Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #15 - A gift for YOU!

La-La Land Crafts is sponsoring this week's Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #15!

A lucky challenge winner will win these adorable La-La Land Crafts stamps!

Be sure to visit Stampin' Sisters in Christ and enter the challenge there!

“After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

Well, I took this challenge literally and decided to present one of my favorite holiday treats inside the card.

Leave me a comment and you will get a chance to win this card, along with a surprise treat all wrapped up for Christmas!



I am not sure what happened with the colors! The green in these pictures are not this faded. I will try to take new pictures in better light and see if I can get better colors on there for you!

Santa, Build A Bear, and HUGE birthday giveaways from Lisa

I have been so sick this weekend... I don't know how those of you who have chronic sinusitis manage! I have been miserable!! It's worse than a migraine. At least with a migraine, I know there's an end and I can find some sort of relief with my migraine medication. But this sinus infection is has got my number! My head feels like it's gonna explode! Bleh!

I know you all LOVE blog candies and I have a HUGE one to share with you, but before I do, I just wanted to share a few pictures of my boys... who are growing up way too fast. I just wanted to capture some of their "cuteness" before it grows away. :)

Well, we took the boys on our annual "Sunday after Thanksgiving" trip to the mall to see Santa. The boys were happy as clams to sit for an hour to wait for Santa. They even found the glitter that the elves left behind when they decorated Santa's house! Looking up to the skylights, they found the reindeer antlers in the window... Keiji said that they weren't moving because the reindeers were too tired from their trip from the North Pole and they were taking naps. Here are some pictures...

Do you see the antlers?

Then we surprised them with a trip to Build A Bear!
Keiji fell in love with "Froggie" and Ken wanted a bear that he named "Santa Claws".

Keiji kissing and wishing on "Froggie's" heart

Ken inspecting "Santa Claws"

Now...

Will you join me in wishing the talented and sweet LISA HJULBERG a very happy birthday?

Lisa is one of our design team members for La-La Land Crafts and I am so blessed to know her. She is just an amazing person, inside and out. Lisa is giving away not one... not two... not three... but FIVE prize packages for her birthday. That's right... one for every decade. Now wait a minute! I didn't say that! LOL! It's from Lisa! Here's what she has to say:

Yep, it's the Big 5-0 for yours truly. Rather than be depressed, I'm focusing on my many blessings...and paying it forward!

I thought about offering one big huge prize, but I always wish everyone could win. Since that isn't possible (at least not until I win the lottery), I'm dividing up the candy into FIVE prize packages... one for every decade of my life so far.

So hop on over to The Craft's Meow and find out what you need to do to join in on the birthday celebration! Don't forget to wish Lisa a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Hey Lisa, I have been in bed for most of the weekend and have not been able to make a birthday card for you. I will get to it later tonight! I love you, girl! Happy, happy, HAPPY birthday, my friend.

In the Meadow with Hearts of Joy

Welcome to our Prettie Peeks for Paper Pretties December Release! We had so much fun last month using a well known song for our peeks that we thought we'd try it again, and since we love giving things away, we'll have the same rules for prizes as last month - leave a comment on a card from the pretty peeks in the Pretties Gallery and we'll pick names for you to win the new releases.

This month, in keeping with Christmas we've chosen a well known Christmas carol - Winter Wonderland!

Each day a few of the Prettie Girls will upload their challenge cards based on that song. If you stop by the Pretties Gallery and leave that Prettie Girl a comment on her card, you'll have a chance to win the new set that has been used in that peek - make sense?

The contest will end December 2nd and the winners will be posted on the Paper Clip. You can find the link to the specific cards in the Paper Pretties Gallery on each blog post. So, lets get started! Christie's blog is first on the hop so get on over there and make sure you stop by and leave a comment in the gallery for her for your chance to win!

Be sure to visit with Julie, Frances, and Kristy. They are also posting with their Pretties Peek today, so be sure to visit their blogs to see what fabulous projects they have come up with using this month's new release stamps!

My Pretties Peek today is for Joyful Heart.
In the meadow we can build a snowman...

Stamp: Joyful Heart
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper: Colorful Christmas "Merry Dots" (My Mind's Eye), Whisper White and Baja Breeze (SU)
Copics: B0000, B95, B97, B99, BG93, BG96, G14, Y38, YR23, R46

This beautiful snowman image by Jennifer Lambein comes with 2 sentiments.

Oh! Don't forget to stop by the Paper Pretties Gallery and comment on MY CARD for a chance to win the Joyful Heart stamp set!

Speaking of a SALE...

