve! and I'll be posting to you next year....hopefully on a regular basis.

A little group meeting

2010-10-22T12:21:00.004-04:00

Well I haven't post anything for over 4 months and today I have done 3.....almost like I am caught up...hahahahaha! Well here is October's card exchange cards, it was a sketch challenge....and I very much liked this sketch. We were a small group this month, only 3 of us from our group of 7 were able to make this exchange.......as I said before we have had a very busy past few months. Thanks again for visiting our blog and hope you enjoy our cards!

August -sketch theme and September's theme pictures

2010-10-22T12:16:00.005-04:00

Halloween /Goth challenge

August's sketch challenge

Where or where has the blogger gone?

2010-10-22T11:54:00.004-04:00

Hello All! Yes I am still living and crafting.....where have I been the whole summer and then some...well I have been here...no I have not been sick.....just been very lackadazical(if thats a word) in the blogging department. Yes we have been meeting every month and doing our cards...as you will see in this post with the oh sooooooo many pictures of the last four or five card exchanges....I might even make it into 2 or 3 post to get all the pictures up. Our group has been busy in the last few months.....with summer holidays, a wedding and a birth of a grandchild, designing and preparing for classes ..... so hopefully you all understand the tardiness of the blog person here. So on to the pictures....Our July exchange theme was humour, August was a sketch, September was Halloween/Goth, and October was a sketch. Enjoy the pictures, and hopefully I can now start keeping the blog up-to-date with postings. In this post I will show you the July card exchange....thanks for your patience and for visiting us here.

June's Card Exchange

2010-07-02T10:58:00.005-04:00

Happy Long Weekend to All! Yes I have been neglecting my duties as a blogger again...I have no excuses, just been busy with everything and nothing. June's card exchange challenge/theme was a sketch, using a sketch from the pdf archives - June 2006 on the Pagemaps site; our card exchange group came up with some amzing cards again. Looking forward to our next exchange theme which is Humour. Here are our cards. Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Long Weekend and Nice weather!

2010-05-26T12:09:00.003-04:00

Hope everyone had a great Victoria Day weekend, the pictures are a couple from my family get-together where we do a pot luck dinner and let some fireworks off at night.The weather was the best we have had in such a long time....it was a great day.

Our next card exchange is a sketch challenge so I will be posting them after our next meet. Enjoy the nice weather, have a great week!

YEAH! YIPPEE!! YAHOOO!!!

2010-05-17T15:48:00.008-04:00

Okay, so you can tell my title that I'm a little happy......."Little Man Russell" didn't get ONE vote(looks good on him) last night at final tribal council....he came third this time....thats even one worse then the last time he played its got to tell him something.....I was on the edge of my seat and my thoughts all night were if HE wins....never, ever again will I watch this show.....but alas the panel of jury came through....LOL

So onto the card-making part of this blog......the card exchange group met on Sunday May 2 and the theme for this month was GET WELL. I may say this everytime but I really mean it.....what a great set of cards we got this month. We had a new member join us which is really awesome, some fresh creativity and ideas for all of us to learn from. Welcome, Welcome!!!

Next months theme is a sketch challenge. Looking forward to all the cards!

Cardzgal and I were away at the Great Lakes Mega Meet in Novi, Michigan on May 5-8, had a wonderful busy time....saw lots of great ideas, even bought a few things for scrapping and cardmaking....can't wait to try them out. We watched "Survivor" in our hotel room, but didn't exchange cards that show.....but we do have 2 other card exchanges, one from an earlier show that I haven't posted yet and from last nights show. I guess when the next season of "Survivor" begins it will be our all Christmas card exchange.....looking forward to it!

So here are the card exchange group cards and the "Survivor" mini card exchange. Enjoy!

<---card exchange group

<- cardzgal

<- royal dreams

<- cardzgal

<- royal dreams

Almost Forgot!!

2010-04-27T12:28:00.001-04:00

We had our card exchange for April a little later in the month, due to Easter being at the beginning of the month. I almost forgot to post it til I was looking back at the blog. So the theme for April was a sketch challenge (the picture of the sketch is blurry), its from Pagemaps - pdf archives - June 2006 cardmaps. The cards are wonderful as usual and we all seem to like the sketch challenges. Our next theme/challenge is GET WELL for the month of May and we are back on schedule, the first Sunday of the month......only 2 weeks between the exchanges but we can do it....of course some were done before the last exchange....yes! you know who you are!....we are all so green and envious and wish we could be organized just like you, keep up the good work. Here is the sketch and the cards.

Keep Smiling!

Foolish Moves

2010-04-27T11:44:00.006-04:00

Well I do believe this is the season of the most foolish moves I have seen in all of the "Survivor" episodes. J.T. giving the idol to "little man"Russell....anybody BUT him!; Russell giving Parvati the idol; the Heros not sticking with the orginal plan to vote Parvati off.......not that I want Parvati to win.....she has and is definitely been NOT a favorite of mine in all "Survivor" shows she has played......BUT she made a very wise decision to give both idols away at tribal council. Can't wait to see how Russell reacts back at camp with Parvati.

We had dinner at my house for "Survivor" night, picked up "Swiss Chalet" on my way home from getting my nails done....we did the chicken and rib dinner thing tonight, with lemon pie for dessert......Yummy!

For our cards- Cardzgal used a Stampavie stamp, flowersoft, spellbinders and a Martha Stewart border punch; she coloured the image with Prismacolor pencil crayons. I used a Stampendous stamp, did lots of masking and chalked for the colour, the sentiment is from Hero Arts and added some stickles(may not see that in the picture).

Our card exchange group meets again on Sunday May 2nd; the theme is Get Well....so I will have lots to post after that and the next "Survivor" night. Heres our cards, til next time, Keep Smiling!

<- cardzgal

<- royal dreams

What have we been up to?

2010-04-20T10:41:00.010-04:00

Well it looks like I'm back from my blogging hiatus...not that I really was on one, just don't know where the time has gone and I really haven't been on the computer that much......which is bad of me since there has been 2 card exchange meetings and lots of "Survivor-Hero vs. Villians"- card exchange nights that cardzgal and I have done.

To summorize the feelings about "Survivor"....I am enjoying this season even though I really don't like a lot of the contestants.....all of the VILLIANS...... and UGH!!!!!!!!! why don't they see what Russell is doing, I dislike him the most and I guess JT has joined the group of most stupidest Survivors : Erik from season 16 who gave the fake idol away, James who had 2 idols and didn't play either aand got voted off and I'm sure there are many more stupid moments that I have forgotten about or too many to put here right now.

Okay onto our card exchanges; March's card exchange theme/challenge was to decorate a pre-cut take out food box....lots of great ideas and a very challenging challenge for us......really outside "the box" for our little group......hahahahaha, yes I meant to do that.
April's theme/challenge was to follow the sketch we had picked, which was from Pagemaps -cardmaps -June 2006....we are all enjoying the sketch months.

For our little exchange on "Survivor" night cardzgal and I are using stamps that we have but have never used before....EVER!...so the much have to have stamps that have been sitting in our little collection our now getting the ink and love they deserve.
Enjoy all the pictures!
This group of pictures is from the past 2 card exchanges.

These pictures are of the "Survivor" card exchange night.

Olympic related

2010-02-23T00:13:00.002-05:00

Did you see the ice dancing at the Olympics. Virtue and Moir won GOLD. Absolutely beautiful skating. A great win for Canada and a great win for Ice Dance..woot...woot............

WUHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Just had to share this great moment in skating!

Enjoy the rest of the Olympics.

2 weeks into it

2010-02-20T15:15:00.003-05:00

Is there anyone out there watching this season's "SURVIVOR" and yelling at the TV as loud as I am......I know cardzgal is....we watch it together and the first episode I was ready to throw something at the television every time the "Villians" came on.......Boo - Hiss - spit -spit - spit!!!!!

I forgot about Randy the wedding videographer being on that team, its bad enough there is Coach(yuck!), Boston Rob(pleck!), little man Russell(gag!), Tyson(eeewwww!)......okay I think you know how I feel.

Well 2 episodes in and cardzgal and I have not done one card.......I think we forgot that we were going to do that again, but I have to say we have been busy doing an album series at Scrapbooker's Dream on Thursdays(we have been taping the Survivor shows)- so that will be the excuse of the day. We haven't talked about it.....I just remembered as I was starting to blog this - I will have to discuss this with her. Maybe for this weeks episode we'll have one to share.

However our cards from the exchange were great and I will post them. As I said in the previous post it was a sketch challenge, the sketch is there. Our next exchange is going to be a little different, we are doing "take-out" boxes.......decorating, stamping them.....maybe getting angry at them and cutting them up into little pieces....oh wait that might just be me......my brain just doesn't want to work when thinking about what to do with these "darlin' little boxes"......I'm sure I'll come up with something --hopefully.

