Cute Nativity Set 2 from Digi Stamp Boutique

Life has been a little busy lately but very enjoyable at the same time.  I had a surprise visit to Okinawa to visit my daughter...compliments of her.  I loved the extended sunshine and being chauffeured around the island.  Upon my return I began helping with our annual Church Festival of the Nativities for Tacoma, Washington.  It's a lovely free event for the community...held on the first weekend of December.  It is a

beautiful display of 1000 plus nativities from around the world, a live nativity, numerous musical numbers...plus paintings of the Savior's birth, life, death, resurrection and visit to the American Continent after his resurrection.  If you're in the area next year, make it part of your Christmas celebration with your family.  It is well worth it.

One of the nativities created a little bit of nostalgia for me...as this cardstock nativity below was handed out in Primary years ago to every child in the church.  My copy lasted until my third child when it was accidentally torn. We have a very talented sister, Helen Christensen, in our church who recreated this on wood for the Festival of the Nativities...making it life size...

It is 8 feet tall and approximately 30 feet wide....a stunning re-creation!

So my mind has been enjoying the beauty of Nativities of all types.  This is the reason I chose Sally-Ann's Cute Nativity Set 2 from her shop at Digi Stamp Boutique.

I enjoyed sitting down and relaxing a bit to create this card and reminiscing about the birth of the Savior and the true meaning of Christmas!

I chose to print the image in several sizes to use the sheep as my embellishments.  I have popped them in three different heights!  Hope you enjoy!

"All images/designs are created and copyright owned by Sally-Ann Hancock.  My work means the world to me - it allows my passion to draw and create, to fit with my family life too, often the inspiration for my designs.  Hope you enjoy my images as much as I enjoy creating them."

We would love to have you play along at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 and show us your creations!  Digi Stamp Boutique is our sponsor this week and Sally-Ann is offering a £10 voucher if you are our Grand Prize Winner at SSW2.  This is the sketch you should use! 

Have a very Merry Christmas!  Thanks for stopping by!  

Hugs,

Judi

Holiday Duo!

This "Cute Ghost" and sentiment was the 

Freebie of the Month for September at 

Digi Stamp Boutique.

Both of these cards were so quick and easy to put together.  Thank Goodness as 

life has been a bit hectic lately and I needed something simple to create. 

 Hope you enjoy!

This "Xmas Tree" image  was a past freebie at Digi Stamp Boutique.

The sentiment is from Stampin' Up.

We would love to have you play along at

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 

with the sketch above.  

Digi Stamp Boutique

 is our sponsor this week and Sally Ann is offering a  

£10 voucher 

to the lucky Grand Prize Winner. 

 Hope it is YOU!

"All images/designs are created and copyright owned by Sally-Ann Hancock.  My work means the world to me - it allows my passion to draw and create, to fit with my family life too, often the inspiration for my designs.  Hope you enjoy my images as much as I enjoy creating them."

Thanks for stopping my by blog!  Have a great week and enjoy crafting to your hearts content!
Hugs,

Judi

A Sunflower Day!

It's a sunflower day here in the Pacific Northwest!  We have had quite a few hot days and nights...a tiny bit humid but I never complain as I love the Pacific Northwest summer days.  The sun has been shining brightly.  But in the past week the nights are beginning to cool down. We have definitely been enjoying the beginning of a beautiful Indian summer and hope it continues right on through the end of September and hopefully into October.  I know that it pushing it for the PNW but I am still hopeful.

Today at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 we are using any stamp element we want...rubber, acrylic or digital.  I hope you will stop by to see what the other DT members have created.

I am using Heartfelt Creations HCPC 2293 Aztec Gold Sunflowers.

I purchased this set at the USA Scrapbook Expo in SLC...years ago. But I found it online here.

This stamp set matches Blossom 2 Nestabilities.  I also purchased the Diamond Dust that is used for the center of the flower but do you think I can find it!!!!

I used this sunflower ribbon from my stash and painted a button and also a flower button to match the color scheme.  Copics can do wonders to almost anything!  I am anxious to play around with this set especially when I find my diamond dust...a fun way to add texture to the flowers. I had a fun time coloring the sunflower anyway!

This is the sketch we are using for this week's challenge.  

It can either be a hexagon or a circle.

I do hope you will play along this week.  We would love to see your creations using Sally's sketch!
Happy Crafting!

Judi

Doodle Pantry and 

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2

Just want you to know that I am not wishing Christmas to be here any too soon.  It seems like this has been the fastest year ever for me.  I would gladly return to January and begin again if I could.

But nevertheless, I created these two Christmas cards with Doodle Pantry's Mini Bethlehem pre-colored image.  And as you can see I managed to create two cards to add to my Christmas cards for this year.   Loved this little Bethlehem scene! The sketch was super quick and easy.  Sentiments came from a jar of 30 Holiday Rubber Stamps by Inkadinkado.  First time use, I think!....It's always amazes me what I can find in my craft room! 

