Country Swag Christmas Card

A Christmas card I put together with a old few scraps. 

I think it would look better if there were more

greenery branches OR the star and bow 

were smaller, making them more in 

proportion and country wall swag like. 

We are our own worst critics, aren't we? 

The sprig stamp image

was colored with water based markers.

The saying is stamped with black ink.

 Both stamp images are old ones from Stampin' Up!

I then layered on some leafy branch (Martha Stewart) paper punched pieces

of green paper over the stamped images.

The red bow was made from old paper twist 

in my stash, leftover from a long ago project.

I have too much of that twist leftover,

it sure was popular for crafts many years ago. 

(See a Christmas tree top angel I made posted here)

Maybe I ought to finally purge my assorted craft stashes ?

 The star was repurposed from another old project. 

 It is a simple paper punch star that I made score lines on

then folded to create dimension. 

I also lightly water colored mustard ink along the 

edges, but it doesn't show well.

Yes, that is real stitching done with my sewing machine

around the edges of the speckled card stock.

The edges of the red card stock were distressed

before gluing it to the hunter green base.

This card looked enticing to my cat :

she reached up and drug it off the table top

as I was trying to photograph it.

That darn cat !

I'm entering this card in the Tis The Season photo inspiration challenge.

'

The colors, branches and berry sprigs,

overall all rustic country feel were my inspirations. 

Thanks for looking and Happy Holidays :)

Snow Angels - digi kit

December 1st -

time for new digital kit releases by 

JMC Designs at

Scraps-N-Pieces.com!

This one is a Bits N Pieces set and is called Snow Angels. 

I love the fresh, fun colors in this snow themed kit :) 

I used My Memories Suite to create my page

and looked at a template design for the November

template challenge at ScrapsNPieces.com to create the layout.

SNOW ANGELS

Bits N Pieces Kits Contents

Blog Hop Scrap Page - Win MMS7 Software

The above is a quick scrap page I made with the

Snowflakes digi kit by DeeDee's Digi's

as part of the House of Cards blog hop.

I used  My Memories Suite V7 software

(Use code STMMMS23251  during checkout to receive  $10 off the purchase of MyMemories Suite 7 and  10% Off Photobooks and Photo Gifts plus a code for your first month free to the Design Club!

OR keep on reading to see how you could possibly win a copy !)

The stripes and snowflake covered background papers

as well as the larger snowflake images and 

word art are included in the kit.

My Memories has thousands and thousands of 

digital kits and other content available for purchase

on their site. There are also freebies by generous

designers. However, if you find a kit from another designer

elsewhere on the internet (there must be millions of digital products out there!)

that you really like, it can easily be used in the My Memories software.

In fact, they've made it easier than ever to import designs bought elsewhere !

HOW TO:

Add custom or 3rd party content:

1. Open a desired type of content tab in the control panel. (backgrounds,

embellishments, shapes, or imprints.)

2. Click on the Custom (folder) icon.

3. Browse to the folder on your computer containing custom images.

4. Select the image, and click ok.

Display custom or 3rd party content in the gallery:

1. Open an album.

2. Click on a desired content type gallery icon. (Embellishment, background, or imprint)

3. Click on the orange browse icon.

4. Browse to a folder on your computer containing the custom images.

5. With the folder selected click Ok or Open.

6. The images within the folder will then display in the gallery on the left.

How I made the scrap page:

I used shapes included in the My Memories software

(easily altering the size and shape)

then color filled them using the color picker tool

to coordinate with the digi kit papers.

I also added shadows to each shape to create dimension.

My Memories software has been around for a few years.

Version 7 is now available and wow, 

does it have some fun new improvements ! 

I have yet to try them all out, but looking at the list

of the features, I know I can't wait to try them.

My Memories 7.0 update details:

(click above for pdf with photos)

- New user interface designed to be less distracting, placing emphasis on the project.

- Photos used in the album are now tracked through the gallery with an indicator.

- Blur the edges of photos with a right-click.

- Fill a .png image with a photo. (embellishments, imprints, etc)

- Text has been overhauled with a new Jword editor. You can now tab space, and wrap

text. The edit mode should more accurately reflect how it will display on the canvas

when exiting edit mode.

- Shapes and Imprints can now be cropped, similar to embellishments and photos.

- Browse to specific image types from within a gallery. (embellishments, shapes,

imprints, etc.)

- Force images to be the same cropped size with a right-click. The bottom layer image

will crop to the top layer image size.

- You can now right-click on an object layer to display edit options.

- Custom browse icons have been added to each content panel so it is easier to add

specific image types.