Lets keep our fingers crossed that the "Heros" will win the challenges....I don't like seeing them lose and seeing them become nasty....although I know its gonna happen.....and another thing.....I have never seen James so outspoken as he has been this time around. Well til after the next "SURVIVOR" episode, have a great cardmaking week!

For the Sketch challenge

2010-01-25T17:27:00.002-05:00

Here is the sketch that the card exchange group from A Scrapbookers Dream is going to be using for the February exchange. The sketch is from PageMaps - June 2006 card maps- pdf archives. Sorry the picture is not all the best. Look for all the cards in a couple of weeks.

Cardzgal's Birthday

2010-01-18T14:26:00.002-05:00

Its past the actual day and she has her card so its okay for me to post the birthday card I made for her special day. Lots of masking on this one but lots of fun to make.

The first post of the year!

2010-01-18T14:06:00.003-05:00

Happy 2010. Its only been a week and a day past our first exchange of the year....and I'm posting ....yeah me!!!! Hmm, maybe I shouldn't praise myself just yet...lol. Well the theme to our card exchange was Penguins....I wonder how we came up with that? It wouldn't have anything to do with a trip a certain someone took to the Antarctica to see the penguins ....would it? Our dear proprietor of A Scrapbookers Dream went on such a trip and the pictures of all the penguins were fantastic, how could we not do a Penguin theme. So we are off to a great start of cardmaking this year. Just a point of interest for our little group....as I was organizing the pictures of all the cards we have made on my computer here, I couldn't help but notice we have been doing this exchange for almost four years now........how many cards is that? I might have to get a bigger box for all the cards....or maybe a bigger craft room to hold them in.....hahahahaha!

Last Post of the 2009

2009-12-31T17:21:00.002-05:00

Happy New Years to EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas Pics.

2009-12-30T02:39:00.006-05:00

I thought I would share a couple of pictures from this holiday season.....my upstairs tree with the Santa theme....and our cute little dog - Eydie....waiting for Christmas....she gets more impatient every year.
Do you make New Years resolutions.....I have one.......hopefully I can keep it.....can you guess?
I know - you all said "to blog on a regular basis".....your right! Whats your resolution for 2010?

I get to watch another season of "Survivor".....YEAH!!!

2009-12-30T02:22:00.005-05:00

Okay I'm happy that Russell did not win....and what a big BABY!!!!! pouting because he didn't.....it made me even more determined that he didn't deserve the title of winner......if you can't lose gracefully then you really don't deserve to be the winner...."Grow up Russell and be the little man that you think you are!....So who thinks he'll be on the next "Survivor"?....You may hear me scream from where ever you are....I really don't like him.

Anyway, here are the cards we did for the last 2 episodes of "Survivor", plus I did an extra one for the last episode without telling cardzgal.

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas with your families and friends. Enjoy the rest of this festive season.

Happiest Christmas Holidays to Everyone!!!

2009-12-30T01:58:00.011-05:00

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Very Happy New Year to you all!

Yes I know I haven't blogged for a bit and there has been so much going on, but the Christmas season seems to keep everyone soooooooooooooo busy! So I'm going to do a couple of posts to get up to date. First post will be for the last card exchange we did for this year. It was a sketch layout for a card. Here is the sketch, it is from Splitcoaststampers.

And here is all of our cards.

"Survivor Night"-season 19, weeks 12 and 13

2009-12-16T12:40:00.004-05:00

Well back on track on which episodes I'm posting about our little card exchange. I just don't know where the time goes I thought I was caught up, it seems like just yesterday......or maybe two weeks ago that I posted...and that was for three weeks of "Survivor" nights. The last two weeks of "Survivor" have been at my house, the first week I picked up Mary Brown's chicken and taters and last week I made a Lasagna that was from the PC collection....can't say it was the best I have ever had...for dessert we had an apple cranberry pie for the first week and last week I did up some Molten Chocolate cakes and some Ben and Jerry's ice cream. It seems like every week Russell gets closer to winning....I will scream.....I do give him credit he has been one of the smarter players, its like he has watched and studied every "Survivor" season....but I still do not want him to win. I liked John the rocket scientist, he played the game smart also......and Dave had to leave cause they don't want to get on Shambo's bad side......kick her off I say.....its one vote....really what has she done? She better not win either. Well onto the cards for the last two weeks, I'll just let the picture say it all.......what a great way to get all my Christmas cards for the year! And only 2 more episodes left......they must be kicking doubles off at a time.

<-cardzgal

<- royal dreams

<- cardzgal

<- royal dreams

Just Magnolia challenge

2009-11-30T19:55:00.002-05:00

I haven't participated in the Just Magnolia challenges for a while now, however I had the chance to play with this weeks sketch. With this challenge I was able to add a couple of past challenges that I have missed, kind of a self catch up. I used a new Tilda to me - Tilda Singing Carols, I stamped her 3 times covering the masking challenge of last week along with stamping the NOEL using the masking. I coloured them using prismacolor pencils and using the prismacolor blender marker. I used vintage photo and walnut stain distress ink on the edges of the stamped image, then took my distress tool to give it a even more distressed look. I also inked all the edges of each layer of pattern paper. This covers the distress challenge of a few weeks back. Flocked the fur bits of the coats and then stickled the wings. I used American Tag nailheads, some quickutz diecuts and M.S. pine branch punch. Hope you enjoy the card.

"Survivor Night"-season 19, week?????

2009-11-30T19:33:00.005-05:00

Okay I'm getting ontop of my weekly blogging but as you can see by the title, I am a bit lost....thats what I get for not doing the blog thing on a regular basis.....but I will figure it out and know what week it is of the "Survivor" season by the next time I post here (keep your fingers crossed). So was I the only one dissappointed about the lack of a new episode of "Survivor".... it was cool to see some of the stuff they edited out but really I could watch that kind of stuff at the end of the season not in the middle. So now we have to wait for this weeks show, however we did have a nice dinner at cardzgal's place.... a chicken casserole with pasta, salad and homemade garlic bread and for dessert- a mincemeat tart and some berries....it was soooooooooooo good!

We still exchanged our cards, just because its not a regular show of "Survivor"......WE don't change our regular scheduled plans.......lol

Cardzgal's card this week she used Wreathabella from Stampingbella, embossed the card front with the Holly Ribbons embossing folder from Cuttlebug, the pointsettia is from Quickutz and the sentiment is from studio g. For my card I used a stamp from Inkadinkado, heat embossed with white detail embossing powder, punched the corner of 2 mats with a EK Success corner punch added some ribbon and some red sticker dots.

<-cardzgal

<- royal dreams

I'm the worst ever!

2009-11-26T14:36:00.005-05:00

Say no more...I have no excuses for why I have not blogged.....its been three weeks, three "Survivor" nights, three exchanges and closing in on the 4th ...... fire me, vote me off the tribe!

Okay so a rundown on "Survivor".....yes Eric should have been voted off first-(Eric you should have kept your mouth closed) even though Russell should have gone and should have been gone from the very beginning, Russell - how lucky can one person be...and while I'm on the topic of Russell here is a thought of mine....his profile says that he owns a oil company, here are my thoughts.....its not really an oil company I think he owns his own gas station and this is how he knows so much about finding the hidden immunity idol ....cause, as he is waiting for customers he is watching reruns of past "Survivor"s taking notes of where they have been hidden......lets hope he goes soon. I don't understand the reason why they picked Kelly to go next.....I know someone had to go, she really didn't stand out to me as a threat.....but you never know about the quiet ones. Yeah Laura is gone...didn't really dislike her but didn't like her either....glad she is gone though. Will they be able to get rid of Russell tonight.....will just have to keep watching to find out.

So instead of doing three post for each week I am combining it all into one....the first of the 3 weeks cardzgal was away in Vegas.....but we decided to make cards and exchange 2 the following week when she was back.....so tonight we are at cardzgal place. Here are the 3 weeks of cards, I''ll let the pictures say it all.

Now for something different

2009-11-03T22:16:00.004-05:00

Something that isn't card related.....thought I would share the halloween pumpkins that I carved this year. After the trick or treating was done I took these pumpkins to the Halloween/Engagement party of my nieces....they were a hit. Good time was had by all.

November's Exchange

2009-11-03T21:44:00.005-05:00

Our challenge/theme for this month's exchange was to take a stamp that was NON- CHRISTMAS.....meaning no angels, snowmen, santas, elves, christmas trees or anything common with Christmas.... and make a Chritmas card. We all agreed that a holiday sentiment could be used. A Hanna stamp, a dreamscapes stamp, a hero Arts stamp and Magnolia stamps were used. The challenge may have been a bit difficult as it was only two weeks from our last exchange, but as you can see from our cards we stepped up to the challenge...well done group.

