A Snowman's HUG A HEART CARD DRIVE

I am soooo glad to see you!

It's time for a new Cardz 4 Galz challenge!

Badges are awarded for the Spotlight Winner and Top Picks.

Challenge #36 theme is a favorite of teamie Caz - A Snowman - 

so get crafting and show us your snow people!
Challenge ends on December 7.

Products for my simply sweet card:

1. My Besties Snowman IMG382
2. Hero Arts "Sparkle" sentiment set
3. Copic Markers, red grosgrain ribbon, Distress Inks, Deep Lagoon Versafine Ink
4. Swiss Dot embossing folder, Heart die cut, SB Modern 5x7 Stationary dies
5. Glitter Paper (glitter will not rub off), white, red, blue cardstock

My card is being used for the 

Hug a Heart Drive:

to brighten the holidays for the very young pediatric cardiac patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital. The husband of Our Blogging Buddy Christina Hor Designs is a cardiologist there.

This year, Christina and her children are creating mini 3D Christmas trees for each room in the intensive care and inpatient wings. With so many rooms, Christina has never been able to have a card for every child spends Christmas in the cardiac unit. 
This year, she is hoping to do that, but needs a little help from friends.
For more information please click here.
and a sweet thank you from me to my Sweet Friends!

On a Personal Note:

What happened? Did Old Man Winter make a mistake?
We were warned that our area MIGHT have a chance of frost Monday night.
Something unheard of for Florida in November.
Not only did we have a frost, but we were 30F degrees (-1.1C) for several hours.
So our vegetable garden and tender plants likely bit the dust. We'll know in a few days.
The front pasture was coated with a thick layer of icy frost until about 9AM this morning - VERY unusual for Florida in November! But pretty, none-the-less. (there is always a silver lining, right?)

So what caused this turn of events?

I think Shona Erlenborn's visit to Sanibel Island triggered the frost.
She flew down from New Jersey last week.
It **HAS** to be her fault, doesn't it?

In the meantime, Florida's weather is gorgeously welcome, with lower dew points for lower humidity, and highs in the high 70s to low 80s. We love it! And so would you, so head over our way and visit the fabulous theme parks in our area.

PS. The Barred Owls were serenading and laughing again last night!

I'd like to support the following Challenges please:

1. A Snowflake's Promise #33 Anything Goes with Optional theme of Seasons 11/29 
2. Come and Get It Challenges Nov 20 - "Get Well Soon" (as written above, this is for an inpatient pediatric cardiac patient in the Nationwide Children's Hospital) 11/26
3. Crafting from the Heart #137 Anything Goes 11/28
4. Crafty Creations #329 Christmas 12/7
5. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #308 Anything goes CUTE! 11/26
6. My Besties International Challenge Blog (Nov) Anything goes 11/28
7. Scrapbook Stamp Society #105 Anything Goes 12/5

Thanks for stopping by!

Warm, Florida, Sunshiny Hugs,

HUG A CHILD'S HEART - LITERALLY!

Greetings, everyone!

(a special note to my friends in the U.S.)

There are many card drives during the holidays and throughout the year.

May I share about one you may have never heard of?

"HUG A HEART" CARDS DRIVE FOR CHILDREN

Our Blogging Buddy Christina Hor Designs has a very special Mission.

Her husband is a cardiologist at Ohio's Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Christina tries to give parents of terminally ill children in the cardiac unit encouragement cards during the long process of procedures and care. If the saddest moment of loss happens, she provides a heartfelt sympathy card to the parents at the loss of their sweet baby or dear child.

She also tries to provide cheerful cards to the children in the cardiac intensive care and inpatient wings throughout the year.

Especially during Christmas she strives to deliver holiday cards.

This year, Christina and her children are creating mini 3D Christmas trees for each room in the intensive care and inpatient wings.

With so many rooms, Christina has never been able to have a card for every child spends Christmas in the cardiac unit. 

