Distressed Blue and White Christmas

Greetings, Sweet Friends! Hope this finds you doing well. So happy you could stop by.

Today I'm showing a Christmas card for the Scrapy Land ANYTHING GOES challenge, with this flat, easy-to-mail, distressed style card. The die cuts are "mix-and-match" from several Scrapy Land manufacturers. 

(Scrapy Land dies shown below with their links)

-Impression Obsession Border Duo 2 (bottom scallop border)
-Die Versions - Wee Petites “Snow Flurries” DWP-004
-Sue Wilson Gemini Collection URSA CED4402
-Sue Wilson Santa's Sleigh CED3043
-Sue Wilson Snowflake Corner, Border and Tag CED3019
-Sue Wilson Festive Collection
-Spellbinders Scallop Ovals
-Spellbinders Lg Scallop Rectangles (upper scallop borders)

Colors are monochromatic theme in blues, including the holly leaf border done in navy. The white layer is one piece with the Sue Wilson Gemini die creating a beautiful border, and the holly punch on top. Then the panel was run through the Swiss Dot embossing folder. The Sue Wilson tag has glitter on it, and is backed with a matching tag done in navy to give depth.

Although the card is A7 (5x7), the design easily could be broken in half and still look pretty!

1. Use on an A2 "small size" card (top portion).

2. Or use on a "business size" card (bottom portion).

A tiny scallop edge from Impression Obsession provides a finishing touch along the bottom.

Sparkle N Sprinkle Cloud Nine Microfine Velvet Glitter accents the distressed edges, the area around Santa's sleigh, and the 3 snow flakes.

Looking forward to seeing your entry at the Scrapy Land ANYTHING GOES challenge, for a chance to win $15 prize!

Products Used:
Scrapy Land Dies:

• Impression Obsession Border Duo 2 (bottom scallop border)
• Die Versions - Wee Petites “Snow Flurries” DWP-004
• Sue Wilson Gemini Collection URSA CED4402
• Sue Wilson Santa's Sleigh CED3043
• Sue Wilson Snowflake Corner, Border and Tag CED3019
• Spellbinders Scallop Ovals
• Spellbinders Lg Scallop Rectangles (upper scallop borders)

Other:

• Sentiment: Stampin' Up!
• Holly Punch: Martha Stewart
• Sparkle N Sprinkle Cloud Nine Microfine Velvet Glitter

Thankful to play in the following Challenges:

1. Crafting With Friends - #5 Anything Goes 9/12
2. Simply Papercraft - #12 Anything Goes  9/12
3. Kitty Bee Designs - #55 "In The Sky" (Santa's Sleigh) 9/13
4. Christmas Card Challenges - #39 Anything Goes Christmas 9/4
5. Outlawz Monday Greeting Card Challenge GCC083115, Anything Goes with a sentiment 9/7
6. Merry Monday Christmas - #170 - Use Holly (my card is framed in navy blue holly, and the top border is also white holly) 9/13
7. Creative Card Crew - #95 Christmas 9/12
8. Holly Jolly Christmas - (Sept) Use a die cut 9/13
9. A Snowflake's Promise - #4 Christmas Theme 9/8

Wishing you the best and lots of hugs!

Curiosity and the Grocery Store

Good Morning, dear Blogging Friends! 

This is a "whatever helps you get things done" post LOL

I am curious!

My questions are directed mostly for my well-traveled friends and my wonderful international blogging buddies! But everyone can share!

Do your grocery stores carry more "prepared" (or boxed/canned) meals? Or whole foods (like fresh produce, meats, fish, dairy).

Jack does most of our shopping these days, but very occasionally I'm well enough to accompany him. With each visit, I marvel at the amount of baking mixes, frozen mixes, frozen prepared meals or dishes, boxed meals where you just need meat and everything else is there.