Featured Card of the Month

"Survivor" night - season 19 : week 7

2009-11-03T21:10:00.003-05:00

"Survivor" night was at cardzgal's again, she made a skillet chicken dish and we had a salad and rolls with it and for dessert we had a pumpkin layered cake...very tasty-indeed!
Foa-Foa just doesn't have any lucky, I don't think they have won any reward challenges and only won one immunity and I guess this week they merge......will Galu's team see through Russell's ways and vote him off....lets hope so. Did Liz have to go this week - I don't think so, should have Jaison been the one to go....yes- he gave up....or is it all an act?

Cardzgal card features a House Mouse stamp, a shaker type box was made with the scalloped rectangle nestabilities, acetate and some glitter, a hero arts stamp and a couple of fir branches that were punched were added. I used a Fiskars border punch and a stamp from
Great Impressions, added a sizzix die cut and some baubles and a ribbon.

<- cardzgal

<- royal dreams

Where does the time go?

2009-11-03T20:17:00.004-05:00

Okay, I thought I was going to be on a roll and keep on top of the blogging thing....I had good intentions - where does the time go? It seemed just like yesterday when I was all caught up here. So here I'll try again...no promises this time though.

"Survivor" night 2 weeks ago was at cardzgal's place. We had chicken pot pie for dinner along with roasted potatoes and a salad; dessert was a warm peanut butter chocolate cake that was made in the crock pot.....very yummy!

I'm still not liking the little Russell. I feel bad that Galu's Russell had to go the way he did, I didn't mind him at all, not too sure if he would have made the list of someone I wanted to win however anyone is going to be better than the OTHER Russell. I wonder if they are going to do a double elimination on another episode?

For our cards - cardzgal used the Holly embossing folder, the stamp by Inkadinado was heat embossed and cut by the oval nestabilities and the mat was done with the scallop oval by nestabilities and baubles were added. For my card I used a stamp by Hero Arts and by Inkadinkado, I used an embossing folder from sizzix, punched out a couple of snowflakes and added a ribbon.

<- cardzgal

<- royal dreams

Is it Possible????

2009-10-21T15:25:00.009-04:00

Its 3 days after our last card exchange group got together......and look at this, I'm blogging about it....already!, it can't be possible that I'm keeping up-to-date with the blog...time will only tell. I did think about posting the cards yesterday but I had posted already 2 things, so why not save one for today. Our challenge for the group was to take some scraps from the stores scrapbox, the layout and image had to be the same, but the scraps had to be used.....some of the group got full sheets and were able to make cards all the same, while others were all different. I don't know about the rest of the group but it did get me thinking about all the scraps that I seem to be hoarding....for what I don't know, but with Christmas card season upon us I may just have to take another look at the scrapbox that I have...might end up making some funky Christmas cards this year. Here is a picture of the cards.....as I said before some were all different, so this is just one group and the feature card of the month.

Featured Card of the Month

Packing and Re-Packing

2009-10-21T10:23:00.004-04:00

Okay so this is packing round two, I am now on packing round and think I may have got it under control, will post after I try again this evening

"Survivor" night - season 19 : week 5

2009-10-20T15:23:00.006-04:00

I'm way ahead of the game now......its only Tuesday and I will have last weeks "Survivor" night blogged and still have time to get ready for this weeks night....might even get a blog or 2 extra in....hmmmmmm or maybe not....what busy things I must have to do instead.
Well "Survivor" was again at my house.....I made a pork chop dish with apples and stuffing with cranberries (mixed in the stuffing).....and I found out that cardzgal doesn't like meat and fruit together...note to self....don't make that again or any other fruit and meat dishes. For dessert I made (yes I did-not like last week) a Dutch Apple Pumpkin Crisp....strange combination but it was quite good.....will have to make that again. What is Russell's problem....if he keeps going off on people like he did with Liz....they are gonna catch on and he will be going BYE-BYE....oh how that will make me so sad....NOT!!!!!!! I really don't know who should have gone this week...not Ashley....I say RUSSELL....why can't they see through him....he makes me so mad!
Calm....calm....breathe....on to the cards - cardzgal used a House Mouse stamp, coloured with Prismacolor pencil and blended with gamsol,used a nestabilities scallop die, the candy diecut is from the Cricut cutting system. For my card I used a unmounted stamp that I purchased at a stamp show that was held in Hamburg, N.Y. last fall and the company name eludes me, I used versamark and clear embossing powder, used american tag corners and some prima flowers and baubles and the Martha Stewart fir punch, added some Frosted Lace stickles to the branches to give them a frosted look.

<-cardzgal

<-royal dreams

"Survivor" night - season 19 : week 4

2009-10-20T14:52:00.003-04:00

Well all I seem to do is try and catch-up with the blogging....I just don't know how I can not keep up-to-date.....I must be very busy doing other things.....just don't know what they can be....the time just seems to fly by....I need more hours in a day.....don't we all!
So week 4 of "Survivor" was held at my house....I made Mac and Cheese, with a salad for dinner and for dessert it was an Apple Crumble Pie(store bought-I do better next week). As for the show....Russell still has to go, don't like him - no way! Myself I thought Monica should have gone for her performance in the challenge, but Yasmine was very lazy around camp.....and her comments to just about everyone and especially on her visit to the rival tribe were uncalled for.....glad she is off the island!
Our cards - cardzgal used a BoBunny stamp, sentiment stamp from imaginisce, spellbinders nestabilities, quickutz damask die and a fir branch punch and some baubles. For my card I used a cuttlebug embossing folder-snowdots, quickutz snowman die and the sentiment stamp from hampton arts.

<-cardzgal

<-royal dreams

"Survivor" night - season 19 : week 3

2009-10-08T12:04:00.005-04:00

Alrighty now, onto last weeks "Thursday night ritual". We got together at cardzgal's house. Chicken fingers and roasted potatoes and salad was for dinner, with a delicious, tart Lemon pie for dessert----YUMM-Oooooo!!!!
Okay so I'm happy that Ben is gone, thats one down and Russell to go, to bad its not a call in and vote for the "Survivor" to go....he would have been long gone on the first night....in my opinion. We'll just have to wait and see what happens tonight.

Last week cardzgal used the new stampendous stamps coloured with prismacolor pencils and did some paper tearing; and for my card I used stamps from TooMuchFun( I purchased them at the Rubber Stamp show in Novi, Michigan last year), I used chalk and shimmer paints and did some heat embossing, everything was cut out and popped, added a ribbon bow and some liquid pearls and the sentiment is a "peel-off"

<- cardzgal

<- royal dreams

Maybe One Day I will be Organized Enough

2009-10-08T11:28:00.004-04:00

Well its Thursday and its the 4th show into "Survivor" season and I haven't posted a card yet.....whats the matter with me? I thought after getting all caught up with the card exchange cards I would be keeping this blog up-to-date....bad blogger, bad blogger!

Okay, so whats been happening? Cardzgal and I are getting together as usual for our Thursday night "Dinner and Survivor and card exchange". We didn't do a card on the first show.....we just weren't that organized. The second show in we had dinner at cardzgal's and it was also my birthday that night, so I'll post the birthday card that cardzgal made and our exchange cards(christmas themed for the whole season)

For my birthday card - a Bella Stamp was used

For our exchange cardzgal used stamps from Imaginisce, fun flock, flower soft and the oval nestabilities and added some wiggly eyes; and for my card I used a stamp from Inkadinkado, a cuttlebug embossing folder; I chalked a bit of the image and distressed the edges and added some ribbon and popped the image.

<- cardzgal

<- royal dreams

Catch-up post #3

2009-09-18T19:31:00.006-04:00

Well here it is and less than week after the exchange, yeah I'm all caught up. So for this months card exchange we had to do a card using a recipe or making it with a cooking theme. Our little group all used some wonderful recipes, we even got to sample two of them. Some wonderful and yummy "Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies" and while we were exchanging our cards a warm "Fruit Coffee Cake". We also got recipes for Banana Bread and GingerBread Cookies...yum-oh!

I have up-dated the side bar with upcoming themes and when our next exchange is gonna be. Everyone keep their fingers crossed that I can keep this going and not get sidetracked with other business.

This will be the last post for today, but of course with the new "Survivor-Season 19" just starting last night......you know I am going to be posting a lot, yes cardzgal and I are doing our weekly card making challenge--Christmas themed again......and with saying that, here is my last thought on last nights show.....Who HATES Russell-the little fat man with the hat?....hes got to go...SOON!... like last night. Okay enough said, here is this months card and featured card of the month.

