CSPT & Friends Charity Auction

1 in 91 children are affected by autism.
That's a lot!  My youngest child has Asperger's syndrome, which is a form of autism.  We found out alot later that I would have liked with him and have so much catching up to do, but early intervention is the goal for these kids, and charities like this one helps to make that possible along with many other resources that give these kids the help that they need.

CSPT, along with some wonderfully talented friends, have teamed up to help.


Friday, November 27th, our very own CSPT member Laura will be hosting an ebay auction featuring more than 10 ebay artists. The theme of the auction is "Christmas Survival Kit." It will include everything you need to get through this holiday season, including: gift tags, cards, teachers' gifts, ornaments, and more!

Drop by this very special ebay auction.  Have a look, and place a bid.  It will warm your heart to think you have had a hand in helping these very special and wonderful children.

With your help- we can make this auction a huge success!!



CSPT Charity Auction***click here
 
Thank you, and God Bless You!!

Wishing You All A Very Blessed Thanksgiving!!

Hot Glitters

Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge Christmas Critter Friends Card

One more quick post before Thanksgiving!  I saw this sketch at the Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge, and thought of this image right off the bat.  I had to give it a try.  Believe it or not, this one came out pretty much exactly how I wanted it too, and I am really happy with it.  I love the simple two tone colors..red and white and very festive too.  This is one of my favorite images, but it is a large stamp and requires a bigger card to leave enough room for anything else, so this is a larger card than I usually make.  I am really loving it though.  I hope you enjoy viewing it too.

Here is a closer look.  Aren't they just the sweetest little critters?  I did not pop this image like I usually do only for a lack of time, but it is every bit as cute just the way it is.  I colored this with a combination of Prismacolor sketch and watercolor pencils and Stampin' Up watercolor pencils.  I used some snow-tex for the snow and some puffy paint for the hat, pom poms and bunny tail.

Thanks for visiting me today, and if you have visited me twice to see my MMSC card too, thank you twice.  I love seeing you drop by and look forward to your uplifting comments.  You are all blessings to me, and I am very grateful for you. 

Blessings to you and yours this Thanksgiving, and I will see you all again soon.

HUGS,

Challenge for this card:  Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge

MMSC29 Angel Snowflake Card

Well, I am going to start off on this one by saying that nothing worked as planned on this card for me.  All the way from the construction of the card to taking the pictures to posting it here on the blog.  I am thinking I probably should have sat this one out.  However, I persevered, and am posting it here regardless. 

I wanted to do something a little bit different with this card, so I used a snowflake chipboard that I had and glittered it in silver, then I layered it with another one in pink.  The pink one did not turn out as planned, because the glue that came with the Martha Stewart glitter did not dry clear, so it has the white glue showing some through the glitter.  You can see that in this picture.

Then, it came to the pictures.  If you look at the first picture compared to this one, you can see the color difference.  I was unable to capture the true color of this card.  Even the picture of the inside of the card would not come out clear.  I was having a really bad day with my luck, I guess!  I made a "matching" ornament to go with this card, because I was donating this to our CSPT ebay charity auction this year to benefit Autism Speaks.  Again though, the ornament did not turn out as planned.  It does not match well with the color of the snowflake, so I was disappointed with my effort.  I am thinking that this is what happens when I am rushing through my cards as I have been lately. 

I am considering switching over to scrapbook page layouts instead of cards to give myself a change of pace and hopefully a fresh, creative spark to get back into the groove again.  Besides, my kids are really after me to get to scrapbooking again, since that is where I started with my crafting to begin with.

Here is my poor picture of the inside of my card.  It is actually the nicest part of the card in my opinion. 

If you are interested in checking out the charity auction hosted by CSPT, please stop by ebay on Black Friday when it is posted and do a search on CSPT Charity.  It is such a great cause to support!  Thank you!!

Now, if you would like to give this sketch a go for yourself, we would love to see what you come up with.  It sure is a tricky one.  Have fun with it, and we'll be around to visit you soon. 

Thank you to our sponsors this week:  Your Next Stamp and again to our monthly sponsor:  Michelle's Scrapbooking.  Check out their sites for some awesome items.

Congrats to our Gold Star and Remarkable's winners this week:
Ms. Plum
Lorelie
Kerri

Great job, ladies!

Check the Midnight Madness Blog for all the lastest news.

Have a wonderful week everyone, and HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING!! 

My First RAK Exchange Card House Mouse Skater

A quick post tonight.  I just wanted to share my card that I made for the RAK exchange.  It is a House Mouse Design.  I got this stamp over a year ago, and never used it, because I did not realize that House Mouse did not have an Angel policy, and I was selling all of my cards on ebay at that time and could not use this image to sell, so now I have found a use for it.  It is an awful cute image, and I am glad that I was finally able to use it.