- Increased the number of items that can be added to a custom category. (Previous limit

was 40 per category.)

- Rearrange custom categories for backgrounds and embellishments using the up and

down arrow icons with the category selected.

- You can now left-click on an image layer to select it on the canvas. (Previously required

a double-click.)

- Add auto captions to existing photos from a right-click.

- Move pages within your album to a new page by right-clicking on the page thumbnail,

and choosing the new page number.

- Added a paint bucket to imprint paint options. This allows you to flood fill same color

pixels within the imprint.

- Make photo boxes the same size as embellishment objects, with a right-click while

having both an embellishment and box selected.

- Tile the applied background on the current page.

- Calendar years can now go back several years.

- Additional corner rounding styles have been added. If you round a photo with a rightclick

you can now choose from the standard round, or some new styles.

- Hide and show the control panel and page thumbnails from the View menu.

- Master page layer can be enabled from the View menu. Any objects added to the

master layer will display throughout the entire album.

- In addition to the photo icon under shapes you can now add a photo to a shape with a

right-click.

- Preferences have been updated with more defaults for text, view options, and more.

- Relative spacing guides now display on the canvas when moving or sizing objects.

- Added the cards, postcards, swatchbooks, and pages options into the share menu.

If you'd like a chance to win a copy

of the new and improved digital scrapbook

(and more!) software from My Memories,

please leave a comment below,

including what new feature you like,

 before Midnight CST on December 9th, 2015. 

I will randomly choose one person

that has left a comment that includes

what new feature they like. 

Winner will be announced on my blog

December 10th, 2015.

Good luck!

House Of Cards Blog Hop

December 1st (seriously ? the year is nearly over ?!?), time for a new challenge at House of Cards! This month it is an inspiration photo - with a blog hop and design team call. Play along, leaving comments at each of the designers blogs, and  you'll have a chance to win a prize from one of our sponsors ! The hop runs through December 15th at noon CST. Be sure to read our House Rules first ;) You should have arrived here from Emily's blog if you are hopping with us. 

Inspiration Photo

Closeup of my card to show the shimmer.

Obviously the kraft and pink colors were the biggest inspiration,

but also the glass of bubbly beverage (pearl colored shimmer paper

and clear rhinestones), fluted bowl edge (border punch)

and silverware ( almost silver snowflakes).

HOW I MADE THE CARD:

I started with the Snowflakes kit by one of our sponsors, DeeDee's Digi's.

I opened up the snowflake2 outline PNG image in Photoshop Elements 10, reduced it in size to create various size flakes. I moved them around to make a tree shape onto a 3.75" x 5" transparent background. I printed it out (ink color was charcoal gray) onto a shimmery pearl colored paper bought at an office supply store. Because the paper had a "slick" finish to it, the ink from my inkjet printer did not dry so I was able to sprinkle it with clear embossing powder and heat set it. This made for a sort of silver look to the snowflakes and sentiment (note: the paper did warp a little bit).  I did the same thing with the Season's Greetings sentiment from the digi kit.  

Both pieces were cut to the size I needed to complete my card. The card front had pink ink sponge daubed over the embossed snowflakes that I then added clear rhinestones to. The edges were pierced. It is layered over pink card stock that I paper punched along one edge with a snowflake border punch (sorry, no idea of the manufacturer as there are no markings on it). 

The card front is layered onto a top fold kraft card stock base. 

The hand cut banners were folded and glued into place. 

The inside is lined with pearl shimmer paper. 








I also used the new My Memories Suite V7 software with the digital papers that are included in the digital kit to create a simple scrap page. I'll share that project on my blog tomorrow; be sure to comment on tomorrows digi scrap page post  at craftysahmiam.blogspot.com for a chance to win a copy of this software !


Keep on hopping though the House of Cards Design Team blogs. Up next is  Jane's blog. 


Here is the entire list of design team members blogs. Remember to leave a comment on each blog for a chance to win one of the hidden prizes ! 

Barbara

Cohenna

Daen'Ys

Donna N.

Donna T.

Dotty Jo

Em
Emily

Heather - you are here

Jane
Joni

Judy

Karen

Katy

Lilian

Linda

Lisa

Merethe

Michele

Monika

Mrs Duck

Pat

Rocky

Ruza

Shawna

Steph

Sue T.

Sue N.

Tammy

Toni

Lastly, I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Technique Challenge: Sponging or Brayering at

52 Christmas Card Throwdown

Anything Goes at

Christmas Card Challenges

Thanks for looking and Happy Holidays !

Digi Freebies thru December 6th

Check out the new FREE digital kits by designers at MyMemories.com !

