Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Christmas 2010


Christmas 2010
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
This is the view on December 26th of our street in Huntsville. Hard to believe that this much snow prevented us from driving to Atlanta to reunite with the Wisconsin folks who had flown to our son John's home in Atlanta where we planned to share Christmas. Our Minnesota daughter flew to Huntsville to make the drive with us to Atlanta. We ventured out on the 25th and the 26th only to turn around for home after discovering how impossible the trip would be.

While the Atlanta group missed us, I think they missed the presents, baked goods and the famous filled rolls the most. We all stayed connected by phone, but it just wasn't the same!

It never snows in Huntsville and Atlanta hasn't had a White Christmas since 1822! It was the Perfect Storm

We will be telling this story for a very long time!!

Angel in the Snow


Angel in the Snow
Originally uploaded by judkajudy


My little Garden Angel looks like he/she is enjoying the snow! This is what our snow looked like the day after Christmas; when it was too late to make it to Atlanta for the holiday and time with our kids!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Thank You


Thank You
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
Between working and preparing for the holiday, I haven't had a lot of time to stamp, but this morning I set everything else aside and took advantage of an unexpected half day off of work to stamp. I really need to stamp sometimes! It is a stress releaser and makes me happy.

I used Hero Arts Silly Scape stamp for the main image, stamping it four times and paper piecing it. Added a row of people using a Martha Stewart punch. I incorporated the colors required for this month's challenge on the Hero Arts blog; kraft, slate blue, cranberry, pine green and white. The starry sky was made using HA Starry Sky bg stamp and VersaMark ink.

This is a "thank you" to you who are kind enough to visit my blog and leave a comment! It's a touch of sunshine in my day. Merry Christmas to all and blessings in the New Year!!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Innocence delivers a letter

Is there anything nicer than receiving a letter in the mail? I made this card to cheer up my sister in law who is undergoing chemo. I know emails are more efficient and certainly I use email a lot! But there is nothing like checking your mailbox and finding mail from someone who loves you.

This is an Innocence digi image. That's my new embossing folder that created the label (I then cut it out). Add some pp and there you have it!

It is a cold and freezing rain evening here. Don't know how the roads will be in the morning, but all activity is halted tonight. Winter brings such a mixture of weather!! Stay warm, stay safe and send a card to someone you love - soon!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The only good thing about a blizzard ..


100_2963
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
My daughter lives in Minneapolis and they got slammed with a blizzard yesterday, with a 20 inch snowfall. The roof of the Metrodome collapsed under the weight of all that snow!

This is a new stamp, a Penny Johnson image, that I ordered almost a month ago and just arrived last week. It's too late to make the Christmas cards, but I thought I would post it in honor of all those folks shoveling out today from yesterday's storm.

I miss Wisconsin in so many ways and for so many reasons, but not for the blizzards and snow and ice and shoveling ........

Friday, December 10, 2010

Card Exchange Snowman


Card Exchange Snowman
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
Thre's a card exchange going on at the Hero Arts blog and I sent this card to Jessical in Colorado, using the colors for the Hero Arts Challenge this month. I love that digi snowman! Used Stickles on the snow; crystal glaze on his hat and a piece of ribbon for his scarf. I will take a photo of the card I received from Anthonette in California and post it tomorrow. I LOVE exchanging cards with stamping friends from across the country.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Bridge is this Friday

And I am a hostess which means I bring tallies for our two tables. I had fun using Hero Arts digital tag shape as well as the digi Santa. I used the HA ledger stamp as background, added embossed snow flakes and some snowflake embellishments. The embelli's were in a prize package from Barb. The ribbon is hand dyed rayon seam binding from my friend Donna Mikasa. I hated to use it because I want to have it forever, but i love the curly bow look! There's stickles on the white trim and beard of Santa and glossy accents, too! It took me half the morning and a very messy desk, but I know the ladies wil love them and wonder how I did that!

Hero Arts 2011 Catalog Blog Hop Coming Soon!!