I don't much like rushing through cards, but I have found that there are no longer enough hours in my days for me to take the time that I would really like to take on my cards, so I have to do the best I can with what I have.

There's lots of glitter on this and some pretty pink ribbon.  I am really fond of the corner dies too. 

This is the inside.  Not real fancy, but there are dabs of pink stickles on the branch to give it a more festive look.  I think that someone would really enjoy this card for the holidays.

Thanks for taking a peek at my first RAK card.  It was really fun, and I would enjoy doing this again.

Warm Holiday Wishes Trifold card and then some.

WARM HOLIDAY WISHES!

I have been having a lack of mojo lately, and I wondered if this might get me back into the swing of things again.  We'll see!

I have been wanting to try a card like this for a little while now, but if any of you out there know me, you know that I don't have or take the time to look up or read tutorials.  I just take an idea and try to figure it out.  I like how this turned out, but it did not turn out like I had imagined before I started.  That is pretty typical of me too.

I did not anticipate making this a trifold as well as a duofold card.   Lol, but that is how it turned out anyway.  I was just adding things and trying new stuff every step of the way just hoping it would turn out ok in the end.

I used lots of glitter which is nothing new with me either, but it really does work well with this card.  I think it turned out pretty festive and I kind of like the way it sort of turns from a kind of fancy, sentiment card into a whimsical card when you open it up.

Has anyone noticed lately that I got a new Martha Stewart punch? lol

I just love these new around the page punches.  I am going to go soooo broke trying to buy all of these!  I do love the look of them.  I used my new Lace Heart punch that I have been longing for all year too.  I need a 12-step program to get this punch addiction under control. ; )

Ok, I am showing so many pictures of this envelope, because I made this totally from scratch.  I really did not think it was going to turn out, but I did not have a template that was going to fit the size of card that I happened to make for this, so I had to do something.  It is not perfect, BUT I kind of like it for a first try and a shot in the dark.  Have any of you tried to make an envelope just by looking and trying to figure measurements with no directions?  It is not as easy as I had hoped it was going to be.  What do you think?  Will it pass? 

I do have to admit that I was very pleased with the thickness of this envelope, and it fits the card so perfectly and comfortably.

I lined the envelope with some designer paper and added a shaped piece of velcroe for the closure.  So, that's it.  My experimental card and envelope.  I hope you like it.  I would love to hear your comments and thoughts, even if you tell me that maybe I should start reading some tutorials and learn how to do these things the way that they are meant to be done ; )

Thanks for dropping by, and have a great evening. 

Blessings,

Carolyn

MMSC28 Holy Nativity Christmas Card

Hi Everyone~  Welcome to week 28 of the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenges!!  I cannot believe that 28 weeks have gone by since we started this amazing journey with you all.  Are you getting ready for the holidays yet?  I do think that I am looking forward to the smell of the turkey in the oven, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (that I think I have watched on TV for as long as I can remember), the Football game, snuggling by the fire and candles lit throughout the house.  Ohhhh, I can't wait now!!

So, to start off the holidays on the right foot, we really need to remember the real meaning behind the holidays.  The birth of Christ that is why we celebrate to begin with.  This is a cute image of the nativity, but still depicts the meaning just the same. 

I used some puffy paint on lamb to look realistic and sparkled the Angel's wings, added some golden gems to represent stars in the sky and one dangling star charm as the Star of David.  The raffia is to be the hay that surrounds them.  I hope that you enjoy all of the special effects used to make this more meaningful.

A close up to show the dimension.

The inside with a gorgeous around the page punch and the word "remember" so that we do remember the meaning of Christmas.

The metallic gold handmade box envelope to finish it off.

BIG NEWS. From this week's sketch challenge, each of the Design Team members will be choosing a card from this week's entries to be featured on their blog during the Blog Hop. So along with doing the regular sketch challenge, we are asking you to make a "CHRISTMAS CARD" this week. One of our lovely Design Team members will be contacting you after the close of the challenge to let you know that your card has been chosen to be featured on their blog for our Christmas Blog Hop. You will need to participate in the Blog Hop to have your name put in a drawing for a special prize at the end of the Hop. Please let your Design Team Hostess know that you will be able to attend the Blog Hop to be eligible to win the prize.

Visit the MMSC Blog for all the latest happenings.

Our Gold Star Award this week goes to -

#36 Sassy
Our Remarkable Awards this week go to -
#19 Carolyn, #26 Teri Sherman, #37 Crafty Pagan

Thanks again to Michelle's Scrapbooking & More for being our Monthly sponsor..check out what they are giving away this month HERE

NOW FOR OUR WEEKLY BONUS PRIZEFran from the Frantic Stamper Inc. is the sponsor of our Weekly Bonus Prize Winner. You can visit Fran at her store at the Frantic Stamper Inc, your #1 source for rubberstamping and scrapbooking supplies. Friendly one-on-one service since 1996!! You can read about their store upgrading to a 6000 square feet warehouse with many new products at Frantic Stamper Happenings. Fran is offering this sticker package worth $20 to this weeks Bonus Winner.