How about in the butcher/meat department? I see the normal seafood, meats, poultry, and there are also butcher's-quality prepared and seasoned meals! One just places them in a baking dish for the oven, and they are done! I see all sorts of prepared items in the Bakery and Deli portions of the stores. And in the Dairy/Egg section where already-hard-boiled eggs, ready to be peeled, and even pre-made deviled eggs - all neatly packaged to put on the table.

In our fantastically-mega-sized Grocery Store here is only one aisle of canned vegetables (like from my mom's era). This includes soups (canned, boxed and ready-for-the-microwave).

Potatoes, rice and pasta can be purchased fresh or traditionally packaged. They are also available partially or fully cooked in a pouch for the microwave or to boil in water!

The produce section is small, but this also includes prepared salads and salad mixes, prepared fruits and fruit bowls, fresh squeezed juices and homogenized juices (canned or other packaging).

The dairy section is L shaped - it has all kinds of milks (flavored, soy, almond, organic, and more). There are eggs, cottage cheese, cheeses galore, yogurts and specialty items! I've never even had string cheese (does that make me deprived? LOL). The packaging, styles and flavors of cottage cheese and yogurts are amazing! I just buy plain, organic, unflavored Greek Yogurt. After tasting one of my husband's fruit packed yogurts I declared it a dessert! LOL

There were more aisles containing cleaning goods, personal soap/hygiene items, household goods, and paper goods than the fresh produce, dairy, and meat aisles combined! If I wanted to choose plain old frozen vegetables without sauces and seasonings, the selection was actually quite small, compared to buying these same veggies in their rich sauces.

It's fun walking through the Bakery and seeing all the yummies.

My son always enjoyed being part of the food preparations, especially when there was baking to be done! From the time he could sit on the counter, and stand on a stool, he was "helping".

I was wondering if my other friends experience the Grocery Store in the same way. 

It's great for the people who need prepared foods to keep their time table working well - 

and I marvel at the company employees who come up with these ideas. 

Me? 

When I was working, I did take advantage of some prepared type foods, especially the ones my son enjoyed.

But primarily, I'm a person who enjoyed doing most of our cooking and baking from scratch. My co-workers always enjoyed the yummy treats and meals. These days my husband does most of the cooking, but he is even more of a "scratch" person than I!

There is nothing wrong with using prepared foods. It doesn't make us less of a person. I'm sure my Grandmother, or women in the early 1900s would have loved the convenience! It was a dream come true when Bisquick hit the market, way-back-when, and Campbells Soup brought out their line of condensed canned soups.

So how about your grocery stores? I'd love hearing if Asian, South American, European, African stores are anything like North American stores! LOL

love,

P. S. If you are receiving this via e-mail, just click the title of my post at the top, to get to the blog post and leave your comment. Or click my email at the very bottom of this notification :-)

Pockets and Tags

Welcome, Beloved Blogging Buddies! That's BBB for short! Thanks for visiting today. 

I hope those in the southern hemisphere are staying warm,

and those in northern hemisphere are staying cool.

We only have one river at flood stage now, still have had intermittent power outages,

but the storms are nothing more than nuisance for us at our home. 

Sure wish we could share our rain with those who need it!

The Challenge this month at Scrapy Land is to create 

a pocket of some sort with a tag. 
To enter the challenge follow the theme and use any die brand that Scrapy Land sells.

My creation accommodates the new Spellbinders Diamondessence die cut set.

AND... 

    Scrapy Land has a new Pinterest Account! 

            Just click this button to visit it!

(Scrapy Land dies shown below with their links)

• Spellbinders Diamondessence (diamond shaped decorative round layers), 
• Spellbinders Classic/Petite Circles, 
• Sue Wilson Italian Collection Decorative Frames (ornate round on back), 
• Wild Rose Snow Frame

The large Diamondessence circle is 4.5" in diameter, 

and easily slides in and out of the pocket with room to spare.

Two of the smaller Diamondessence circles cover the seam

and feature the Stampin Up! sentiment.

Nana Connie's blog inspired me to use some Bugaboo images.