This year, she is hoping to do that, but needs a little help from friends.

Would you like to create a simple, sweetly-appropriate children's Christmas card for those pediatric cardiac patients who will have to spend the holidays in the hospital?

If so, here is Christina's message

As these cards go to very young age children and of different ethnic background, I do have a few guidelines.

DO's:

• use kid's friendly images.  Kids love anything that is cute, cuddly and funny such as teddy bears, woodland creatures, reindeer, penguins as well snowman.  Just to name a few.

• keep it clean with minimum embellishments.  However, shaker cards and pop-up cards are welcome.  So if you like making one of these cards and you know who you are, please do!   But please make sure to use strong adhesive to ensure that none of the shaker/embellishment pieces fall out.  

• consider keeping your theme more of a: winter scene, "thinking of you" as well just a general "holiday" theme since not all of them celebrate Christmas.  Some celebrate Hanukkah, Bodhi Day, Pancha Ganapati and some just don't celebrate the holiday at all.  So avoid using sentiment like "Merry Christmas" on your card.  

           Here are some sentiments i like to use: Let It Snow; Warm Winter Wishes; Thinking of you this holiday season; Sending you lots of hugs and wishing you a happy holiday.

If you are able to help, please have your card mail to me by December 10th to the address below.  If you know of any crafty friends who would like to help, please forward the message to them or share on your blog post.  It is safe to include the address in the blog post as it is my PO Box address and not my home address.  

Christina Hor 

P.O. Box 517

Dublin, OH 43017

Thank you SO MUCH in advance for your help!

Hugs,

Christina

RECAPPING:

Christina suggested greetings to read something like:

"Sending you hugs and thinking of you this holiday season. From Ms. Christina of Ohio"

(only use your own name, of course LOL)

She will be delivering the cards and trees on Dec 15. 

She is requesting cards by December 10.

REMEMBER:

NO GLITTER - NO ORNAMENTATION THAT

 MIGHT FALL OFF OR BE PROBLEMATIC 

FOR SMALL CHILDREN.

and a sweet thank you from me to my Sweet Friends!

A Contemporary Christmas

YAYYYY! You're here! And just in time!
(I hope you're enjoying a week that is holding promise and anticipation.)

Double YAYYYY! Autumn has finally arrived to our neck of the woods!

Pssst! I'd like to remind you not to forget to sign up on my blog for my blog candy! 

It is for my regular bloggy visitors such as yourself.

And...

Oh yes! It's time for a new Cardz 4 Galz challenge!

Badges are awarded for the Spotlight Winner and Top Picks.

The theme is A CONTEMPORARY CHRISTMAS - 
so get crafting and show us your modern take on Christmas!

There are many traditional elements incorporated into my modern take of Christmas, 
including snow, presents, a tree, snowflakes and ribbon!

It's been years since I played with acetate, so I stamped some modern presents with VersaMark and heat set with some SNS white detail EP. Painting the back side of the embossed presents with SNS Brushable Glue, I then applied some SNS microfine glitters:  Jasper Blue Velvet GM2012, Orchid Rose Velvet GM2016.

Backside:

Front side:

Little dancing present popped up on card:

A little Mediterranean Star EP to pretty-up my round frame:

BOO BOO REVELATION TIME!

I love sharing my BOO-BOOs with you!

I VersaMarked my "modern" IO Swirly Christmas tree, and stamped onto some inexpensive watercolor paper. Because I wanted a sparkly tree, SNS Sparkle EP was heated. It is a semi-transparent powder with semi-transparent glitters. 
It worked pretty well
EXCEPT
a white EP with glitters would have worked better...
or perhaps a clear EP with white mica powder and glitter.
OR
A white pigment ink UNDER the Sparkle EP instead of VersaMark.

Why?

Because a tiny bit of the color seeped UNDER the heated EP. Since the EP is not opaque, some of the color bled through the paper under the image, dulling the embossed image.

