Mistletoe

Mistletoe, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

And here's the final card in my little series of Postage Cards based on Jen's creations on JENerally Speaking.

I used the same recipe as the previous cards. One postage stamp die cut, one square punch, one stamp on the square and one sentiment. I did add some Stickles to the berries. They look so cute in real life!

I used Forest Moss for both images. I thought the sentiment fit perfectly with the flirty mistletoe. ;-) Probably gonna have to be careful about who gets this card! LOL!



Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (green cardstock); Reminisce (Candycane) ; Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Michael's (Dollar Stamps--Christmas image set); Kaiser Craft (Merry Christmas set--sentiment)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Forest Moss)
ETC: Ranger/Tim Holtz (Xmas Red Stickles); Glue Glider Pro; Tim Holtz (ruler); Cuttlebug (Postage stamp die cut); Marvy (1-inch square punch)


My Mom's surgery lasted seven long hours yesterday. Originally, she was supposed to come home today, but because the injury to her arm and shoulder was worse than the doctor thought, she will stay another day. So I've been busy cleaning her house and...ahem..abusing her craft room! ;-)


Thanks for stopping in. Have a crafty day!


~Cynthia

Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I'm back with another in the Postage Card series, based on Jen's cards at JENerally Speaking.

I love that I have tiny stamps that work for this kind of card! Sometimes I find it hard to figure out a use for them.

I die cut the postage stamp square, then punched a smaller green square. I stamped the little Christmas tree in the center and added a bit of Stickles action to the star.

Finally, I stamped the sentiment and layered/adhered everything.

Very easy. =D



Supplies:
Paper: My Mind's Eye (Wild Asparagus line, Merry Christmas Dots ); Bazzill (green cardstock)
Stamps: MIchael's Dollar Bin (tree); Kaiser Craft (Christmas Set--sentiment)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Forest Moss)
ETC: Ranger/Tim Holtz (Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles); Glue Glider Pro; Cuttlebug (postage stamp die cut); Marvy (1-inch square punch)



My mom is having her shoulder surgery today--she broke it several weeks ago. I tried to get all my errands run this morning because I doubt I'll be able to leave her house for a while. At least while she sleeps I'll be able to use her cool craft room! ;-)

Thanks for stopping in today!

~Cynthia

Candy Canes

Candy Canes, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Here's another in my little series of cards based on Jen's cards on the JENerally Speaking blog.

This time I went for the tone on tone look. I used the same red cardstock for both the postage square and the image square.

I stamped the candy canes in black ink, then covered them with Rock Candy Distress Stickles. I used 3D Dots to raise the image square off the postage square to give shadows and dimension.

Then I stamped the sentiment below.

To center the postage stamp I measured the half-way mark of the cardblank front and put a little pencil dot. Then I found the middle of the postage square by counting the little "chads." This made adhering the whole piece very easy and quick.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank); Bazzill (red cardstock)
Stamps: We R Memory Keepers (Merry Christmas set--both image and sentiment)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot, Fired Brick)
ETC: Ranger/Tim Holtz (Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles); TIm Holtz (ruler); Cuttlebug (postage stamp die cut); Marvy (1-inch square punch); EK Success (3D Dots)


We might get our first snowfall tomorrow. Oh sure, it's not going to stick. And it will be mixed in with the rain, but still. I think it counts. ;-)


~Cynthia

Holly and Peace

Holly and Peace, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I'm loving this next little series of cards! I got the idea from Jen on her JENerally Speaking blog. She used cute little stickers instead of the stamps I used. I had so much fun putting them together! I'll be making a few more of them for sure--very easy!

I die cut the postage stamp piece, then used a square punch that's a little smaller. I stamped the image, glitzed it up, and adhered everything. That's the general recipe I used for the next four cards I'll be posting.

For this one, I stamped the holly then added Xmas Red Stickles on the berries and Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles for the leaves. I used Tim Holtz's pokey stick tool thing to move the Rock Candy around into the points of the leaves.

Then I stamped a big ol' sentiment along the bottom and, stick a fork in me, I was DONE! =D



Supplies:
Paper: Reminisce (Candycane); Bazzill (green cardstock); Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: We R Memory Keepers (Merry Christmas set); Recollections (Peace stamp)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Forest Moss)
ETC: Stickles (Xmas Red, Clear Rock Candy Distress); Cuttlebug (postage stamp die cut); Marvy (1-inch square punch); Glue Glider Pro; Tonic--Tim Holtz (Retractable Craft Pick...AKA the pokey stick thing)


I can't believe tomorrow starts Advent! I use my December Daily as part Advent, part Christmas journal/scrapbook/Smash Book thing so I'll start filling that up Sunday. WHERE DID THIS YEAR GO????


