Why go shopping, when you could be 'hopping? What's up, FWF?

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was happy and safe! Now... it's time (at last!) for some fa, la, la, la la! If you, like me, spent this early morning in the mosh pit that is Black Friday, there's no better way to unwind than a little crafting inspiration! If you arrived here from elsewhere, be sure to catch the whole hop through the Unity blog:  our Friends with Flair hop

So, here are my projects for the week. I got three cards done after the big meal! (Well, the fronts...)
 I try to make sure a few of my holiday cards aren't green and red- my brother is red/green colorblind!

I don't know if you can see, but I did an emboss-resist using clear embossing powser and a silver Dabber. The stamps are Ippity's Kissmas and Mistletoe; I embossed the trees with silver tinsel from Ranger. I used a Martha Stewart border punch  - doilies - for the bottom and a bit of lace from The Paper Studio. I used a Spellbinder Nestie to cut the white  CS.

Gosh, I wish I was better at getting the photos of these. Maybe one of you all, whose photographs always turn out so prettily, could do a tutorial?

Here's a quickie. I did the background paper by inking up a Cuttlebug  embossing folder with silver ink. Used another Nestie to cut the white and popped on some making memories brads.

For the Splitcoast sketch challenge:

Still using that Kissmas and Mistletoe! It's such a versatile set!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Elizabeth

"After all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself, as to see all the other fellows busy working."

The Wind in the Willows
Ch. 1.

Hooray! It's Friday! Welcome, FWF!

I'm sooo excited! My new Kissmas and Mistletoe found my mailbox today... First, I'll get my report cards under control, then... woo-hoo! Stamping Saturday!

Here's this week's project:

This is done with "My, What a Beautiful Tree!" I played with the cracked glass technique using Distress Ink. The blue is embossed using a Cuttlebug folder. Basic Grey paper, Bazzill CS. Sentiment is SU and the scalloped circle is cut with Spellbinders. Lace is The Paper Studio.

My favorite Ippity Dude, my fifth-grader, AJ, had been planning a kids' challenge, but it'll be next week. I've got a case of bronchitis, and we need to pick up some kid-friendly blog candy.

Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

We Have a Winner!

Way to go, Gwen! She's got the cutest card for a 'totally random' holiday - No Socks Day! Drop me a line at egtclarke@yahoo.com to send me your address. Blog candy for you!

Here's the link to Gwen's project: http://windchimesandlilacs.blogspot.com/2009/11/random-holiday-challenge.html


A.J. has promised a kids' project challenge. I'll get it posted with my Friends With Flair project this Friday!

Woo-Hoo! It's Friday! Welcome, FWF!

Happy Friday, y'all! What a wonderful week... a break in the middle, joining the {Ippity} chicks; life's good! I'm especially excited about {Ippity}! I work on a shoestring budget - I'm a teacher in a non-union state - and this line brings Unity's quality at a price that works for me. (Those sweet sales that Unity's been having lately are working for me, too! Keep 'em coming! :) )

Oh, and while you're here, look at the entry below. We've got a challenge posted, and an {Ippity} set is the blog candy!

So, "Let the wild rumpus start!" There's no better way to start a weekend than with a Friday FWF hop!
Here's my project:

I heat-embossed using black Zing! powder Unity's "Love Ewe" sheep and sentiment. Papers are Basic Grey; cardstock is Bazzill. Stitching with DMC floss, ribbon is grossgrain (it just looks leathery in the photo.)

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll come again soon!
Elizabeth

Shoestring Challenge - Win a set of {Ippity} stamps by Unity!

I've been so crazy-busy with the grade level change, that I've had exactly zero time to scrap, make cards, etc. I've so missed it - I didn't realize how much I really do love doing all of that. I'm finally caught up, and I want to celebrate! I thought I'd do that by posting a card challenge. Here goes:

OK - so I love the Christmas stuff, but, ahem, it's not Thanksgiving yet! (Yeah, you, Wally World!) What we need is a little holiday action between the two...

So - here's the challenge: Create a card for a nontraditional holiday! (I'm feeling International Talk Like a Pirate Day!) Leave a comment and a link to your project by Monday, November 13 at midnight EST. We'll post a winner on Tuesday.

Here's your incentive - I'm giving away one set of the new Ippity stamps by Unity to a random poster. These are sooo sweet! (Look below this post for their pix and descriptions.) Up for grabs is a set of Kissmas and Mistletoe, just in time to get on those cards. (I've got a design for most of my cards, but I'm tired of it already... bring on something new!)

Next week, AJ, my ten-year old, will be adding a kid's challenge!

I've been busy this weekend - here are a couple of projects, using Unity, of course!

A friend of mine just found out that she's having a girl. She's been called "Little Peanut" since we've known about her. When I saw this set, Shoestring or no, I had to have it!

For the pub call at PaperCrafts. Yes, I know I'm going to get rejected, but I'm a glutton for punishment...

Ippity is Here!

We are sooooo excited to offer Ippity, the new, affordable line from Unity Stamp Company! Since we are on the Shoestring, we've got it at the lowest available price! Better yet, if you buy three sets or more, shipping is free! (Just want one or two? Shipping's a low flat rate of $5.)

I love the quality of Unity stamps! They make a real difference in my projects. The problem has always been the price. I just can't spend $24 or $35 for a set of stamps. It doesn't fit in the budget...

All stamp sets are 1/4 sheet.

First up is Kissmas and Mistletoe. This is such a fun and fresh set, and at $12, it's a real value!

Is this cute or what? There are so many possibilities with these primitives! The detail, especially on the ewe, is the difference between cheapies and Unity stamps! The deep-etching ensures that the image will stamp clearly, every time! $12

This oh-so-useful set is called "Because of You". When I invest in a set, it's got to be good for more than one holiday, etc. Definitely a lot going on here! $15

What a great tree! Again, the deep-etching will
make coloring with my Copics a breeze and make
my colors pop!

$12

Verses for so many occasions! $15

I'm bad about trying to use computer fonts for my sentiments to save money. They're not awful, but my cards always look better when the sentiments are stamped! $15

How's that for a preview? I've still got a couple of sets to get posted...

Wow! It's been a crazy month! Got a huge shock when, in the middle of teaching fifth-grade reading, Central Office called (into my room! Egads!) to tell me that I was being reassigned to an overcrowded school just around the corner. Here's the kicker - I'm teaching kindergarten! Needless to say, I've been crazy-busy figuring out how to do that. Thanks to fab teammates and friends, it's finally getting under control, and I've got some creative downtime. This weekend - a card for my friend Jenn's Peanut-on-the-way and I've got to put some thank-you cards in the bank. With so many people being so generous lately, I'm running out!