Exciting news from Hero Arts, my favorite stamp company: On Friday morning December 10th, Hero Arts is hosting a blog hop featuring TWENTY Hero Arts designers and friends. They will be previewing the new stamps and sharing tons of ideas! Hop along and leave comments and you can win prizes - 2011 stamps of course.

I've been following the sneak peeks of the new stamps on the Hero Arts blog and it's hard to wait for them to be available. So, set some time aside Friday morning to join in the fun and end your curosity about what's coming in 2011 from Hero Arts. They promise it will be a "Hoppin' good time"!

Bicycles, telephones, typewriters and foxes, oh, my!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Inspired by a Christmas Song

The challenge at WeeMemories this week is to create a card that has been inspired by a Christmas song. I thought this Innocence digi image was perfect for the "Frosty the Snowman" song. I remember my kids gathered around the TV when they were little to watch the cartoon every Christmas season. I hear that song and it takes me back to when they were in their pj's, freshly scrubbed and all excited about watching a cartoon!

I also entered the card in HA's challenge this month because it sparkles and I used the HA music bg stamp and the letters are HA;s. Thanks for stopping by! It's bedtime for me! Tomorrow is another working day.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

O Tannenbaum


O Tannenbaum
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
I love the sight of our Christmas tree set up in the corner of the living room. It is a comfortable tradition that sets the tone for the holidays ahead. It had been so warm at Thanksgiving that it was hard to believe Christmas was so close! But once the tree was up I felt the Christmas spirit! This tree was especially fun to set up because my daughter Kathleen was visiting from Minneapolis and helped put the ornaments on! And, even my DH joined in!! In a world full of change, it is good to know some things never change!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Snow Lady


Snow Lady
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
The Crafters Digital Art Center is having a series of challenges. This image is a digital freebie provided by Tiffany Doodles who is hosting the current challenge, now through December 15th. The assignment was to create a card using the Snow Lady image and adding a sentiment. I thought Hero Arts' "Chill" was the perfect sentiment for this cool lady!!

This turned out to be a Fab Four!


See the shimmer!
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
I entered this card in Jenny's Wee Memories challenge "A Touch of Pink" and learned this morning it was chosen as one of her "Fab Four"! What a boost to the battered stamper's ego this is! I love Jenny's challenges and will be playing there again!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Emma With Her Frills On

My sister in law, Shar, is undergoing chemotherapy and when i asked her what can I do to help her reply was, "Make me some of your pretty cards." She lives in Arizona and my goal is to send her a card a day. I've missed a couple of days during the last two weeks, but hope to keep the flow of cards pretty steady!

This is a digital image from Fred She Said digi stamps. This is Emma and I was in the mood for sunny yellow on a very rainy day.

Today I will be at my sister's house, putting up her Christmas tree and other decorations. She is recovering from knee surgery and is limited to a supervisory role!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

HA Digital Basic Tree


HA Digital Basic Tree
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
I colored this digital image from Hero Arts using paint Shop Pro. There are stickles on some of the leaves. I love this image and it was fun to do using my paint bucket!

HA Digital Traditional Santa

Thought I would post a photo of the HA digital Santa in its original colors. Guess it was too traditional for me!

Digital Hero Arts Santa


Digital Hero Arts Santa
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
Last summer I took a short course on using Paint Shop Pro. i was able to buy the software on Ebay for $10 and I have been practicing ever since. I am probably the last person to figure out how to load digital images into my computer and then retrieve them! Unzipping files was a mystery; but I was determined to figure the system out!

I am really excited about my new collection of digital images. This is a Santa from Hero Arts. The original image is colored in the traditional red Santa suit. But I was practicing using "paint bucket" in Paint Shop Pro and changed the colors! I am liking the sage green outfit! I also spent an hour and a half winding a bobbin and rethreading my sewing machine! I think the sewing machine has become more of a mystery than digital stamps!

Thanks for stopping by! I am busy making more Christmas cards. Since we put the tree up yesterday, I am starting to feel more like Christmas!!

P.S. We ate the last of the turkey leftovers for lunch!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Picture Perfect Turkey!