Featured Card of the Month

Catch-up post #2

2009-09-18T19:16:00.007-04:00

Okay, I'm on a roll now...hmmmm better not get myself too carried away. So August's card exchange was to use a die cut(s). I do believe the weather started getting better this month because I remember July being very cool for a summer month and I was hoping for nice...not "too hot" weather as this was the month my baby girl was getting married...Yeah!!! for a nice August.
Our little group was very creative again, we even had 2 christmas cards done for the exchange....and after me mentioning the cool weather and hoping for warmth.....but I just love Christmas cards any time of the year....hmmm maybe a christmas card challenge every month....okay stop the groaning, I'll just challenge myself with that one. So here are our cards for the August exchange and this months featured card.

Featured card for August

OMG!!!!!! Its been how long??

2009-09-18T18:57:00.005-04:00

Hello all, my oh my how the time has flown by. Its the middle of September and I haven't posted since when- June?? Thats not a good blogger. Well as some of you know, I have been very busy, making Wedding invites and then the shower invites and then oh yeah! helping out with a wedding, and with that all going on trying to keep up with card exchanges too.....so something had to give and I'm sad to say it was the blogging. However the Wedding is done and now things can get back to normal....whatever that is. So this is going to be the first of many post....so I can get everyone caught up with our creativity....and I might even throw in some pictures of the Wedding invites too.

The card exchange way back in July was the Baby theme and here are the cards we did and some pictures of a feature card....something new from me.........can you feel me sucking up for my deliquency..LOL

Featured card for July

New Magnolia's are in the house

2009-07-16T12:12:00.001-04:00

Hey all, just wanted to give everyone a heads up, we just got in our next shipment of stamps.

August Date For Exchange

2009-07-10T12:33:00.002-04:00

Hello All

I have the date for the Card Exchange - Sat. Aug. 15th. We will be having a Play day with Elizabeth using QK and Stamps from 1pm -3 pm. There will be sales and sweets, please Bring your basic tool kit. (Trimmer, sissors, foam tape, glue pen, and misc. glues) Kelley Grace Returns in September with the stamp of the month. Have a great weekend
Elizabeth

How long ago was my last post?.....I'm a bad post-er!!!

2009-06-29T16:47:00.003-04:00

Well I do believe this posting thing should be taken away from me......we are coming up to our next card exchange and I haven't even posted the picture of last month's.......until today that is.

What was our last month's exchange theme?....oh yeah, I remember now! It was Chalking and what great cards everyone made too.

I have been so bad; I haven't even done the last two or is it three challenges for the Just Magnolia challenge blog.....will have to remember what they are and do them for myself , since the challenges are over for the past weeks. I will just have to get myself a little more organized and back on track. I have no excuse or reason why I have been so lack in my duties as post-er or doing the challenges......just time has gotten away from me....but hopefully I will get back on track here. So without any further delay.....here are the cards from last month's exchange.

Sketch at Just Magnolia - week 8

2009-06-06T12:28:00.000-04:00

Wedding invitations are done, the card exchange cards are done...what else was there to do but do the Just Magnolia challenge for this week......I'm way ahead of the game....and posting too...WOW-I'm amazed at myself.....Okay so enough praising myself. This weeks challenge was a sketch challenge and its going to be another that I use over again.....I really enjoyed making this card. I thought with school almost being finished that this would be a good "Thank you" card for a teacher, although I personally have no kids in school anymore, someone may need one and I can offer this one to them. I coloured Tilda in with prismacolor pencils, on the desk I used distress inks to give it that wood feel, the pattern paper was from my stash(I have no idea how long I have had this), the sentiment is from Quickutz "thank-you" bundle, I also added some Quickutz photo corners and flowers. I cut the desk out with nestabilities. Thanks for looking and have a good week.

Animals and Insects - Just Magnolia

2009-06-04T13:29:00.000-04:00

The challenge for this week over at Just Magnolia is to use animals or insects on the card. Here is mine, a sitting Tilda coloured with prismacolor pencils, I stamped a dragonfly on her t-shirt; the stamp is a Judith's stubby which I coloured in with a Sakura pen to give the dragonfly some glitter effect, used stickles on her wings.The dragonflies are from Quickutz and are popped.Used my nestabilities to cut the ovals and then I cut out the Tilda and popped everything. The sentiment is from Inkadinkado and the DP is from a DCWV stack - "the Pocket full of POSIES". It's a simple but fun card.

Getting in SHAPE!!!

2009-05-28T15:42:00.000-04:00

For this weeks challenge over at Just Magnolia is to make a shaped card...."its not for squares". So here is my card - I made a wine bottle shaped card and I used Bartender Edwin, coloured him in with prismacolor pencil and cut him out with my nesties, popped him on the bigger label(which is also popped) which is edge in gold krylon pen, the bottom layer is embossed with the script embossing cuttlebug folder and also edged with the gold Krylon pen, to give it that wine label look. I punched a circle again edged in krylon gold and added a grape button, added some flowers with Bella baubles and some spiralled wire, added ribbon and a sentiment; on the drinks added some glossy accents to make them look like glass. Cheers to all.

Almost Forgot...3rd post of the day!

2009-05-20T20:33:00.000-04:00

How could I have forgotten this post, the reason for the blog in the first place.....our card exchange. This is for the May card exchange that took place on Sunday, May 3. Our theme/challenge was colouring using pencil crayons or markers. I wonder if all that colouring took us back to our younger years? Again it was a great exchange and a fun get-together with the group. Nice job everyone!

Just Magnolia-challenge #5

2009-05-20T11:47:00.000-04:00

I was busy last week to play along with the stitching challenge for Just Magnolia challenge blog, but here I am for this weeks sketch challenge....what a great sketch it is, I'm sure I will use it many times. For my card I used Tilda with a bunch of Roses from the "Chasing Butterflies" collection that I got at "Scrapbookers Dream" in Bolton(they just started carrying them---yeah!), I coloured her with prismacolor pencils, added text to the tag on the bunch of roses, used the swiss dot cuttlebug embossing folder, added some flowers with American tag nailheads and some Quickutz vine diecuts, the sentiment is from a Stampendous stamp set; the pattern paper is DCWV-vines and flowers blue and the blue dotted paper is from my stash, along with the micro-sized pearls.

Catch-up time!!

2009-05-20T11:05:00.000-04:00

Where do I begin....okay sorry I haven't been the best blogger of late.....just been too busy. So of course I haven't blogged about our "Survivor"nights....and its over now....but yeah!!!!!! Coach didn't win....I'm even happier that he didn't get down to the final three. So three episodes ago on "Survivor" night (May 7) I watched it alone and so there was no card exchange for us..Cardzgal was away at the Mega Meet in Novi Michigan (yes I normally go too, but with an upcoming wedding I have to watch the spending on non-wedding stuff).....that must have been the beginning of my lack of blogging. The next Thursday which was last week we did dinner at cardzgal's place - Chinese food and for dessert was pineapple upside down cake with strawberries on the side - YUMMY! For our cards, cardzgal made a wedding card and I did a birthday card. Cardzgal used a stamp she had ordered online from H&M stamps, she coloured with prismacolor pencils, cut the image out with nestabilities,used a Martha Stewart border punch, added some glitter and some beads and Bella Baubles. On my card I used a High Hopes stamp, coloured with prismacolor pencils, added Shimmerz and some glossy accent, I also used some Bella Baubles

<---- cardzgal

<---- royal dreams

So coach gets voted off--YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and there is one more night for "Survivor" and it happens to take place on the Sunday of our long weekend and I have a family pot-luck and fireworks that night, so I was going to record it and I do believe we were going to watch it together HOWEVER after a day(Friday,May15) of doing some shopping and visiting "Scrapbookers Dream" to pick up some Magnolia stamps....YEAH!!!! they just started to carry them; and then out for dinner and sharing a Midnight Truffle blizzard on the way home.....I called her later that night to see if she was playing with her new stamps and thats when she told me she wasn't feeling well....well by the next morning she was in the hospital being operated on for a hernia....I do believe those stamps are just too heavy for her and she should give them to me. So cardzgal spent the long weekend in the hopital and had to watch "Survivor" on a little hospital TV......so No card for the final of "Survivor" but I am very happy that J.T. won the money....I do believe he played the game the best. I can't wait for the next season.