~Cynthia ;-)

PS:  If you want a good (clean!) laugh, check these videos out.  I laughed myself silly watching them!!  Kid History Episode 4 is HILARIOUS.

Mistletoe Christmas

Mistletoe Christmas, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I kinda-sorta CASE'd this from Lisa over on the I'm in Haven blog. I just started following her blog--she has the cutest cards!

I didn't have any of her supplies. (Ain't that the way it always goes???) But I did manage to make a card that I liked.

Then I managed to somehow get brown ink in spots near the word Merry.

I even tried to erase it. I may end up chucking the card or spritzing it with something.

Oh well.

I had fun putting it together. It's pretty simple and one of those kinds of cards that can easily be mass produced.

I stamped the branch image, then covered the flowers with red berries. I punched those using a regular hole punch. (When I make this card again, I'll probably cover each berry with Glossy Accents or something along those lines for a bit of shine.)

Then I used an old rain drop punch for the leaves. I just creased them heavily down the middle, then flipped them over and adhered them on the wide end with a mini glue dot, scrunching them up a bit when I pressed them to the cardblank. I made veins by 'scoring' the leaves with my finger nail. I colored in the tiny leaves that remained with watercolor pencils.


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (red and green cardstock); Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Stampabilities (sentiment); Hero Arts (Flower and Leaf Branch)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Fired Brick and Walnut Stain)
ETC: EK Success (rain drop punch); WalMart (I think--it was a long time ago--hole punch); GlueDots; Artist's Loft (watercolor pencils)


Well, I hope everyone survived Thanksgiving! We had our usual family drama. Heh. But we're all still talking to one another, so I guess we survived for another year. =D

Now I just have to clean up the mess and get back to CRAFTING. YAY!


~Cynthia

Lodge Tree, Take 2

Lodge Tree, Take 2, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Here's my second Lodge Tree card.

I used the same layout as yesterday's CASE'd KingstonMama's card, I just changed up the colors. And I added a pearl on the top instead of the button that KingstonMama used or the daisy I used yesterday.

I also cut the background paper smaller so here the sentiment can be seen.


Supplies:
Paper: The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank); Bazzill (red and kraft cardstock); BoBunny (Olive Dots)
Stamp: Inkadinkado (Christmas set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Brushed Corduroy)
ETC: Punch Bunch (Christmas Tree punch); QuicKutz (Nameplate die cut); Recollections (Rhinestone Stickers); Zig Two-way Glue; Glue Glider Pro



Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!! And to all of you--thanks so much for stopping by and for making such encouraging comments on my creations! I am grateful! =D


~Cynthia

Sparkly Lodge Tree

Sparkly Lodge Tree, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Finally! Success! I got Flicker and Picnik to work! We'll just all cross our fingers when I try to post it, OK?? =D

This card is loosely based on KingstonMama's card on her blog, KingstonMamaCrafts. I really love her creations--clean with lots of color and patterns.

I kinda, sorta followed along with what she had created, but I really wanted to make a mine a Christmas card.

First I die cut a nameplatel, rotated it, then trimmed the bottom bit off. I punched the tree out, distressed the edges and adhered that awesomely sparkly blue paper behind it.

And I totally had to hold my mouth JUST RIGHT to line up those stars!! LOL!!

I punched the little daisy--KingstonMama used a button--for...I don' t know...maybe a star in the sky or the Star of Bethlehem? Then I adhered everything to one of my favorite patterned papers--the olive dots.

At the bottom I stamped the sentiment, which is just barely visible. Next time I'll stamp it with a darker color, but it's kind of cool, almost subliminal, hanging out down there. ;-)



Supplies:
Paper: American Crafts (Chap: Scott); BoBunny (Olive Dots); Bazzill (kraft cardstock); The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank)
Stamp: Inkadinkado (Christmas set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Brushed Corduroy)
ETC: Punch Bunch (Small Daisy punch Christmas tree punch); QuicKutz (Nameplate die cut); Zig Two-way Glue; Glue Glider Pro


Has it felt like a long week already to you? I keep thinking it's Wednesday already. And I'm definitely not ready for Thanksgiving yet. What does Willy Wonka say? "So much time and so little to do. Strike that. Reverse it." ;-)


~Cynthia

It's Monday.....grrrrrrr

So.  I can't seem to get my photos moved over to Flicker and thus to my blog.  I keep getting an error message.