As an affiliate for My Memories,

I am able to offer you exclusive free content

for a very limited time (expires 12/6/15).

This week you can pick up these fun digi scrap elements

by following the provided links (you will need to create a free account).

You do not need the My Memories software to use these,
there are general files for use with other programs.

You can download a copy of  My Memories Suite
to try for free, then if you like it buy it for full functionality.

Be sure to use my discount code STMMMS23251 to save $10
and get a couple of bonuses!

A huge THANK YOU to those that have purchased the program

or had items printed through My Memories using my affiliate number !

http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_1

• Digital Papers: 1
• Page Elements: 2

http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_2

• 26 Page Elements

My Memories Suite 7 is Here !

The New and Improved My Memories Suite

has just been released ! 

It is Digital Scrapbooking - and so much more - software.

I can not wait to use it, there are many 

exciting  new features to try, wow

(click here for a pdf with photos of the new features). 

There are also 7 new pre-designed photo books, 

simply add your own photos,

included with the purchase !

If you've purchased a previous version of MMS,

you should be receiving an email with an offer to 

upgrade for $9.99 USD this weekend only.

After November 30th, the price will go up

to the everyday upgrade price of $19.99 USD. 

If you've never purchased My Memories Suite and 

would like to purchase it, 

 use my affiliate code STMMMS23251 

during your checkout to receive

 $10 off the purchase of MyMemories Suite and 

10% Off Photobooks and Photo Gifts.

System Requirements:
Windows 64-bit 7, 8, or 10 
Mac OS X 10.7.5 or higher

Broadband connection required for 
digital download,  2.5GB file size.
(you can order a disc to be sent
to your home for a small additional fee).

Happy Thanksgiving

Remember, there is always something 

for which to be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving !

Stained Glass Angel Sympathy Card

This is a sympathy card I sent to a friend in September.

The angel image was stamped with Versamark ink 

on water color paper then heat embossed black.

The image was water colored with ink from my ink pads

using an aqua painter. 

The front panel of the card was run through an

embossing folder.  I hand cut the window in it.

It is attached to the card base with dimensionals

to raise it up a bit. The painted angel image is 

adhered flat to the card front. 

The stamp image is from an old 

Stained Glass stamp set by Stampin' Up!

and the embossing folder was from Cuttlebug.

Join us at House of Cards for this months challenge,

Stamped and Cut Window cards. 

Thanks for looking :)

Doesn't seem possible that it as been three months today

since my Dad passed away

and a week since I had to let Kitty cross the Rainbow Bridge.

It's been a tough week.........

Thanksgiving will surely be difficult, too.

I always make apple pies from scratch and my Dad enjoyed them.

A few tears may be shed during the pie baking this year,

making them a bit on the salty side ;) 

Silly Girls - digi kit

Time for a new kit release by JMC Designs

at the Scraps-N-Pieces.com store:

Silly Girls.

Below are a few pages I made with the kit

as a part of her creative team.

This page was made for a Digital Scrapbook Day

challenge at SNP, I used a template (altered) found on the

designers blog hop that day, too. 

Another template/ challenge page

A 4 x 4 printable card front

This page was created for the speed scrap that Jodi

from JMC Designs hosted.

Here are the instructions she gave :

Step 1 - Pick at least 1 solidish paper for your background
Step 2 - take shapes (triangles)and use as many as you would like both sizes or just the 2 if you want make them any color you want or clip papers to themStep 3 - Pick 2 pictures - make them 3X3 in size and mat them or stroke them
Step 4 - Create 2 or more clusters to add around the page
Step 5 - use some type of fastener on your pictures (staples, tape, stitching, etc...)
Step 6 - use at least 3 wordbits or 1 wordart
Step 7 - Title it and shadow and finish up your layout however you would like

Here are the kit components:

Thanks for looking =) 

And Then There Was One...

Cat that is.

Sadly I had to say goodbye to my 16 1/2 year old Kitty yesterday. It was not a good day for numerous reasons, but the worst being that Kitty had a stroke. I was heartbroken at making that decision at the vet's office to let her go over the Rainbow Bridge.........

It never even crossed my mind, not once the entire day until Mom mentioned it to me today, that yesterday was Friday the 13th. No wonder so many things went wrong yesterday!

Now I am down to one cat, Hyla, the menace. Will I get another ? NO ! Hyla does a fine job of catching all sorts of critters (why I brought her home two years ago in the first place) . I'm hoping that she will get a bit nicer, be more mellow as she gets older.






Rescue Me digi kit I bought a few years ago at MyMemories.com and 
free template by http://www.etcbydanyale.com used in Photoshop Elements 10