Just Magnolia - challenge #3

2009-05-04T00:18:00.000-04:00

This week is a sketch challenge at Just Magnolia challenge blog, its a great sketch that I'm sure I will use over and over again. When I saw the sketch I knew immediately which Tilda I was going to use, Tilda as Skating Princess, coloured her with prismacolor pencils and added stickles to her wings, I cut her out using the nestabilities oval and scalloped oval for the mat. I embossed with D'vine swirls folder from cuttlebug, used some Diamond Bling Bazzil paper and used a Fiskars border punch on the Basic Grey - wisteria pond dp, punched a bosskuts swirl and glittered it and used Bella baubles, the crossed roses are from Jolee's Boutique. This is my card, thanks for looking!

"Survivor" night - week 12

2009-05-03T23:52:00.000-04:00

My turn again for dinner and on that rainy day I did some b-b-qing. I did steaks and baked potatoes with a salad, and for dessert did pineapple upside down cakes with strawberries and whipped cream. Then it was time to watch "Survivor", it was nice to see coach not win the reward challenge, but alas he won immunity - how "cocky" can one person be; I'd like to slap that smirk off his face. In some way I think the game is fixed because its always the one person that no one likes stays on in the game....for ratings or to keep you watching? I really don't know, but I do know is that coach has to go and very soon; oh please let it be on the next show! I do hope they show his lying ways on the reunion show and question him on that...yeah he is soooooooooooooooooo HONEST!!!!!!!

Now onto our cards - cardzgal used a Magnolia stamp, Tilda under Fall Leaf, coloured with prismacolor pencil crayons and blended with gamsol, cut and popped some parts of the stamp, used a Martha Stewart border punch, cut and paper pieced some dp(unknown origins) and hand wrote the sentiment. For my card I used a Bella stamp-Daisybella, coloured with prismacolor pencils, used ScenicRoute pattern paper, a Hero Arts sentiment , the flower embellishments were a quickutz dies with added bella baubles. Heres hoping coach will be voted off soon!

<--- cardzgal

<--- royal dreams

Just Magnolia - Pink and Green

2009-04-28T17:41:00.000-04:00

Well here I am again trying my hand at another challenge at Just Magnolia; their challenge this week is to use pink and green and of course a Magnolia. I guess the more you do, the more confidence you get with your work and exhibiting it so a larger amount of people see it. So here is my card, its simple compared to the others that have already posted. I think I could have used the one from last week's challenge but of course I had to make a new one. My dp is from K & company and making Memories, I coloured Shy Tilda with Prismacolor pencils, used tattered rose distress ink on the pattern paper, used my nestabilities to emboss around the Hero arts sentiment which was stamped with Brilliance -pearlescent thyme and added some Bella baubles. The challenges have been fun, I think I need more Tildas - so many cute ones!

"Survivor" night - week 11

2009-04-24T21:53:00.000-04:00

Well look at that, I'm getting caught up in my computer duties...hahaha! Soooooo one gone(Tyson-yeah!) and one more to go(coach), then I will be extremely happy. Its about time the other tribe members got their heads into the game and started voting off the right people.....anyone else wondering what Jeff thinks of coach and his stories? Personally I don't think he is too impressed with him and can see right thru his fables ...they didn't show too much in the previews for next week but I wonder what coach is gonna do/ how mad is he gonna act or what kinda crap he is going to pull. It will be interesting for sure!!!

Its my turn to do dinner, and this week we had Caesar salad and a new dish from a Taste of Home:Casseroles recipe book - Tater-topped casserole, definitely a make again recipe. For dessert we had "the Most Dangerous Cake" recipe, hmmmm have I got you wondering what that is? You may want to ask me about that...hahahaha!

Our cards this week- cardzgal used a Martha Stewart border punch -choo choo train, her stamp is from a stamp company that comes from out west called The Old Island Stamp Company, they come to the One of a Kind show(fall show), the sentiment -I will have to edit this post when I find out where its from and she used Bella baubles. For my card I am showing the one I did for the online blog challenge from Just Magnolia all the details are in the previous post. It was fun to give it a try and may try and do some more. Just gotta love the Tildas, too cute!

<-cardzgal

<-royal dreams

My first Blog Challenge

2009-04-23T23:40:00.000-04:00

I love the Magnolia line of stamps, its a fav. So when I found this blog Just Magnolia and they were doing a sketch challenge(their first challenge) I thought it was time to give it a try.

For my card I used Tilda with an apron full of hearts, coloured her in with prismacolor pencils,the hearts were coloured with Sakura pens, the dp is from a K & company stack,used a cuttlebug embossing folder on the pink paper, ribbon from my stash and flowers from my stash that were attached with nailheads from American Tag. I tucked in a Quickutz die around the flowers. I hope that my cards holds up to all the other great cards. Thanks for a great sketch.

"Survivor" night - week 10

2009-04-23T11:52:00.000-04:00

Well I went and did it again, I can't seem to get caught up with the computer, I'm still a week behind. I will try better to get more updated earlier. So I'm totally disgusted that coach is still in the game....the stories that came out of his mouth, if he has done so much (yeah right! and I'm related to the Queen of England) WHY is he playing the game, you would think after he has done it all he would be off somewhere else doing his own thing....you know like hunting for sasquatch or maybe the truth....hahahaha! He really thinks he is the Dragonslayer....I do hope they really prove him wrong tonight, wipe that cocky attitude off his face and then kick him off the game....and take Tyson with him too.....not liking him either!

Okay so onto dinner at cardzgal's place, we had roast pork with a mustard sauce, roasted potatoes and veggies and for dessert we had the last of her Lemon cake from
Olive Garden...Mmm Mmm Good!

For our cards, cardzgal used a My Favorite Thing stamp that she paper pieced, the sentiment stamp is unknown to me(will edit later) and she used some Bella baubles. My card I used a Stamp Barn stamp, an new EK Success border punch- birthday candles, a Quickutz font-Banana Split and some Bella baubles, I cut my image out with a Spellbinders nestabilities-square scallop.

Cardzgal had this card done 2 weeks ago but decided to make the Easter card instead however 2 weeks ago I used a stamp from My Favorite Things and did some paper piecing......so if she didn't do an Easter card we would have done the same thing with the same stamp line......anyone else think we spend way too much time together...hahahahaha!

<- cardzgal

<- royal dreams

"Survivor" night - week 9

2009-04-16T15:38:00.000-04:00

I know!!!! Tonight is the 10th week for "Survivor", I'm just a little behind with the blogging. Easter and other family things I just haven't had time to make time for myself to post......but here I am. All I have to say about last week is -WHY is coach still there? Have these people not seen any of the "Survivor" shows? I'm hoping he goes tonight! (fingers and toes crossed). So last week we were at cardzgal's place...lasagna and ceasar salad and of course garlic toast. And for dessert, it was some kind of banana filled pastry that she got at the "One of a Kind" show and some ice cream....yummoooooooo!!!!!!!

Now for our cards....cardzgal made an Easter card, she used a Bella stamp - cosmobella; paper pieced her clothes, drew some bunny ears and stamped a couple of Judith's easter eggs and cut them out, and also used a pompom. The sentiment was computer generated. The image and sentiment were cut out and embossed with a Spellbinders nestabilities. For my card I made a panel with a Rubberstamp Tapestry set-Floral Filigree Wreath and Versa cubes ink, used my Martha Stewart edge punch, also used a Stampin' up set- cute and curly and used the co-ordinating punch, used some Bella baubles and some stickles, I popped the sentiment.

Anyone going to Scrapfest...if you are, we will see you there! I do hope to post this weeks cards sooner. Take care and remember to THINK PINK!!!!!!!

<- cardzgal

<- royal dreams

The Back Counter has moved!

2009-04-06T16:25:00.000-04:00

Happy SNOW DAY on the 6th of April! I know from years of experience not to put my winter boots away til after the first week of April...my baby brother , who turned 39 today has always had some kind of snowy weather on his birthday....so I was not surprised to see all that snow on the ground and floating in the air. Hopefully that will be the last of it til next winter!!!!!

Our card exchange group got together yesterday -the beautiful, sunshiney Sunday! Our theme for this month was to use a product or products from the back counter of the store.....however, our store Scrapbookers Dream moved to a new location, and with the new location, the back counter got moved to a gondola in the middle of the store.....the challenged remained the same, we just had a new place to shop from! The products that were on the back counter were, ink pads (of course), embossing powders, glitters, stickles, liquid pearls, flock, and baubles. Our cards showcased one or more of these products. It was interesting to see what each person used and how they used it. Great cards ladies!

"Survivor" night - week 8

2009-04-03T13:06:00.000-04:00

No drama, no revelations and not really too much excitement on last nights "Survivor" but Coach is still there and he got to reap on the reward challenge...I was yelling at the TV for Joe to pick Coach to go to exile....I guess he didn't hear me......can you tell I don't like the Coach! Oh well I can only hope for next week......I say kick him off soon, don't let him on the jury!!!!