I can't seem to comment on other blogs.  I keep getting an error message.  When I did a search to get some help, the ideas concerned Internet Explorer.  I use Firefox.

I will keep trying.

Just cuz it's Monday, I will not let myself be defeated by technology.



~Cynthia  ;-)

Candy Trees

Candy Trees, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I think this idea came from several different cards floating out there in the blogosphere. Mostly from the My Mind's Eye blog.

VERY simple card.

Cut some triangles from snippets.
Cut some teeny tiny rectangles from snippets.
Score a few lines.
Stamp a happy sentiment.
Glue it all together.
The end.

Really, the hardest part of the whole card was getting the glued tree trunks off my sticky fingers onto the cardblank. ;-)


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank); Reminisce (Trim the Tree, Christmas Swirl Green, one unknown); Bazzill (brown cardstock)
Stamp: Penny Black (Crystalline set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Festive Berries)
ETC: ScorBuddy; Glue Glider Pro; Zig Two-way Glue Pen


Happy Weekend, everyone! We're still on the chilly side here so once I get my chores done, I'm headed to the Craft Studio. YAY!


Thanks for having a look today!


~Cynthia

More Corn, More Gratitude

More Corn, More Gratitude, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

For today's card, I stamped the corn image directly on a kraft cardblank.

Then I gently tinted it with chalks and stamped the sentiment.

I like the look the chalks give the image--with just a hint of color, it makes you look twice at the card to determine if it really has color or not.



Supplies:
Paper: The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank)
Stamps: Inkadinkado (corn stamp #99411); Studio G (Gratitude)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Walnut Stain)
ETC: Inkadinkado (Blending Chalks)



My Thanksgiving cards are all done, now I've just got to mail them tomorrow. Then it's back to making Christmas cards!! I got a shock last night when someone mentioned that December is in TWO WEEKS. AAARGH!! When did THAT happen?????


Craft on!

~Cynthia ;-)

Wheat Thanksgiving

Wheat Thanksgiving, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Here's another take on the wheat stamp.

Instead of the larger banner-type brown strip I used on the previous card, I simply used a snippet I had left over from cutting the banner.

It looks less like a belt buckle than the other card. The thinner strip also showcases the wheat more, allowing it to stand out on this card.



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (ivory cardblank); K&Co Designer Mat Pad (Ocean Solids)
Stamps: Stampabilites (Happy Thanksgiving 02); Hero Arts (Silhouette Grass)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Walnut Stain, Scattered Straw)
ETC: Tonic (Ticket/Tag Punch); Glue Glider Pro


Our rainy, cloud weather of yesterday has been replaced with sunshine....and 56 degrees. Brrrrr! ;-) I had to wear a JACKET outside this morning! IN NOVEMBER. That's just crazy.

Thanks for stopping by today--I enjoy your visits!!


~Cynthia =D

French Foliage

French Foliage, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Oooo, I think I'm starting to get the hang of this Picnik photo editing thing! I took this picture today--an overcast, rainy day. The card had a bluish tinge and I warmed it up to what you see here!

YAY!

I've seen many cards lately using Stampin Up's French Foliage set. I really really love these leaf stamps. I love the details and how real looking they are.

I used a few inks and then stamped the sentiment. Pretty easy and the type of card that can be duplicated in mass quantities.

Which is a good thing because this morning I woke up and realized that I have to mail my Thanksgiving cards out by Saturday!! YIKES. ;-)


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (ivory cardblank)
Stamps: Stampin Up (French Foliage set); Studio G (Gratitude)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Gathered Twigs, Rusty Hinge, Ripe Persimmon)



Thanks for the lovely comments yesterday on my embossing mishaps! I'm glad I'm not the only one who has problems with that stuff, although I've never dropped a canister of it in my shoe........ ;-)


~Cynthia

Red and White

Red and White, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I named this blog post "Red and White" because the name I *really* wanted to use ("THIS IS WHY I HATE EMBOSSING POWDER") sounded so negative.

And I'm all about the positive around here. Or to paraphrase Susan Raihala over on the Simplicity blog...I'm all about the kittens and the ponies and the puppies farting rainbows.

(Did I just type that??? Forget I said that.)