With the economy still a little low and the holidays on the way we figured you could all use a break to buy yourself a treat or another stamper on your Christmas list. SO, to celebrate the American Thanksgiving, we will be having ALL of our Thanksgiving, Christmas & Winter stamps 30% off for you!!! The sale will be effective from November 26th until the 30th!

Last but certainly not least... don't forget to stop on by the party in the Paper Pretties forum on December 1st at 8pm EST when all the stamps will be released for sale!

Christmas Rosie peek

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to share a peek to what I will be posting on Sunday.



Have fun shopping and GOOD LUCK if you are going to go out there with all of the Black Friday shoppers this morning.

LLWWC14 - 3-2-1 Recipe challenge!

Please scroll down to the next post or click HERE for the Paper Pretties Weekly Challenge! Thank you!


It's time for La-La's Weekly Wednesday Chalenge! This week, Maureen is hosting and here's what she has to say:

"For my challenge, I decided to do a recipe challenge, specifically a 3-2-1 recipe, because I think they're lots of fun! I've chosen 3 patterned papers, 2 colors of cardstock (white counts as a color), and 1 type of embellishment."

To find out more about the challenge and what you need to do to qualify for our TOP 3 Faves and a chance to win this adorable button for your blog, just visit La-La Land Crafts!

Christmas Rosie and Friends



Stamp: Christmas Rosie with Bird
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper: Tis The Season - "Treasure" and "Tis The Season" (Bo Bunny), Let It Snow "Peppermint Stick" (3 Bugs in a Rug)
Cardstock: Whisper White (SU) and Regal Rose (SU)
Copics: RV24, YR04, YG05, BG05, E0000, E00, E01
Accessories: Swarovski crystals

This card also meets the following challenges:
Creative Card Crew "Favorite Things" (shadowbox and bling)
Limited Supplies Challenge 247 "Long and Tall" (Splitcoaststampers)

I just wanted to thank everyone for all of your love and support!
I am grateful for all of you who follow this blog and keep me going.
I am very thankful for my family and dear friends who are always there for me.
Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

PWC79 - A Prettie Inspiration!

It's Wednesday! That means it is time for another fun Wednesday Prettie Challenge and blog hop! If you are coming from Kristy's blog, then you are on the right path! If you are just starting out here, then start at the very beginning with Christie's for some PRETTIE inspirations!

This week we have an awesome INSPIRATION challenge! Use this image as your inspiration to play along with the Prettie Girls!



We would love for you to ink up your Paper Pretties stamps and play along with us. One lucky challenge participant will win a $15 coupon to the Paper Pretties Boutique. Here are the challenge details:

How to Enter: make a card using the provided sketch and any Paper Pretties stamp set(s) you have. Upload the card to the Paper Pretties gallery. Please include it in the Weekly Challenges album and use keyword PWC79.
Deadline: 6pm EST Tuedsay, December 1st.
Prize: $15.00 coupon to the Paper Pretties Boutique

I had so much fun from making one last week that I just had to make another shadowbox for this week's Inspiration Challenge! The polka dots grabbed my attention first and then the colors... of course the collection of bath items immediately made me think of Bubble Time Sophia. :)



Stamps: Bubble Time Sophia (Paper Pretties' December Stamp of the Month)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper: Persuasion Cut Outs (Bo Bunny), Love Bandit Birdie Die Cut (Bo Bunny), Persuasion Stripe (Bo Bunny), Baja Breeze (SU)
Copics: 0, E0000, E00, E01, E17, B0000, BG18, V04, Y06
Accessories: Glue Pen (Sakura), Crystal Fine Glitter (Martha Stewart), pop up dots

Since I love making these shadowboxes and they are one of my favorite things right now, I'm entering this into the Creative Card Crew "Favorite Things" Challenge.

Now it's time to hop, hop, hop on over to Jennifer's fabulous blog to see what she has come up with!

Be sure to check back in at the Paper Clip next Tuesday to see if you have won!

LLWWC13 - THANKFUL!

* This is my second post today. Please scroll down to the next post for the Paper Pretties Challenge!


Oh my goodness! Thanksgiving is next week! I am on Facebook and every day, I see my friends posting their "I am thankful for...". It makes me laugh because I know that it's just that time of the year to be thankful. However, I know that we all know that we should be thankful every day of the year. LOL! That was a mouthful!

Anyways, La-La's Weekly Wednesday Challenge this week is to create a new card that says "Thank you" or "Thankful"... "Thanks", "Gracias", "Doumo Arigato", "Merci"... you get it!