Okay, so dinner was at my house(we do a two week rotation) I made a new recipe Crunchy Beef Bake and it was very good, easy to make....its a "make again" recipe. I had a salad to go with it and for dessert I took the easy way out - I bought a Raspberry Mousse cake from Costco....it was yummy, nice and light.

We don't discuss what we are thinking of doing each week for our cards but I do believe our minds are in-sync. This week our similarities are the colour and maybe the theme. We both used pink tones/shades and for the theme it was alcohol based.....and no I don't mean alcohol inks...hahaha! Cardzgal used a Bella stamp-springtini, which she coloured and then did some cutting and popping of some images and to make the drink look frosty she used Sugar Beads, she made a circle frame using a corner punch, added a computer generated sentiment and a couple of cocktail glass eyelets. For my card I used a card sketch that I want to try, so the stamp I used was from My Favorite Things-Meet me at the cafe-they are drinking wine....see the similarities. I did some colouring and some paper piecing again this week. I added some ribbon and a ribbon brad, I also added some paper piercing to one mat. I made one card, didn't like the look of all the pattern paper I was using so I added a solid colour on the second card, it looked much better; its the one shown here and the one I gave to cardzgal. The card exchange group meets this Sunday, so I'll be posting again soon.

<- cardzgal

<- royal dreams

"Survivor" night - week 7

2009-03-27T12:04:00.000-04:00

Why did I bother to PVR that episode? Okay here is the scoop, cardzgal and I had our monthly Quickutz club class at Scrapbookers Dream on Wednesday, so our "Survivor night" get-together was going to be on Thursday as usually scheduled. And since it was my week I made sure the TV was set to record "Survivor" - wuhooo! - we are back to our regular routine - dinner-"Survivor" and the rest of primetime Thursday night TV watching - and exchanging the cards we made.

So for dinner we had Mary Brown's chicken and taters (it was my nail night, so on the way home I picked up dinner), after we ate we took my little dog Eydie for her walk and then we watched "Survivor". Well I can tell you now, that after it not being on last week we were not happy with it being a "recap show"..... the only good thing about it was - it confirmed my thoughts of Coach.....he is an ASS (sorry about the language); other than that I did not enjoy the "Survivor" episode this week. Next weeks better be really good. For dessert we had a Double Chocolate cake...love chocolate!!!!

I'll move onto our cards for this week. Well I can tell you we didn't use the same stamp or stamp line this week however we did use a similar tool for our cards....yep I'm really starting to think we spend way too much time together....hahahahahaha! Cardzgal used a Bella stamp-bookwormabella and a Magnolia accessory -the desk and her sentiment was computer generated and for the tool of the week she used Martha Stewart's floral lace edge punch; while I used High Hopes stamps for my image and sentiment and for the tool of the week - I used the Fiskars sunburst border punch and placement of such work was in the same position....these similar things makes me go.... Hmmmm??!!! We both coloured with primacolor pencil crayons, I did some paper piecing and added shimmerz and some ribbon, cardzgal added glitter and some Sakura pen to her work. What will next week bring?....besides a better episode of "Survivor"... I hope!

<- cardzgal

<- Royal Dreams

"Survivor" night - week 6

2009-03-20T11:54:00.000-04:00

Oh wait, there was no "Survivor " on this week. Cardzgal and I got together anyways....because of course there was "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice" to watch. So no ranting about how I think Coach should be voted off the island (but of course I do think that- maybe we'll get lucky and on the Wednesday night show he will go).

So we had an early dinner at cardzgal place, "specials" from one of our local chinese food restaurants. Then it was off to her craft room to do some stamping and make a card or two, instead of watching "Survivor". I'll have to get pictures of our craft rooms sometime to post here. We decided to stamp Magnolia's, the ones that the other did not have.....don't we play nice together...LOL. Then we went to work on making a card with a Magnolia stamp. Cardzgal used Tilda with a basket of buns and I used a Tilda holding a wine bottle and a picnic basket. We both coloured with Prismacolor pencils. Cardzgal added baubles and a flower and some glitter for Tilda's wings, she also added Flowersoft to the basket so it looks like Tilda is holding a basket of flowers instead of buns; and I added some Quickutz die cuts-wine glass and flowers, some liquid pearls to the centers of the flowers and on the wine glasses some beads to make the glasses look full of wine and then some glossy accents to make them look like glass. Have a look.

So after stamping and making our card, we retired to the sitting room to watch "Grey's and P.P." and of course dessert, cardzgal made a Bailey's cake....easy-peasy; chocolate cake mix, some bailey's(or was it a lot of bailey's) and the microwave....Yummmmmm-ohhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
We did our weekly exchange as well. Funny thing, on one of our days out we discussed some of our stamps that we should use or that we had.....and I guess the one stamp line stuck in our minds....cause....thats right.... we used the same stamps again this week.....I don't know, maybe we spend way too much time together....hahahahahaha! We purchased these stamps at a couple of stamp shows last year, Purple Daisy Designs (no web site). Some of the stamps they make fit some of the EK Success Paper Shaper punches - the butterflies we used. I also used a stamp from Starving Artistamps, a mosiac backgroundand a sentiment from Hero Arts. I wonder what I can plant in cardzgal mind to make for next week-insert evil laugh here!

What????? No "Survivor" this week!

2009-03-17T23:32:00.000-04:00

Whatever will we do with there being no show this week, I'm sad. Its not right that they make us wait like this. I do believe cardzgal also said its on Wednesday night next week not Thursday...I have a schedule and they are screwing it up...LOL! No "Survivor" doesn't mean no cards....we are still doing our weekly card and then gonna watch "Grey's".....have to keeep the regular Thursday night going! Just to let you know.

"Survivor" night - week 5

2009-03-14T00:47:00.000-04:00

Well here it is time to post some cards that were made for our "Survivor" night get-together, talk about our yummy dinner and dish on what happened on the show. Lets start with something good....dinner - sheperds pie and salad, very tasty - good, for dessert something really yummy and I want more...a piece of Lemon cake from "Olive Garden", cardzgal bought a whole cake on her last shopping trip to Buffalo and froze it--what a nice treat, and some fruit with a drizzle of chocolate sauce and a dollop of whipped cream.

I'm not understanding Taj's tactics...what was with the outburst and will Stephen give her the idol if she needs it? I really didn't want to see Spencer go but then I really had no pick for who to go from that tribe....too bad they didn't put a twist to "Survivor" like who goes to tribal has to pick a player from the opposite tribe......PICK COACH!!!!! Yep I still think he has to go. Oh and the reward challenge winners - that really sucked that one of them had to go to exile instead of the reward....poor Stephen! Can anyone tell me is "Survivor"on next week , I wasn't paying too much attention to when they said it will be on next...and I call myself a fan....sheesh!

Okay I know I said in an earlier post that we were going to pick whatever stamp we wanted and have it a surprise.....well we decided on picking a Magnolia stamp but whatever one we wanted to use......well guess what?!!! Yeah - thats right we both picked the same one - go figure. For next week we are back to the original plan----whatever stamp we want, lets see how long that lasts! "Sitting Tilda with bow in hair" was the stamp of choice, we both had flower(s) added on to our cards - cardzgal's was a Quickutz 3D die, I used prima flowers; cardzgal cut out her Tilda and popped her on a stamped jar by Judith's stamps and added some baubles and quickutz chocolate drops, I added ribbon and some bling to the flowers also a diecut from the cuttlebug line. Can't wait to see what we do next week. Have a good one - enjoy March Break!

<-----cardzgal

<-----royal dreams

Spring? Where?

2009-03-07T22:12:00.000-05:00

As promised an update on the "Survivor" cards I posted the other day. Cardzgal stamps are from Our Craft Lounge . Also I found out that after she coloured the image with chalk she also put a metallic rub on them.

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead an hour tonight (Saturday). Wuhoo - we lose an hour of sleep but gain an hour of extra daylight. Spring must be on the way...I hope so anyways!

We started late but we started!

2009-03-06T01:12:00.000-05:00

Fourth show into the 18th season of "Survivor", our fourth season of making cards for our get-together and we finally got started on the card-making. We decided for the card-making challenge of this "Survivor" season (or should I say the rest of the season) we are going to pick whatever stamp we want...so it'll be a surprise if we use the same stamp or even same stamp line...oh what will our creative minds do each week - hmmm? So dinner was at my house this week ( we go 2 weeks about), I made a chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes (Albert style), a salad with "Olive Garden" dressing....yummmmm and for dessert I did a fruit coffee cake( easy peasy, with apple pie filling) with coffee ice cream.
One would think that if you were a coach of any type of sport that you would be a little more fit and maybe lead by example.....what does he coach.....fleas? He has to go....soon! It was Sandy's time to go, I don't think I could have taken too much more of her......and whats with Taj, is she not in alliance with anyone, off voting on her own and has she found the hidden idol? So many questions and a long week of waitng to see what happens next. But I do go on so....
......so our cards, here they are; I used a "Bella" stamp-lattebella coloured with prismacolor pencil crayons and an Obsession Impression sentiment stamp and the "Label One" nestabilities and some flowers attached with nailheads. Cardzgal forgot whos stamp line she used, so I'll post that later, but all the stamps are from one set, she chalked the 2 main images added some clear glitter sakura pen and added a piece of tissue, she also ticket punched all the corners.....of course as you can see.

cardzgal

royal dreams

What kind of challenge?