I like this card. It's red and dramatic and Christmasy and full of snowflakes.

And also full of white embossing powder.

And I do mean full. It's everywhere. And I have no idea how it got INSIDE the card, of all places.

There are several things I don't do well.

I have never been able to make fudge.
I have never gotten the hang of rub-ons.
I am a walking embossing powder disaster.

[There are others, but I'll spare you.]

I really did try to overcome my loathing of embossing powders. I got the idea from one of the cards posted by Susan Goetter for One Layer Wednesday #70.

Her card was so serene. And so beautiful.

And it looked so easy.

*sigh*

Famous last words.



Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (red cardstock)
Stamps: Studio G (snowflake); JustRite (Christmas Mini Sentiments set)
Ink: VersaMark
ETC: white embossing powder (unknown company); Marvy (heatgun); Inkadinkado (Embossing Magic)


We seem to have exchanged yesterday's sun for cloudy, dreary weather. The *perfect* time to hit the craft studio for a bit of art journaling! =D


~Cynthia

Wheat and a Buckle Banner

Wheat and a Buckle Banner, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Another Thanksgiving card is next in line for today. This one was pretty simple. It uses one of my most favoritest stamps EVER.

The Big Wheat Stamp.

Oh sure. Hero Arts likes to *tell* you it's a Silhouette Grass stamp, but we know better, don't we? ;-)

I stamped it using Scattered Straw Distress Ink. (What other color could I use, right??) Then I cut a banner from a snippet of brown cardstock.

To give the idea of a Pilgrim's hat buckle, I chose a large piece of ivory cardstock, distressed it a bit and stamped the sentiment on it.

I adhered the buckle part off to one side to create a visual triangle between the tall wheat, the buckle and the banner tails.



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (ivory cardblank); Bazzill (ivory cardstock); K&Co Designer Mat Pad (Ocean Solid Pad)
Stamps: Hero Arts (Silhouette Grass); Stampabilities (Happy Thanksgiving 02)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Scattered Straw, Walnut Stain)
ETC: Glue Glider Pro


We're having glorious weather today--it's almost 70 degrees right now! I hope that no matter what the weather, you find time to create today! Thanks for stopping in!

~Cynthia

Happy Veterans' Day and Some Corn Gratitude

Corn Gratitude, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

As I was hanging out in the Blogosphere today, I noticed how many people expressed gratitude for those in the military. Then I started counting the number of soldiers or sailors that I actually knew....

Grandfather--Army
Great Uncles (2)--Army
Uncle--Navy
Cousins (2)--Navy
Cousin--Air Force
College Friends (2)--Navy
Hiking Friend--Army
High School Friends (2)--Army
ETA:  Former Boss--Air Force
Coworker's Husband--Marine Corps
Sunday School Teacher (2)--Army
Church Music Director--Coast Guard
Church Friend--Army
My college roommate and other friends who were part of my college's ROTC programs.
And so many others...

Thanks to all who have served, are serving and will serve in the United States military. And thanks to their family members who also make great sacrifices.



And now to today's card.

I stamped the main image using Distress Stain. In real life it gives it a more painterly look--softer and lighter than Distress Ink would. It's pretty cool!

I lightly tinted the image with watercolor pencils.

Then I stamped the sentiment with Distress Ink and layered it all on a cardblank.


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (ivory and brown cardstock); Recollections (ivory cardblank)
Stamps: Studio G (sentiment); Inkadinkado (unnamed corn stamp, #99411)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Walnut Stain); Distress Stain (Walnut Stain)
ETC: Koh-I-Nor (watercolor pencils); Glue Glider Pro


Happy 11-11-11, everyone!! Thanks for stopping by today and have a wonderful weekend! Lots of creative blog hops/challenge type stuff going on...like on Cocoa Daisy's site and Shimelle's blog. Create happy!!


~Cynthia

Falling Leaves

Falling Leaves, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I'm LOLing at myself here! I used Picnik to edit the photo and apparently I used a little too much Clarity or something because now the cardstock looks like BURLAP.

I LOVE IT. LOL!!! =D

The paper really is textured like that--it's Bazzill Criss Cross--just not that much in reality.

Crazy ol Picknik!

This card layout will be showing up quite a bit in the next week or so because it's so easy to make. I stamped a few falling leaves and then the sentiment. On this one, I also distressed the edges with both ink and a distressing tool.

Easy peasy!



Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (tan cardstock); Recollections (ivory cardblank)
Stamps: Inkadinkado (Fall set); Stampabilites (Happy Thanksgiving 02)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Walnut Stain, Rusty Hinge, Ripe Persimmon, Wild Honey)
ETC: Memory Makers (distress tool); Glue Glider Pro


Soooo...the ongoing drama here is...well...ongoing. No, Smoking Dude didn't return--a different guy did. He fixed everything and all is well with the HVAC now. YAY!

BUT, because I had been cooped up for a week, I dragged my Mom along on a hike to get some fresh air. She tripped, fell on her shoulder, and broke her arm in a few places. So I get to play nurse for a few weeks. It's not *too* bad--she has a VERY cool craft room!! ;-)


Thanks for stopping by! I love your comments--they keep me laughing!! =D


~Cynthia

Christmas Redeux

Christmas Redeux, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I made this same design for Christmas 2010 and never sent it because I felt it was missing something. I remade the card--I still had a bit of the background paper left!--and added a bit to make it more professional-looking.

I diecut two ovals and one scalloped oval. I stamped the Cardinal after I diecut the smaller oval. I colored him using Sharpies because I wanted a very bright and intensely colored bird.

I cut a strip of leftover red cardstock, stamped the sentiment and tucked it under two of the ovals. I layered it over the background paper and adhered everything to a cardblank.

I liked it a lot better than the original card which didn't have the banner strip.



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (ivory cardblank); Bazzill (red and ivory cardstock); BoBunny (Noel Stripe)
Stamps: KaiserCraft (Christmas mini set); Inkadinkado (Ornate Christmas)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot)
ETC: Sharpie markers; Nestabilities (Petite Scallop Ovals Small, Petite Ovals Large); Glue Glider Pro; Sakura red glitter pen


So....more HVAC drama. Yesterday I came inside and distinctly smelled gas. The furnace runs on odorless natural gas and HVAC guys mix it with some rotten egg smelling stuff so you can tell there's a leak. So the Head Dude (the Dude with his name on the side of the vans--THAT DUDE) came over. He checked everything twice. He couldn't find a leak, but he did find some other stuff he didn't really like so...they're coming back again today to fix that.

*sigh*

I guess that just means more time in the Craft Studio.

Oh the torture one must put up with in the name of creativity.


~Cynthia ;-)

Drifting Snow

Drifting Snow, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

OK, so over the past few days you *may* have noticed the absolute crappiness of my photos. I'm sure it has nothing to do with my lack of knowledge on how to take good photos with a little cell phone.

But as I wander around the blogosphere, I've noticed the absolutely beautiful photos others have posted.

So I tried something. I used Picnik to try to fix the photo.

I'm sure the outcome here has nothing to do with my lack of knowledge on how to use Picnik.

I will, of course, blame anything and everything other than, well, ME.

Here is my card. It is brighter than yesterday's, no?

One tree stamp, one sentiment stamp, one ink, one watercolor pencil and two little score lines.

I got the general idea from a card posted on Simplicity's One Layer Wednesday list, made by Patti on the Cherish Each Precious Day blog.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Michael's Dollar Bin (tree); KaiserCraft (Christmas mini set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Pine Needles)
ETC: Koh-I-Nor (Watercolor Pencils); ScorBuddy


So the HVAC dudes finally finished their destruction of my house yesterday. Now the cleaning begins. The dust is everywhere! Grrrrrr.

But at least once that's done I'll go back to having total access to my Craft Studio.

Now if only I could find my mojo beneath all this dust......


~Cynthia

Star of Wonder

Star of Wonder, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

When I first saw this stamp, I totally squealed.

Really.

And I never squeal.

But isn't this the most cutest, most precious stamp like EVER?????

All I did was stamp it and gently color (more like tint) it with watercolor pencils, sans the water.

And isn't it just SO CUTE??

SQUEALLLLLLL!



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamp: Impression Obsession (F1684)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot)
ETC: Koh-I-Nor (Watercolor Pencils); Artist's Loft (Watercolor Pencils)




The Continuing HVAC Saga:

So we're down four guys this morning and the lone dude showed up like an hour and a half late.

At least it isn't Smoking Dude. No posing like the Marlboro Man in the road...scaring my neighbors....and small children...and pets.....and the mail carrier........



~Cynthia

PS: Thanks for all your kind comments--especially on my freaky pumpkin!! =D

Holly Berry Christmas

Holly Berry Christmas, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

How's this for clean and simple?? =D

One ink, two stamps, three blings.