I hope you will take the time to play along at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 this week.  The prize to our winner will be a $10 coupon at Doodle Pantry!

"Hello, my name is Laurie.   I'm just a regular Joe crafter.  While trying to find digital images that met my own crafting needs, I decided to draw some of my own, as I had so many unique (weird!) ideas that I just couldn't locate elsewhere.   I sincerely hope something I've done inspires you to go create something to bring a smile to someone else and hope you enjoy creating to your hearts content with some of my doodles.." ~Laurie

Hope you have a very creative week!

Hugs,

Judi

7 UP BISCUITS

Yesterday I saw this 7 Up Biscuit recipe that Arlana posted on Facebook. 

Needless to say, I was tempted to make them....So quick and easy....just four ingredients. 

This is a photo of my biscuits.  

Usually biscuits are a little dried out the second day 

but they were still very moist.  

I microwaved each biscuit for 10 seconds and

 they were just like they came fresh out of the oven.  

FYI:  I made half a recipe which made 9 rolls. 

I sprinkled Bisquick on my cutting board and 

then a little on top of the dough before 

I gently patted the dough and then cut out the biscuits.

Place in an 8X8 Pyrex dish.

 12 minutes in the oven was perfect!

The rolls are baked in the butter.  Oh, they were yummy but I am wondering if they will be just as moist without the butter.  Well, we didn't have to butter the roll before we ate it. I may try the recipe without butter and also with just half the amount of butter and then decide between the three variations.

My boys are always teasing me because I alter recipes...half the fat, etc. until they say there is nothing left of the recipe!!!!  

Well, I am just trying to be more healthy!

But honestly this recipe is wonderful...just as it is and 

I'm sure I will get the same response from my boys if I change it!

~~ 7 UP BISCUITS ~~

INGREDIENTS:
4 cups Bisquick
1 cup sour cream
1 cup 7-up
1/2 cup melted butter

DIRECTIONS:
Mix Bisquick, sour cream and 7 up. Dough will be very soft - don't worry. Knead and fold dough until coated with your baking mix. Pat dough out and cut biscuits using a round biscuit / cookie cutter. Melt butter in bottom of cookie sheet pan or 9x13 casserole dish. Place biscuits on top of melted butter and bake @ 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until brown.

Let me know if you try this recipe!

Enjoy!

Judi

Delight In Little Things!

Sometimes in our very busy lives it is hard to take time to delight in the little things!  

I hope this card will be a reminder for you to do just that!  

This image called "Daffodil" is available at

  Fresh Brewed Designs. 

Please stop by and visit Heather's site.

This is the sketch for 

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2

this week!  

I hope you will play along.  

 Here is a little about our sponsor this week at SSW2!

If you are our Grand Prize winner you will receive 

three free digis from Fresh Brewed Designs.

Hello, I am Heather Dennis, the owner and artist at Fresh Brewed Designs.

I love and do all I can to put God first in my life. I am so blessed beyond all I deserve.

I have an amazing husband who supports and loves me more than anything. 

We lead praise and worship together in church. I love hearing him sing.

I home school two of the best kids in the world. They are my heart.

I can't even describe how much they mean to me. 

I LOVE all things crafty. I have been crafting and creating since as early as I can remember.

Here is a little about our shop:

Fresh Brewed Designs is a small online company that has been 

offering a wide variety of digital 

 and rubber stamps since November 2010, 

designed to meet the 

needs of paper crafting addicts 

everywhere. With over 30 categories to choose from and 

new additions each month, our range of products is expanding all of the time.  

We also have BIG NEWS for 2014!  

Every month this year we will be giving away 

BLOG CANDY! 

We would love for you to visit our blog and facebook page, where fresh ideas are always percolating. 

Happy Summer!
Thanks for stopping by!
Judi

Scalloped Tag Topper Card

and Nugget Purse

It has been a while since I have had an opportunity to look at a StampinUp Catalog, but when I did I fell in love with this Scallop Tag Topper and a few other items.  Well, I'll confess, I ended up having basically my own party.  

I love how this card ties together with a bow.  I didn't put a sentiment on the card as I thought I could use it for almost any event.  The flower die is Tim Holz Tattered Flower Garland.  The cardstock is StampinUp,
Coastal Cabana.  Not sure about the DP but I think I purchased it at Michael's.

These little purses hold two Chocolate Nuggets.  Perfect for a sweet little gift for anyone!

If you would like to know how to make these two items and other items, visit here, QBeeQuest.blogspot.com

Instructions for the Scalloped Tag Topper Card, click here.

Instructions for the purse, click here.