Hope you can join us this week.  Thanks for dropping by today, and I greatly appreciate your comments as they encourage me so much.  Have a wonderful week everyone, and I will see you again soon!

MMSC27 Holiday Shopper....Shop Til You Drop This Christmas!

Good morning everyone!  Are you ready to kick off your holiday shopping for the season?  Well, ready or not, it's here, so you might as well enjoy it, right? 

I wanted to make my card fun and sort of lighthearted this time to get everyone in the mood for what can sometimes be a more tasking than fun time if you have alot of it to do.  Doesn't she make this look like a fun thing to be doing?  I just love the beautiful and festive packages that she is carrying.  Who wouldn't want to get one of those?

How many of you out there recognize the pink, striped bag?  I had to make this look like the Victoria's Secret bags.....one of my favorite places to shop ; )   I have to say that I was half tempted to make a pair of panties or bra to hang out over the side of the bag. lol....Had to remember that this is to be a holiday card though, so I kept it at a minimum. 

I hope that you will give our sketch a try this week.  We have so much fun every week coming to visit you to see what you come up with for us. 

Congratulations to our Masterpiece and Remarkables this week as well.  All wonderful projects!!

#1 Grace MMM

#9 SuperNan MMR

#16 Connie MMR

Thanks to our sponsors this week: Michelle Perkett! She has some beautiful images. Have a look. You will be amazed Our monthly sponsor:  Michelle's Scrapbooking offers some wonderful products as well. 

 
 

Here's the inside with a little gift card/money pocket.

 

Thank you for visiting me today, and I hope that you all will have a wonderful holiday this year, and my best to those of you that brave the Black Friday crowds at the wee hours of the morning and some of you in the FREEZING cold!!!  I have done that!!  I hope that all of the shopping and pretty packages will put a smile on your loved one's faces!

Please leave me a comment to let me know that you dropped by and what you think of my card this week.  I love to get the feedback!   If you are a MMSC player, don't forget to sign up for my MMSC blog candy too!  Your chances of winning are fabulous right now!!

Have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

 

Christmas Cardinals Card

It has been such a chaotic day today.  Running to school conferences, to the doctors...where I left my son's report card that I hadn't even seen yet : (   A trip to JoAnn's for some Christmas paper where they tried to tell me that the paper was not on sale, and it was!!!  Does that ever happen to you?  It always happens to me when I am in a hurry!  I need a calgon day for sure one of these days!

I had been in a bit of card withdrawl after having had a sick family for awhile and been sick myself.  I hadn't crafted for at least a couple of weeks.  Now that we are getting healthy again, I was anxious to try out some new craft toys, and this is the first of a few new things I wanted to try.  I got this nestability probably over a month ago now and had not had the chance to use it until now.  I can't even begin to tell you how much I love it.  Isn't it pretty?  There are so many ways it can be used.  I am already thinking of another card to make with it. 

I have had quite the obsession with the Martha Stewart punches in the last several months too.  I can't seem to go to Michaels without coming home with a new one.  When I get a new one, I just want to use it on everything ; )  I just got another new one a few days ago, so that one is going to have to get it's chance too. 

These cardinals have been a favortie of mine for Christmas cards ever since I got them.  I am sure that I will make some more cards with them before the season is over. 

I hope you enjoy and that you will leave me a comment to let me know that you dropped by. 

If you haven't signed up for the blog candy, have a look and see if it is of interest to you, and have a go at it.  It's always fun to give some craft supplies away...especially around the holidays.

Have a great evening!




Challenges:

Flourishes
Daring Cardmakers
Sunflowers and Dragons

MMSC26 Vintage Christmas Card

Special thanks to our weekly and monthly sponsors:  Heather Ellis Digital Stamps and Michelle's Scrapbooking

Congrats goes out to the award winners this week:

MMM

Crafty Pagan #58



MMR
Karen Wallace #3
Karen Lynn #9
Pam124 #40


Now, onto my sample for the week:

Well, as much as I hate to admit it, I sort of rushed this card out to be sure that I had my MMSC entry done in time.  I would like to think that my family and my life are getting back to normal now, but this was made in the midst of all of that chaos.  I think it turned out pretty well under the circumstances.

I really love this image and thanks to one of my friends for stamping some of them up for me to use.  I puffed the snow on the tree up some to look realistic, and I sparkled the snow on the ground a little bit.  I hope you like it.  I look forward to getting back around to visiting your blogs again, as I really feel like I missed so much in my downtime.  Have fun working the sketch this week, and I will see you soon.

Thank you for giving me a few moments of your time, and please leave a comment to let me know that you dropped by and what you think of my card.  Take care, and stay healthy!





Other Challenges:
Whimsical Ink Sorority