Is 'blings' a word??

I love the font on the sentiment stamp. It's funky and whimsical.

There. I actually wrote a blog post that included the word 'whimsical.'

I'm on a literary roll.......


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank--which you can hardly tell due some sort of operator error in photographing said card...IN FULL SUNLIGHT, might I add)
Stamp: WeRMemory Keepers (Merry Christmas mini set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Pine Needles)
ETC: KaiserCraft (Red Rhinestones)



So since I know you're dying to hear the rest of my HVAC story....

They're still not done. Going on four days now. I only have heat in half of my house since they weren't able to connect the other furnace up yet. This is totally due to the work habits of Smoking Boy.

I watched Smoking Boy go back and forth to their van EIGHT times in 3 hours. (And yes, I counted, because it got to be funny after a while.) And each time he had something different in his hand--most notably a small white bucket, which went back and forth from my house to the van multiple times. And in the meantime, the other guy walked out there to retrieve the small white bucket because he needed it and Smoking Boy had stashed it in the van for some reason. And each time Smoking Boy went out to the van he had to smoke. And pose. Inexplicably, he had to smoke and pose--like some kind of scary Marlboro Man--for the cars that drove by. So you can see how this might slow the whole WORK progress thing waaaaaaaaaay down.

So I guess they'll be back on Monday. Which will mean six days with only half heat.

At least the power bill will be lower this month....


~Cynthia ;-)

Christmas Tree Chorus Line

Christmas Tree Chorus Line, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I got the idea for this card from the Simplicity blog where Susan was showing the One Layer Wednesday posts. Jenny at Crafting in the Country had this cute cream card with a row of snowflakes stamped in red.

I decided to go with trees. Turns out....my tree stamps are all HUGE. It looks nothing like Jenny's card. ;-)

I scored a few lines, added a sentiment and colored in the baubles on one of the trees with a red Spica glitter pen and all the tree toppers with a clear glitter pen.

The card went pretty quickly--you just have to hold your mouth just right while stamping the trees to get them all in a straight line. Heh heh.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (ivory cardblank)
Stamps: Michael's Dollar Bin (trees--I think they were Studio G); KaiserCraft (Christmas mini set--sentiment)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Pine Needles)
ETC: ScorBuddy; Spica red glitter pen; Gelly Roll glitter pen



This week has been a ZOO around here! The HVAC guys are moving a furnace to a more proper place. While all five of those dudes were happily spreading a thick layer of dust around the house on Wednesday, the computer nerd showed up to do something or other. Just as I was finishing the supply list on my last blog entry, computer nerd yells, "I have to turn the Internet off now!" I'm yelling, "WAIT! JUST TWO MORE MINUTES!! JUST TWO MORE MINUTES!!!" OI. I had to type FAST!!! Thankfully I got it posted. :-)

The upshot of all this chaos is that I have been able to spend each day in the Craft Studio because I can't really leave the house and I can't really clean up because the HVAC guys are still here making a mess.

*sigh*

At least I have all my Thanksgiving cards done. =D


~Cynthia

Gratitude

Gratitude, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

OK, usual apologies for crappy photo..blah blah blah.

This card is actually growing on me. I got the new Tim Holtz Distress Ink Autumn Colors and used Ripe Persimmon for the sentiment.

It's um...really, really ORANGE.

I have no one to blame but myself, of course. I have a cute little swatch page for all my Distress Inks so I could OBVIOUSLY tell it was orange.

But like I said, it's starting to grow on me. I kind of like that it's bright and pumpkin orange and happy.

The leaves are grunge paper die cuts covered in a page from an old hymnal.

True Story: I accidentally glued the leaf to the wrong side of the music paper. I specifically chose a certain song because it had to do with praising God, which I thought would be perfect for a Thanksgiving card. I guess I didn't look closely because when I noticed my error....then noticed what words I would actually have had on the leaf...I neglected to see that the word 'hell' would have been front and center on my card.

Oooooooooh dear. Sometimes errors are a good thing, eh?? ;-)


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (ivory cardblank); stash (hymnal pages)
Stamp: Studio G (gratitude)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Ripe Persimmon, Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy)
ETC: Sizzix (Tim Holtz's Tattered Leaves die cuts); Tim Holtz (grunge paper); Glossy Accents



Thanks for stopping by!

~Cynthia