2009-03-01T22:23:00.000-05:00

April's theme may seem a bit confusing to some.....so here is a brief description of what the theme entails. "Back counter of the store" challenge -- as cardmakers we are to use any one (or more) of the products that were on the "back counter of the store" which got moved to a "gondola" in the middle of the store for moving purposes....so maybe we should call it our "Venice" challenge. Happy card-making!

It isn't easy being Green!

2009-03-01T21:30:00.000-05:00

Great exchange again ladies! Great cards, yummy treat, wonderful conversation and a nice surprise visitor .... June!!!!!! It was wonderful to see her, its been a long time, we hope to see her more! And a shout out to Helena's friend...thanks for joining us.

The many shades of GREEN cards. There was teabag folding, a pocket card, a shaped card, and many different types of green embellishments were used on the cards this months. This is the last exchange that will grace the bullentin board at the current location. The store is moving. Next month's exchange will take place at the new address. See you there.

Made by who?

2009-02-27T11:36:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted anything in a while and the blog looked lonely, so here I am. Cardzgal and I haven't done any Survivor night cards this season....whats wrong with us?????? Okay, who thinks coach has to go? I do, I do (hand up in air, waving furiously around).
Well it must be the year of weddings, I'm in the process of getting all the supplies for the youngest ones invites, and she was here making bridal shower invites for a friend of hers that is getting married in June, so I thought I would share her creations. She has made 22 invites, same layout but with all different co-ordinating papers...very funky and very much her. She used a Bella stamp-"Bridalpartybellas" and did some paper piecing with the dresses and then we (yes I said we...I got coerced into helping) punched some little flowers from a fiskars edge punch and made them into the bouquets...lots of finicky work but they are one of a kind bridal shower invites.

Happy Heart Day!

2009-02-14T15:26:00.000-05:00

Valentine greetings to you all! Hope your day is sweet. Not much going on here, no cards to post -I guess maybe I should have made one to post for today...maybe like a Valentine one for my sweetie. Whats everyone else up to these days? Have a great day!

Cake, Balloons and candles....oh my!

2009-02-02T17:11:00.000-05:00

What kind of card does one make for a child/kid? Mostly a birthday card, and with that we all made a child's birthday card for our monthly card exchange - with the theme being "Kids/Children". Our group was a small one this time around.......we missed you! After the exchange some of us stayed for the make n' take and to find out where the store will be moving to. The make n' take card can be seen on the store blog. Here is this month's exchange.

Happy Groundhog Day!!

Another Magnolia

2009-01-16T11:53:00.000-05:00

This is the Christmas card I made for cardzgal using another Magnolia stamp- skating Tilda. Just thought I would share these with you, I think this is my favourite line of stamps so far...just way too cute!

It's okay to post now, its the day after

2009-01-16T11:34:00.000-05:00

Thought I would share the birthday card I made for cardzgal, its the day after so its okay. I used a Magnolia stamp - Tilda with Cowberry Muffin. I coloured her with prisma pencil crayons, used some liquid shimmer and glitter, added some flowers and bling and popped the image after matting. I think she is so cute and could be used for a cute christmas card too...making the muffin into a little plum pudding and using traditional christmas colours. Here is the web site for the Magnolia stamps if you want to take a look at them - www.magnoliastamps.us/ or this site www.dreamcottage.nu/english1/index1.html both sites are great to look at.
Have a great day - stay warm!

"They say it's your Birthday.....

2009-01-15T10:44:00.000-05:00

.....we're gonna have a good time", to quote the Beatles.
Happy Birthday to cardzgal- Ruthie. Her birthday is today - January 15th.

I can see clearly now.......

2009-01-14T01:21:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to everyone! Well we had our first for 2009 card exchange on Sunday and the cards were wonderful. We had to use acetate in some way for the cards and everyone did something different. We discussed our techniques, difficulties if any, and something we may have learned from making the cards with the acetate. I have to say there are definite ideas from the cards that I will use in my card-making. On a quick note a big congratulations out to cardzgal for being Mother of the Groom on the 10th of January....the wedding was beautiful, can't wait to see some pictures..........................or do I show one of the groom and his mom here......Hmmmmm.....yep I think so. Here is the picture of this months card exchange and one from the wedding.

A Busy Year for me!

2008-12-31T14:27:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to pass along to all....I will be busy this year making Wedding invitations for my youngest daughter....wuhoooooooooo! She got engaged on December 14th. I thought I would have a year or more but they have decided to get married in 2009....no pressure for me at all ....geesh what do they think I am a card-making machine....hahahaha
Happy New Years Eve!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

2008-12-31T14:20:00.000-05:00

Yes I know its been awhile but I'm sure everyone can understand why I haven't been posting here....its such a busy time of year, that I have had no time for being on the computer.
You are probably wondering why I haven't posted after the final two episodes of Survivor - well we didn't decide on a stamp for the last shows, so no cards were made...sorry! However I'm glad Bob won, kinda figured it would be him BUT why didn't Sugar get any votes....I think she played the game very well, smart actually...she should have got the $100,000.00...I don't think Bob really needed both wins. Anyways....hope everyone had a good Christmas and that Santa was good to you and your families. Hope the New Year bring health and happiness to you all.

"Survivor" night - week 11

2008-12-06T00:11:00.000-05:00

Hey look at this I'm posting early, that must be a first or I just have some free time on my hands right now.

Well isn't Bob a sneaky one.....trying to get another fake idol to outwit his tribe members. I can't believe that its almost over...2 more shows. I wonder if there is going to be an 18th season! We had dinner here at my house, I made macaroni and cheese with garlic toast and some yummy rice pudding without raisins and some christmas baking(yes, the ones I brought to the exchange). For our cards we picked another Great Impressions stamp, a snowman.... can't remember when it came out. One might think I could have completed 2 tasks in one with that stamp - the card exchange and our survivor night card......but alas I decided to go with different cards. Heres this weeks cards. Thanks for looking.

<- cardzgal

<- royal dreams

Snowin' and Snowmen

2008-12-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

Great card exchange! The snow/snowman theme was a great last exchange of the year, all the cards were wonderful! What a fantastic year of exchanged ideas, techniques and stamps. We have a wide range of themes or challenges ahead for the New Year...wuhoooo! who has their next ones done?????? Nope not me, although I do have an idea, and sometimes that is half the battle...lol. Here are the cards, plus they are in the slideshow ...I just may have the hang of this.

"Survivor" night - week 10

2008-12-05T00:55:00.000-05:00

Okay I know....the tribe has spoken and I'm the next to go.....I don't know what happened, the week just got away from me and here it is the next week for Survivor and I haven't even posted last weeks cards. So Sorry! Well last weeks Survivor was disappointing ... I hate the recap shows but I guess it must be done...although it was nice to see the recap on Randy's departure from the tribe.....laughed again! Dinner was at cardzgal's place - roast beef and potatoes and veggies...Mmmm! Dessert was a pumpkin pudding...yummmmmy!

For the cards we did last week, we picked a background stamp that we picked up in Hamburg N.Y. at a rubberstamp show....and here they are!

<- cardzgal

<-royal dreams

Just had to do it!!!!!

2008-11-22T00:53:00.000-05:00

Well as you can see, I have done some decorating for Christmas here on our little blog. It is now full speed ahead with all the Christmas spirit...decorating, baking, shopping, card-making, oh did I say decorating....sorry I just love Christmas! HO HO HO!!!!!!!

"Survivor" night - week 9

2008-11-22T00:37:00.000-05:00

It was the best! A most memorable show ever......they kicked off the right person......he had to go.....he was a big jerk.....and thats me being kind! Randy is gone and the other Survivors duped him good....applause, applause! "Survivor night" was at cardzgal's house, we had pizza, wings and ceasar salad....no! no beer, we had to keep our wits about us....LOL. Dessert was a mini mincemeat tart (or tartlet) and a dulce de leche ice cream round......yummmy!! The whole night was the best....what will next week bring, maybe more surprises. Our cards this week were made with last months Great Impressions stamp of the month.