100_2931
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
The photo seems a bit blurry, but the turkey was delicious!! Twenty-three lbs of traditional Thanksgiving dinner. We had ten for dinner; a mixture of my family and my sister's family. Everyone helped clean up after dinner, and that was something for which I was thankful! Hard to believe it's another year gone by. Hope everyone had a good day with good food and the love of family and friends.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

One comment, one winner!

You are right, Barb! And I will put a little reward for your knowledge into the mail on Monday! ( I saved your address!) Happy Thanksgiving!!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Ms. Magnolia


Ms. Magnolia
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
Isn't she a sweetie!! This is a Magnolia stamp sent to me out of the goodness that is in her heart by Donna Mikasa of Hawaii. Donna and I were "hosti" together at the Hero Arts blog and she has become a good friend. She overwhelms me sometimes with her generosity! The package from Hawaii contained this adorable stamp, some 4x4 patterned papers, a Sharpie white poster pen, and some of Donna's amazing hand colored ribbon! I am thankful for the goodies, but most of all, thankful to call her friend.

The little birds are a digi download from "Fred She Said", a source for some really cute digi images.

Donna is the master of coloring with Copic markers and making darling cards. She works with digi and regular stamps. Her work is incredible! She has a blog called "Three Umbrellas". Look her up.
Here's the link: http://3umbrellas.blogspot.com/

Does anyone know why her blog is called "Three Umbrellas"? I have a little prize for the first person (besides Donna) to leave the right answer in a comment!

I am off to chop onions and celery in prepration for preparing stuffing tomorrow. I use a recipe from my beloved mother in law; the secret ingredient is applesauce! Yum! On that note, happy Thanksgiving everyone. See you after the holiday when the dishes are back in the china cabinet, the company has gone home, and the leftovers are almost gone! Bless us everyone!


Monday, November 22, 2010

See the shimmer!


See the shimmer!
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
I used one of Jennifer McGuire's Thinking Inking for the Holidays technique for this card. After adding Barn Door distress ink to white cs, I sprayed the gold Pearlex mixture directly onto the Lace Background stamp and stamped onto the red. After that dried, i white embossed the Branches and Flourishes tree onto the shimmer. I love the look! Jennifer is so generous to share her knowledge and talent with all of us! I hope Santa is very, very good to her!!

Happy Thanksgiving


Happy Thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
Ready or not, Thanksgiving is this week and I am mailing my last cards to far away family today! I know they will arrive late in some cases, but "it's the thought that counts", right? I am preparing dinner for ten (maybe 14 if the Atlanta family can make it). It will be the traditional turkey dinner with the stuffing, gravy, side dishes and dessert! It will take all day to prepare and minutes to consume. And we will be sleepy and groggy all afternoon.

This is a digital image (I am having so much fun figuring out the digi world) colored with Copic markers. I read somewhere that the traditional images of pilgrim men with buckles on their shoes and hats is historically incorrect. Buckles didn't show up for another hundred years! Oh, well ...

Sunday, November 21, 2010

90 Minute Scramble


90 Minute Scramble
Originally uploaded by judkajudy
One of the fun challenges over on the Hero Arts blog is an occasional 90 minute scramble. One of the talented stampers hosts the event by determining the date, time and theme and monitoring the process. Each stamper has 90 minutes to make and post a card to the Flickr pool. Prizes are awarded, but the best part is the challenge itself. This is the card I made last Saturday, following the sketch provided by Nancy, the hostess for this event.

I'm Back!

Last January I stopped blogging because I felt I had nothing much of value to share. There are so many talented paper crafters hosting their blogs that I found myself spending more time at their blogs than mine!

But I have changed my mind! I want to have a place to post the cards I make and to share any snippets of creative information I may have. I want to host the people who have so kindly hosted me at their blogs.