I've only used my Color Burst Powder colors one other time.
WHAT? WHY?

I forgot about them LOL

See how dull the white image appears?

Brilliance Sky Blue ink was used on the dry embossed white area and the sky around the tree:

Here is my clean-and-simple version.
Is this considered CAS?

See the difference in the bright white embossing powder for the sentiment compared to the semi-transparent powder used for the tree?

Thanks for stopping by today!

On a Personal Note:

We gratefully receive the Gentleness of Autumn here in central, rural Florida.
Our mornings have dipped into the 50s - 60s (15-20C), while our afternoons glide into the low 80s (27C).
Before the sun rises, I open the sliding glass doors to the screened lanai, breathing in the dewey freshness.
All is quiet, undisturbed - SILENT.  Our Barred Owl community has apparently retired for the day.
Barely hearing the highway traffic a few miles away, I hear ripened acorns drop from the oak trees, on the barn's metal roof, for some hungry squirrel to discover and hide as their winter reserve.
But then, a single Barred Owl tentatively shares his greeting, erupting into bold cackling, making me giggle at heart. If you have ever heard the guffaws of these incredible birds, you know what I mean.


During the evening, he and his mate have been quite vocal with their neighbors.
There are several owls in the area. Frequently they are right outside the house.
Their conversations are incredibly lively, from softly muffled background singing, to something that resembles outright laughter! I wish this sound bit picked up how lively they become! (wait about 15 seconds into the sound bite)

Everything smells fresh as the dew sets, and a neighbor's rooster begins to rouse the neighborhood.

Slowly, one by one, other birds awaken.

Some resent the intrusion on their last hour of sleep,

others quickly awaken to get an early start.

Before long, it sounds like an orchestra deafeningly tuning all their instruments simultaneously!

And now, the Sun finally animatedly reveals her multi-color glory.

This is Autumn in my Florida.

Products Used:

• Images: Great Impressions G245 Presents, Impression Obsession Swirl Tree J2004 Leigh Hannan, Hero Arts Christmas C1722
• Sparkle N Sprinkle: Embossing Powders (White Detail EP298, Sparkle EP107, Mediterranean Star EP429), Embossable Acetate, Brushable Glue, Microfine Velvet Glitter (Jasper Blue GM2012, Orchid Rose GM2016), VersaMark Ink
• Die Cuts: Spellbinders Grand Stately Circles, Spellbinders Grand Circles
• Inks: VersaMark (for embossing powder, Brilliance Sky Blue (for falling snow), 
• Embossing Folders: Crafter's Comp Elegant Snowfall, Regency Swirls by Die'sire, Craftwell Delicate Dots
• Watercolor: Color Burst Powder Watercolors

Challenges I'm supporting with these cards:

1. Christmas at Sweet Stampin Challenge (Wed Nov 9) "Anything Goes Christmas" 12/7
2. Crafty Gals Corner Challenges #97 "Use a Sentiment" (my 2nd card) 11/16
3. Inspiration Destination #111 "Anything Goes" 11/16
4. The Crafty Addicts #28 "Anything Goes with the Winter Blues"11/23
5. A Snowflakes Promise #32 "Seasons" (Christmas) 11/14
6. Cardz4Guyz #145 "Oh Christmas Tree!" 11/14
7. Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge #84 "Trees or Christmas Trees" 11/13  (10)
8. Craft-Dee BowZ (Nov) Anything Goes with a hand-made bow 12/1 
9. Crimbo Crackers #119 Shaped Christmas Cards 11/17 (sep post end of month? several challenges announced at once)
10. Sweet Stampers Challenge #1 "Christmas" 12/10

Happy Hugs,

Nikki Burnette Mermaid Symphoni

I'm so happy you could drop by!
Hello, and welcome to today's project!

Today's project uses the same image in two different ways.

and have you guessed yet?

It's time for another Crafts Galore Encore Challenge! 