<- cardzgal

<- royal dreams

"Survivor" night - week 8

2008-11-20T14:23:00.000-05:00

Its been a week since the last Survivor show was on....just a little behind in my posting. I did dinner, I made a spaghetti casserole (a new recipe- very easy) with a salad and texas garlic toast then to finish off we had caramel cheesecake for dessert. I was surprised on who the Survivors kicked off, they never seem to pick the right person in my opinion.....I always want them to kick off the person who I don't want to win....EVER! Keeping my fingers crossed that they kick off Randy tonight. Last weeks stamp is from Harmonie, a clear stamp of Santa. Here are the cards from last week.

<-cardzgal

<-royal dreams

Next weeks stamp is a Great Impressions.....I guess I mean tonight...LOL!

With some practise...

2008-11-08T16:57:00.000-05:00

I attended the morning water-colouring class, and wish I could have stayed for the afternoon one too...next time, Krista is a great teacher, I would recommend it to anyoneand I should have done it sooner. It was a big class, saw some regulars from other classes, demo days and our card exchange. I did learn some helpful tips and with some practise I may do some more water colouring....NO the statement should read - I will do more water colouring. So I'm wondering how many water-coloured cards are there going to be at the next exchange...LOL. If you read the store's blog, E has put in a link to a blog for hints and tips and colouring charts for some of the sunshine design stamps and I thought I would add it also to this entry and also to the blog list. http://parisestates.blogspot.com/
Have a great week-end. I think I'm gonna practise my water-colouring...no, no I am going to practise my water-colouring!

"Survivor" night - week 7

2008-11-08T16:35:00.000-05:00

Its that time again, "Survivor" night show-and-tell. Well the survivors got another twist thrown at them....new tribes again, how they do scramble to save their butts. It was a great blindside on who they kicked off....though I got to say he was one of the nice ones on the show....as far as I could tell. I wonder what kinda Doctor he is? I wouldn't mind my doctor looking like that...well for some ailments anyways...LOL.
It was my turn to do dinner, I made a lazy cabbage roll casserole with potatoes and for dessert a lemon curd filled coffee cake (I bought it) with fresh raspberries and kiwi....note to self-cardzgal doesn't like kiwi. Also had a hot apple cider brewing on the stove....it smells so nice in and tastes good too.
Now onto the cards, we used a stamp from Rubber Stampede called Santa Collageand here is what we did with it this week.

cardzgal

royal dreams

Might inspire me...

2008-11-06T01:09:00.000-05:00

Did you read the store's blog? Did you go to the link she posted? I may have to do some more water colouring, especially after I take the class on Saturday...thanks E for sharing. Inspiration - I need all I can get.

A poll and picture changes

2008-11-05T12:01:00.000-05:00

Okay so I maybe have gone a little overboard where this blog is concerned but oh what fun and frustration times I have had. As you can see I have changed the slideshow thing....couldn't figure out how to add the last card exchange to the slide show....I couldn't remember what I did last time....ahhhhhhhh my memory, thats a story for another time. So I made 2 albums of the previous years card exchanges and this years cards are put into a slideshow. I also added a little poll for everyone to play along and also for those of you who like to do Suduko puzzles, I added that to the bottom along with a Christmas countdown...enjoy.....maybe some Christmas music if I can find it.......too much????????

Last exchange day

2008-11-05T11:46:00.000-05:00

I think I have all the tags I need for this Christmas giving, between last years tag exchange and this years...wuhoooo! Do any of us have the same gift receivers where we would use the same gift tag?....Mmmmmmmmmm, I wonder...lol. Well all the tags were great, some really good ideas that I will have to file away before giving away the tags. Here is a picture of the tags, plus as you can see I have made a few changes to our little blog here....its still a big learning curve for me, I should make notes so I know what to do next time....anyways....here's the pic.

An Extra Hour

2008-11-02T01:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Daylight Savings Day....did you remember to set your clocks back?

"Survivor" night - week 6

2008-11-02T01:20:00.000-05:00

Oh WOW.....Sugar voted for Ace!.....I can't believe she really did it...maybe they are starting to play smart now.....Randy needs to go now....don't like him....I'll say it now....If Randy wins, I'll never watch another episode of "Survivor"....and I mean that!....LOL
On to dinner....an Italian Supper Bake was made by cardzgal with a ceasar salad and then for dessert a yummy lemon bar square...Mmm Mmm GOOD! I think long walks after Survivor is what I need to do instead of sitting and watching Grey's Anatomy....maybe next week...lol
As I said in my last entry, this weeks stamp is from Yvonne Albritton, she had a booth at the Novi rubberstamp show in August. Here are our cards...lots of colouring...phew!

cardzgal

royal dreams

"Survivor" night - week 5

2008-10-25T18:58:00.000-04:00

Okay....I know I have said it before....but are the "Survivor " contestants really as stupid as they play....have they not watched the game before....geesh!!!!
Dinner was at cardzgal place...roast beef, veggies, potatoes and salad....yummy!! Strawberry and rhubarb pie for dessert with extra fresh strawberries on the side...Mmmm mmm good!
Our cards were made with a stamp set from "Paper Pretties" called Snowflake Kisses...we could have picked any stamp from the set to make our cards....here is a picture of the stamp set and of the cards we made. Next weeks stamp is one that we picked up at the Novi Stamp show in August from Yvonne Albritton Designs Rubberstamps.

cardzgal

royal dreams

"Survivor" night - week 4

2008-10-23T11:41:00.000-04:00

A little behind?...who me?....YEP tonight Survivor is on again I haven't even discussed last weeks or posted the cards we made....shame on me. Well for last week it was my turn to host dinner and dessert....I made chicken divan with rice and veggies with a salad also. Apple pie with fried ice cream flavoured icecream and caramel sauce for dessert. Survivor people are stupid, but you wouldn't catch me going out there and playing the game....I like my view from my couch.....I know its all about the editing of the show so you come back and watch the next week.....but they do vote off the wrong people every week......but enough about that. Here are the cards we made for last weeks "Survivor" night. It was a Stamping Up set called "Holiday Lineup", there are 3 stamps to the set and we could have chosen anyone we wanted. Next weeks stamp (I should say tonight's stamp) is a Paper Pretties clear stamp set called "snowflake kisses". Maybe I'll get them on early.....stop laughing at me!....LOL

cardzgal

royal dreams

"Survivor" night - week 3

2008-10-14T12:50:00.000-04:00

Well another night of survivor has come and gone, not too sure on who I like for this seasons winner. It was my turn to do dinner, I made a roast in the crockpot done in a pasta sauce and made rotini pasta to go with it and made a Pumpkin Caramel cake for dessert....it was a boxed cake mix from the states (we happened to have a day trip there on the Tuesday before). Our stamp choice for this weeks cards was a Magnolia stamp.

cardzgal

royal dreams

October's monthly exchange

2008-10-14T12:38:00.000-04:00

Well it was a quick exchange time for me, as you all know cardzgal and I had another venue to attend. However it was a great exchange as always and the challenge was a good one. Treats were yummy ...Thanks Leslie, will have to get the recipe for the bars. Here is the picture of all our cards....I probably could have taken many more with all of the views of the "never-ending card"(....will need the details on how to make) but I don't know if I would know when to stop...LOL the picture will be added to the slideshow.

"Survivor" night - week 2

2008-10-03T00:58:00.000-04:00

Not too sure what to make of this seasons' Survivor.....I think I could be a good player for this game if I could do it from my couch and watching, not actually being there...I know I would win for sure. I think they did kick off the wrong person tonight....but really what do I know...the editing of TV shows makes a viewer return to watch the next week. We haven't got all the names down yet. Dinner was yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy cardzgal made a bruschetta chicken dish with a salad and a delicious pumpkin cake. And here are the cards we made for this week.

---------------royal dreams------------------cardzgal

What a cupcake!!

2008-10-02T15:57:00.001-04:00

Yummy! Yummy! Thanks Helena!

Stamp for week 2

2008-10-02T15:44:00.001-04:00

Here is the stamp we picked for tonight. Its a Bella stamp called "Group Hug". I'll try to post the cards as soon as possible.

I also have added the last four card exchanges to the slideshow.

"Survivor" night - week 1

2008-10-02T15:25:00.000-04:00

Well I'm a little behind in posting this....since it is "Survivor" night again tonight...I've just been plain busy..painting an apartment and helping a kid move - A mom's work is never done. Well cardzgal and I picked a Hanna stamp set to use for the first show of season 17 - I can't believe we have been watching it together for 16 seasons (with dinner) WOW! Anyways back to the stamp challenge we have now, here is the stamp set we picked and the cards we made.

Royal Dreams -- cardzgal