With the THANKFUL challenge this week, Irina has this awesome blog candy to give away randomly to one lucky person:



Want to learn more about how you can get in on the fun?

Just visit our La-La Land Crafts blog HERE and find out how you can qualify for the blog candy and a chance to be one of our TOP 3!

Here's my "Clover is thankful for..." card.

Stamp: Running Clover
Paper: Whisper White, "Sparrow Daisy" (Glitz), Chocolate Chip
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Copics: 0, E00, E17, E33, R29, YR23, G05, C3
Accessories: ribbon, sponge, Champagne Mist (SU), oval Nestabilities, Flower Bed deep edge punch (Martha Stewart), white gel pen

The Limited Supplies Challenge at Splitcoaststampers is to create a "Thank you / Thankful" card using a bird. Clover is a chicken. I think she counts. Clover is very thankful that it is "TURKEY" day. The CAS (Clean and Simple) Challenge at SCS is an inspiration challenge using handbags & purses from Vera Bradley! This would explain my use of the Sparrow Daisy paper by Glitz. Not my usual style.

I also decided to give "Try a New Technique" Challenge at SCS called "Cutting Outside the Box". If you take a close look at Clover, you will notice that I stamped her on Whisper White and used my oval Nestabilities to cut her out. However, her head and tail are sticking out from the frame of the Nestabilities. You can head over to the CHALLENGE to learn more about this technique. I took a few pictures of how I did mine.











We are SO thankful for all of you who follow La-La Land Crafts. The talented entries to our challenges are growing by leaps and bounds. We appreciate the enthusiasm and support of our La-La Land friends. I am thankful for being part of such a dedicated and talented design team. I am grateful for all of you who follow my Whoopsie Daisy blog and take my classes at Memories Live On. I am grateful for Irina. I love that I have such a wonderful friendship with her. I am thankful for my husband and two handsome boys, my family, my dear friends, my life... and I cherish my journey with God.

PWC78 - Color Challenge with a twist!

It's time for another awesome Prettie Wednesday Challenge! We have a new Pretties blog hop and challenge for you!

If you are hopping from Kristy's blog, then you are at the right place!
If not, please start at the very beginning with Christie's blog, Little Pink Flowers, so that you don't miss any of the Prettie projects from the Prettie Girls!

This week's challenge is brought to you by HEATHER!
It is a color challenge with a twist! You will work with red, black, and white for the color challenge... and the twist? Add GLITTER!! We would love for you to ink up your Paper Pretties stamps and play along with us! Full details on the challenge can be found on The Paper Clip.

How to Enter:
Make a card following the challenge guidelines with any Paper Pretties stamps.
Upload the card to the Paper Pretties gallery.
Please include it in the Weekly Challenges album and use keyword PWC78.
Deadline: 6 PM EST Tuedsay, November 17th.
Prize: $15.00 coupon to the Paper Pretties Boutique

So here's my card using the adorable new Bubble Time Sophia, December's Stamp of the Month.





Stamp: Bubble Time Sophia (Paper Pretties' December Stamp of the Month)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Copics: 0, E0000, E00, E01, E17, R29, 100, B0000
Paper: Back to Basics "Persuasion Cut Outs" (BoBunny), "Tis the Season" (BoBunny) Basic Black (SU)
Accessories: Pearls (Kaiser Scrapbook), Spooky Dew Drops (The Robin's Nest, Crystal Fine and Garnet glitter (Martha Stewart), pop-up dots

I saw that the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #13 is a Shadowbox. I love making these... so much so that I made another one for the Copic Colour Challenge that I will post later today.

I have to explain that the scalloped edge layer inside the card are supposed to be red curtains. They do not show through the layers very well. I used Crystal Fine glitter and Garnet glitter on Sophia's towel, rub, and bubbles.

Okay! Now it's time to hop over to Jennifer's awesome blog, Glitter in My Hair.

SSCC #12 - Operation Write Home

In honor of Veteran's Day, I am moving this post up to the top.
I am so thankful for the courageous, dedicated, selfless men and women who choose to serve our beautiful country. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. This goes to the their families as well who give them the support and unconditional love that they need to do what they do each and every day. God bless!


I am so excited to finally take part in a challenge that belongs to a site that I have been wanting to participate in for quite some time now.


Stampin' Sisters in Christ

Paper Pretties is sponsoring them this week and has this adorable set to giveaway to one very lucky challenge participant...