So, here I am! I have deleted my photo and now must figure out a way to find it out in cyberspace somewhere and put it back in my profile! The good news is, my friends in blogger land will help me!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Hero Arts ATC Swap

Last Fall, Shari, an artist with Hero Arts stamp company, initiated an ATC swap on the Hero Arts blog. As a former hostess on the Hero Arts blog, I was asked to assist by collecting and distributing ATC's from a group of ten stampers located in the United States. Other hosti and artists were in charge of groups from all around the world! Along the way, someone suggested that we hosti and artists swap ATC's with each other, and that is how I came to receive these lovely miniature masterpieces! What a treasure they are and how privileged I feel to own them. Thanks to Jennifer McGuire for this photo of all twelve ATC's!


From top to bottom, left to right, these ATC's were made by:Cathy Andronicou, Jenn Biederman, Sarah Moerman, Lin Brandyberry, Kathy Racoosin, Judy Jung, Lucy Abrams, Kelly Booth, Tracey Kuzniak, Jennifer McGuire, Shari Carroll, and Deborah Nolan.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Golf, and the place it occupies in my life!

GOLF AND THE PLACE IT OCCUPIES IN MY LIFE:

It has been cold - record-breaking, golf-course-closing, cold for more than two weeks. This means my husband has been house-bound for that length of time. His usual routine, four days a week, is a round of golf with his Senior League golf buddies and then out to lunch. Where to eat lunch is determined by who has a coupon for where.

Well, we have had the pleasure of each other's company for lunch lately, as well as for breakfast and supper! And in between .... it is the in between that is beginning to become annoying!!

My bored dh has inventoried the freezers, washed off all the phones after marveling how soiled they had become and in general has taken far too much interest in my housekeeping methods! He has indicated a sincere interest in helping me find better, more efficent ways to do things around here.

AND I HAVE HAD IT!!!

On Thursday, dh called the golf course, with hope in his heart, to find out if golfing was a possibility that day. I could tell by his body language and the grunts that the answer was "no". I took the phone from his hand and spoke to Steve, the golf pro.

I warned him that if the golf course didn't open soon, I was rounding up all the wives of the Senior League members and we were going to show up en masse with out hair dryers and thaw out the darned course ourselves!! I was only half joking!!

Speaking of golf, my daughter used and loved my wonderful Callaway Golf Enjoyment System clubs while she was here for Thanksgiving and has asked if she could buy them from me as they are no longer in production. I haven't golfed for five years and this is a pretty good indication that my interest in the game is pretty low. Still, it is a pretty final step to give up your golf clubs. So, I will make a gift of my golf clubs to my daughter. Too bad she isn't addicted to stamping ... I could fill the golf bag up with stamps I no longer use either!!

Purple Valentine


I have been stamping quite a bit lately, entering the challenges at the Hero Arts blog. It kept me out of the way of my freezer-inventorying, frustrated golfer husband! Those flowers are from Martha Stewart.

Dimensional Butterfly

I love how the buterfly turned out on this card. I learned how to do it on the Hero Arts blog! All stamps on both cards are from Hero Arts. I love all the stamps from the new 2010 Catalog!!

Thanks for stopping by! It's raining out now. Looks like I may have to activate the "Hair Dryer Brigade" after all!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

What did I expect? It's January!!

Northern Alabama is experiencing the coldest January since 1940!! Sure glad I didn't miss it!! We have been experiencing snow, ice and single digit temperatures for the past week. School was canceled for two days, which means the daycare centers were also closed! I have been enjoying lots of free time. Our pot of home made vegetable soup has sustained us along with the leftover Christmas cookies!! Unfortunately, our house is a bit chilly! Our homes are not built to keep out cold such as this.

We heat with a system called a "heat pump". Normally, it is adequate; but, again, they are not designed to keep up with single digit temperatures. The good news is, tomorrow will be back to more normal forty degree temperatures. My golfing husband will be back out on the golf course and can abandon the jig saw puzzles that have kept him occupied.

I have been making cards to enter the challenge on the Hero Arts Blog where the theme for this month is friendship and Valentines. This has been a fun challenge for me!


Yellow Blossoms

The sunny yellow of this card just warmed me up!!

Birdie Valentine

And I had fun making this vaentine!

Two of the Three Girls

I know I will be using these sweet little girl stamps a lot!

All images are Hero Arts, from the new 2010 Catalog. Thanks for stopping by!