We always enjoy seeing the wide array of art uploaded to the challenge,

and hope to see many more of your projects this month!

Our theme this month is: 

Use a digi or a stamp on your project - which can be:

Cards, Tags, Cookies, Cupcakes, Scrapbooking -- 

anything at all!

Our Prize Sponsor this month is Nikki Burnette. 

Click Below For:

Store

Website for Stamps

Blog

I am featuring Nikki's beautiful Symphoni Beach Mermaid!

Today's Z-fold card is inspired by blogging friend Linda's card at Linda Viche Creates.

Although not as intricately folded as Linda's card, my inspiration came from her layers, fold and dramatic colors!

Three colors of sparkling glitter were used around the image. I surely wish the photos showed how glittery it is:

Ribbon is from D. L. Art.

(She has a free shipping special until November 5.)

The ribbon is adhered until the image, around the back and to the front so that the card can be tied like a present:

Mudd Puddles Sand was used in the corners of my card. It's been applied quite thickly for dimension. (not a flat card anymore). 

Here is a tutorial for a more flat application:

A black gel pen outlined the starfish and shell details on the die cuts, then I coated with a VersaMarker and "Hit the Beach" embossing powder. The EP and Sand Mudd Puddlesare color  coordinated, but offer different textures. The black lines barely show through:

I'm embarrassed to admit that the Mudd Puddles are at least 6 or 7 years old LOL.

The good news is, they still applied perfectly!

My second card is an A7 size flat for mailing:

I used the same embossing folder and the same designer paper, however the designer paper is stamped with an old rubber stamp, and antiqued with green to coordinate with my mermaid:

The retired Spellbinders dolphin has been wet embossed with sparkly EP.

Instead of having the currents in water flowing merely behind the mermaid, I have masked in front, and allowed the watery depths to flow in front of the image for dimension:

Card Interior:

The set:

Looking forward to seeing your projects at:

 Crafts Galore Encore Challenge! 

Products Used:

• Image: Symphoni Beach Mermaid
• Stamped side panel on flat card Fred B. Mullett #126 (15+ years old?)
• Embossalcious Regency Swirls by Die'sire (embossing folder)
• Stardream Pearly Cardstock orange and aqua (z-fold)
• Spellbinders Grand Labels dies, Grommet Tag dies (z-fold card), 5x7 Modern Stationary (flat card)
• IO Dies: (shells) DIE077-W and DIEO176-E
• Dee's Distinctively Dies Flourish Set 4
• DL Art "pink hue tail" ribbon
• Malibu Beach Mudd Puddles (the sand in front)
• Sparkle N Sprinkle: Aqua Marine, Waterscape, and Waterfall ultrafine glitters, Brushable Glue, Hit the Beach and Mediterranean Star embossing powders, VersaMarker

Challenges I'd like to support please:

The Alphabet Challenge "R" is for Recipe Ribbon/ Digi Stamp/ Dies/Punches) 11/4
     (z-fold card uses ribbon, a digi, several dies (across)
     (z-fold card uses sentiment, digi, Embossing (EP and EF)

• Artistic Inspirations #166 Anything Goes 11/7 sep post
• Classic Design Team Challenge #8 (Nov 1) Anything Goes using a DT card (1st entry) 12/1
• Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #344 Anything Goes with die cuts 11/4
• Creative Fingers #119 "Anything Goes" 11/11 (2 wks later)
• DLArt November Linky Party "Anything Goes" 12/1 (tab)
• Morgan's Artworld #22 Embossing Wet or Dry (z-fold card has both, 2nd card has dry) 11/11 (sep post)
• Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenges (Nov) Use loose glitter and/or EP (used both in z-fold, and EP in card 2) 12/1
• Whoopsi Daisy Challenge (Oct 3) Die Cuts/Punches plus a digital stamp challenge 11/6
• World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #15 (Oct 15) Anything Goes using a DT card (3rd entry)11/15

warm hugs,