This adorable little Winter's Fairy is happy and festive! 

The sides of the pocket are folded like a gate-fold card. 

Only the bottom of the pocket requires adhesive.

The back of the tag sports a Sue Wilson Italian Collection Decorative Frames. 

(Love LOVE this set! Fun, Beautiful and Versatile!)

Wanna be a...

If you'd like to be a guest designer for Scrapy Land, then follow these simple steps (no previous design team experience required):

1. Participate in both of the August challenges, following the challenge rules.
2.  Add GDT after your name on the thumbnail photo you submit for the challenge. 
3. You must have a Blog and a Facebook account (We have a private FB group and this is how we correspond with one another.)

• This will be for a 3 month term and will begin with the October 7 Challenge #27 and end at the close of the December 16 Challenge #32.

• You will need to participate in both challenges each month, as well as comment on specific challenge entires.  Applicants invited to join the team as a guest designer will be given compensation information at the time of acceptance.

• Applicants invited to join the team will be notified by September 2, 2015 

Products Used:

• Dies: Spellbinders Diamondessence (diamond shaped decorative round layers), Spellbinders Classic/Petite Circles, Sue Wilson Italian Collection Decorative Frames (ornate round on back), Wild Rose Snow Frame
• Stamps: Bugaboo Winter's Fairy digi image, SU sentiments from 2 sets (old)
• Inks: VersaMark Pearl Dazzle, Cloudy Blue dye base ink
• Other: Glitter around Fairy, Copic Markers, pearls, ribbon, embossing folder,

Participating in the following Challenges:

1. Crafty Hazel Nut's Christmas - August - Anything Goes 9/1
2. Sparkles Christmas Challenge #55 "No Designer Papers" 8/30
3. Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #93 "Monochromatic" 8/21
4. Holly Jolly Christmas #54 Snowflakes and Glitter (snowflake border around the edges of the blue card, Snowflake embossing folder, and glitter around the fairy
5. Paper Take Weekly (Aug 18W) "To Die For" (used several die cuts) 8/24
6. Artistic Inspirations #138 Anything Goes 8/29 
7. Christmas Cards All Year Long Aug - Snowflakes (Snowflake border around the blue card, snowflake embossing folder, and snowflakes on the ribbon) 9/1
8. Hiding in My Craft Room #212d (anniversary challenge!) USE DIE CUTS! 8/22
9. ABC Christmas Challenge (Q is for Quantum) I am using two of your past challenges: D - Die Cuts  AND  E - Edging Punch or Die. I hope you enjoyed how these dies were used as edges!
10. Crafting by Designs (Aug 19) Get Ready for Christmas 8/26

Special Hugs to you!

Frilly Christmas Fairy

Welcome, blogging friends! 

I'm back as an Alumni Designer for the Scrapy Land ANYTHING GOES challenge, with this flat, easy-to-mail sweetheart of a card. The die cuts are "mix-and-match" in a sort of "create-a-build" die with Sue Wilson and Spellbinders combination. They work very well together.

The inner portion of the "second ring" is from two sets - Sue Wilson's Italian Decorative Frame set and the Spellbinders Stately Circles on the outside of the circle. They went through the die cut machine at the same time to create a custom design. It is popped up on the card so that the outer frame and the image frame are lower than the 2nd ring, creating a little dimension.

Colored with Copic Markers, the cute Bugaboo Winter's Fairy image is embellished with a little SNS Sparkle N Soft for more texture.

(Scrapy Land dies shown below with their links)

• Sue Wilson Italian Collection - Umbria CED1504 (big scallop corners in background)
• Sue Wilson Italian Collection - Decorative Frames (outer 2 decorative elements)
• Die-Namites "Pine Wreath" DN-1059 (cut up)
• Cheery Lynn Holly Lace Flourish
• Spellbinders Grand Stately Circles
• Spellbinders Petite Rounds (I think this is now the regular rounds)
• Spellbinders Grand Labels One (card base)

To enter the challenge just use any die brand that Scrapy Land sells.