Candace Mitchell is hosting the SSCC#12 this week! She says this:

The scripture I’ve chosen this week is John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

The challenge for this week is to make a patriotic-themed card for a soldier and as a bonus, donate it to Operation Write Home, so that a soldier may be encouraged by your words of thanks. Write a special message of gratitude on the inside and sign your name. They will be distributed to soldiers who rarely get mail, or just need encouragement. Be sure to put your card in an envelope and write “Any Hero” on the front. For more information on how to make a card for “Any Hero”, click HERE.

OWH also collects blank greeting cards (any theme) that soldiers may send home to loved ones. For example: birthday, thinking of you, hello, etc. Various holiday cards are also needed. According to the OWH website, “miss you” and “love you” cards are most requested by the soldiers. To read more about card themes needed, click Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

I made a card giving thanks to all those amazing men and women who are serving (have served) our beautiful country and have sacrificed so much to protect us all.

Stamp: Love You This Much (Paper Pretties), All Kinds of Happy (Snag 'em Stamps by Imaginisce)
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Ballet Blue
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Ballet Blue, Real Red, Cotton White (Staz-On)
Copics: 0, E0000, E00, E01, E17, E30, R46, B32
Accessories: Large star punch (SU), small star punch (SU), Classic Stars Jumbo wheel, 1/4" Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon, red gingham ribbon, sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals

My heart goes out to all at Fort Hood and the families & loved ones of those who lost their lives there this past week. They are all in my thoughts and prayers, as are all those who put their lives out there on the line... all who have lost their lives fighting for our country.

Regardless of how you may feel about war, please join me in this challenge and send out a card or two (or more!) to these awesome men and women. Let's show them some love and appreciation for their dedication to protect our freedom.

God bless,

PWC77 - Monochromatic Blue and White/Black

This is my second post for today! Please scroll down for La-La's Weekly Wednesday Challenge!


It's time for Prettie Wednesday! This week's Prettie Wednesday Challenge comes from Jana! Her challenge to you is to make a monochromatic card using blues and white/black.

Gliding by

Stamp: Gliding By (Paper Pretties)
Paper: Bashful Blue (SU),Whisper White (SU), Lace Paper Snowflake (Little Yellow Bicycle)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Bashful Blue (SU)
Copics: 0, B0000, B23, B32, E0000
Accessories: grosgrain polka-dot ribbon (Bo Bunny), glue pen (Sakura), Dazzling Diamonds (SU), sponges, Nestabilities (square)

Now go hop on over to Jennifer and check out her Beary adorable Cooper card!

Here's a master list, just in case you don't have one!

If you haven't already, please start the blog hop with Christie at Little Pink Flowers.
Then follow each blog to the next!

Here is the order of the hop:

Christie Ortman

Julie Masse

Jana Weaver

Jackie Rakoski

Christi Thorsen

Frances Byrne

Heather Lee-Reppen

Wendy Bond

Kristy Ketterlin

Jane Matsumoto (me)

Jennifer Greco

Here are all the details so that you can play along with us!

How to Enter:

Make a project using the challenge and any Paper Pretties stamp set(s) you have.

Upload the card to the Paper Pretties gallery.

Use the keyword PWC77 to be entered!

Deadline: 6 pm EST on Tuesday, November 17th.
Prize: $15.00 coupon to the Paper Pretties Boutique.

I can't wait to see what you come up with for this challenge!

La-La's Weekly Wednesday Challenge - Getting Punchy!

Ready for another fun La-La's Weekly Wednesday Challenge?

Kathy is hosting this week and she wants us to get punchy!

Kathy says:

Hello this is Kathy and this week is my turn to pick the challenge!
I would love to see you use your PUNCHES!
If you don't have any, then diecuts are fine too!
That is easy right?!

Hmmmm... I used my Nestabilities.

Stamp: Building Snowman Maya
Paper: Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' (SU), Old Olive (SU), Whisper White (SU)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Old Olive
Copics: 100, W5, R000, R00, R46, YG03, Y06, E59, B0000, C1
Accessories: Nestabilities, Real Red 3/4" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Glue pen (Sakura), Dazzling Diamonds (SU), sponge

Come join in on the fun!

Check out all of the lovely creations that our Design Team and Guest Designers have made for you at La-La Land Crafts!

Copic Card Classes this Saturday!

I will be teaching two holiday card classes this Saturday at Memories Live On!

The morning class is from 10a - 1p.

The first set will be just like the Christmas Copic Card Class that I had taught in July, only with holiday paper from Imaginisce. You will be making a Never-ending Card and a Tri-shutter card using Penny Black Christmas stamps.





The second class is from 2p - 5p

I will be using Cuttlebug embossing folders, White Staz-On on acetate, and punches to make these cute cards:



Call Memories Live On today to reserve your seat!
408-446-9901