Die-Namite's Pine Wreath, paired with Cheery Lynn's Holly Lace Flourish, is cut apart and used for bursts of greenery around the card, top and bottom.

Sue Wilson's Umbria die really dresses up the bottom of the easel card.

Bugaboo's Winter's Fairy image comes with one bird on her mittened hand, 

     but...

          I added lots more because

               my fairy is enjoying a bird party! 

                    They are so tweet - I couldn't resist!

The lace and rhinestones are a perfect stop for this frilly card,
without adding too much bulk.


Wanna be a...

If you'd like to be a guest designer for Scrapy Land, then follow these simple steps (no previous design team experience required):

1. Participate in both of the August challenges, following the challenge rules.
2.  Add GDT after your name on the thumbnail photo you submit for the challenge. 
3. You must have a Blog and a Facebook account (We have a private FB group and this is how we correspond with one another.)

• This will be for a 3 month term and will begin with the October 7 Challenge #27 and end at the close of the December 16 Challenge #32.

• You will need to participate in both challenges each month, as well as comment on specific challenge entires.  Applicants invited to join the team as a guest designer will be given compensation information at the time of acceptance.

• Applicants invited to join the team will be notified by September 2, 2015 

**********

At Path of Positivity Challenge this month, the theme is Opportunity.

Being aware of the earth's fragility, and how vulnerable all living creatures are regarding climate change, we are mindful to help Mother Nature. My card reflects a fairy caring for her bird friends. Many of us enjoy having areas in our yards to nurture Nature.

Our mini-farm sports a watering-hole that many animals use, especially during times of drought. A variety of birds build nests in our oak hammock, and we keep the bird feeders stocked with black-oil sunflower seeds purchased from our local Wal-Mart.

Hummingbirds are kept happy with their feeders as well, with our home-brewed "nectar".

It may not be much, but our pets and wild animals with whom we share this land, are well-cared for. The native animals on surrounding acreage pass through safely, to and from the forest. 

There are diverse flowers, herbs and vegetables for the bees and wasps to pollenate, helping them keep healthy immune systems.

Opportunity knocks wherever we live. It may appear in the smallest of ways. Often it is the little, seemingly inconsequential things, that we are being given the Opportunity to make a Difference.

We all experience new opportunities everyday, be it at our Employment, at home or in the store, during an excursion, pursuing a dream, helping someone else realize their dream, volunteering, taking care of a sick person, or just being there for God's Creatures.

**********

Products Used:
Die Cuts:

• Sue Wilson Italian Collection - Umbria CED1504 (big scallop corners in background)
• Sue Wilson Italian Collection - Decorative Frames (outer 2 decorative elements)
• Die-Namites "Pine Wreath" DN-1059 (cut up)
• Cheery Lynn Holly Lace Flourish
• Spellbinders Grand Stately Circles
• Spellbinders Petite Rounds (I think this is now the regular rounds)
• Spellbinders Grand Labels One (card base)

Image: Bugaboo's Winter's Fairy
Flocking: Sparkle N Sprinkle Twinkling Clouds Sparkle N Soft product.

Participating in the following Challenges:

1. Outlawz Friday Coloring Challenge July 31-Aug 6, #CPC073115, Anything Goes with Christmas Twist (colored with Copics)
2. Crafting With Friends #3 Anything Goes 8/11
3. Crafty Hazel Nut's Christmas - August - Anything Goes 9/1
4. Sparkles Christmas Challenge #55 "No Designer Papers" 8/30
5. Creative Craft Cottage #44 - Anything Goes 8/7
6. The Crazy Challenge #203 Fairies (used Bugaboo's Winter's Fairy image)
7. Path of Positivity Challenge (please see writeup above) #29 Opportunity 9/1
8. Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge Aug 4 (duplicated Bugaboo's birds all over the card) 8/17

Lots of Hugs!