I have three StampinUp Demonstrators on my side bar!
QBeeQuest
Pootles
Becky Roberts, Inking Idaho
Feel free to visit their sites and enjoy their creations!

Happy Day!

Judi

Birthday Happiness!

Seems like our family has so many summer birthdays so I thought a birthday card was in the makings for this week!  This sweet image is from Bugaboo Stamps called Edward Elephant-Present.  You can find him here.  I love the fun sketch this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.  I used the Martha Stewart Balloon punch and added some birthday embellishments on top of them and added the colored floss for the balloon string.  I also added the pen stitching around the image!

We would love to have you play along at
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

This is the sketch we are using this week!

Be sure to follow the rules at SSW2.

As you might guess, Bugaboo Stamps is our sponsor this week.  They are offering 

7 free digis 

to the 

Grand Prize Winner 

at SSW2! 

How sweet it is!

Here is a little about Bugaboo!

Everything that you ever wanted to know about Bugaboo Stamps:  As if raising 5 children in the frozen land of the North was not enough of a challenge, Jodie Mackrell decided to dip her cold little Canadian toes into the work of papercrafting by opening an online store full of her illustrations. Bugaboo Stamps has become one of the leading companies in digital images. From seriously snarky to sugar sweet to sublimely soulful all the way over to the other side of the super sexy spectrum, you're bound to find all that you need and more to create your paper projects.  Jodie works very hard to provide New Releases and Freebies every week!!  If your taste runs to rubber (and you know who you are), you can find Bugaboo Stamps at Totally Stampilicious.  And finally, join the Bugaboo Stamps DT for the weekly Challenges at Catch the Bug.

Store www.bugaboostamps.com

Challenge Blog:  http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  I love when you come to visit! 

Hugs, Judi

Origami Necktie and Shirt Card for Father's Day

I have noticed during the past three months I have had a lot of visitors coming to view my origami necktie and shirt card for Father's Day posted June 16, 2012.  

This evening I was checking the link for the tutorial and realized that it has disappeared from Paper Craft Planet. Sorry I didn't notice it sooner.  I did some searching but didn't come up with the original tutorial.  However, I will link some other tutorials below.

Since I wasn't able to locate the original tutorial I decided to look for my personal pattern.

Begin with an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper.  Lightweight is easier than cardstock for the shirt. As you can see the folds are not very crisp with the cardstock. 

Fold into the center lengthwise

Make a crease starting at the bottom fold and fold out.

This will make the sleeve.

Turn paper over and fold top down about 1 inch. 

Turn back over and fold top toward center.

The collar and neck will appear.

Fold up so that the bottom of the shirt 

meets just under the collar

 Add sticky tape and your necktie

The neck tie is very simple. 

 Use a paper 4 X 4 inches.   

Follow the instructions in the following Tutorial.  

This tutorial is without sleeves if that is your preference.

Here is a smaller version of my shirt...way cute!  

Nice to add to the front of a card!

The following tutorial is a 

Money Origami Shirt and Tie Instructions 

It also includes photos of step by step paper folding instructions.  

What a fun way to give money to the man you love!

Hope this helps!

Please leave me a message with a link to your blog!  

I would love to see your creations!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Crafting!

Hugs,

Judi

"Frozen" Anticipation

For all you Frozen lovers...this is my 13 month old grandson anticipating the Tick-Tock in the movie,

Frozen.

He loves Frozen!

Also on YouTube!

http://youtu.be/GMGuvHaBlvY

A Sweet Thank You Teddy!

This sweet "Thank You Teddy" is from 

Meljen's Designs...such a precious image! 

 Melissa Jenkins creates so many lovely images. 

 I hope you will stop by and enjoy her artwork!

Sally Dube, the new owner of Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 

has created this remarkably lovely and simple sketch.  

It came together so quickly for me. 

 I know you will enjoy using it too this week.

I hope you will play along at SSW2 and have a 

chance to be our Grand Prize Winner for the week!  

Our winner will receive:

4 non-colored images.

  

This week's sketch!

Here is a little about Meljen's Designs:

 My name is Melissa Jenkins, and I am a homeschooling mommy and wife to my best friend. We have two children, two cats and three hermit crabs. When I'm not drawing, I love spending lots of time with my family cuddling on the couch, playing games, going for walks, fishing, visiting the park & the zoo, collecting postage stamps, or just plain watching movies.

I've been an artist as long as I can remember - and I am inspired by everything around me. All of my digital stamp designs are inspired by my children (and husband!) and things they do, our cats, things we see on nature walks and daily 'adventures', or memories I have of my childhood. Animals too - I love animals! Art is an uplifting thing for me, and I love designing cute tidbits of art that makes people smile.

I draw all of my little creations by hand. A lot of love goes into my art! Each of my designs is sketched in pencil, inked with a black Micron pen, then scanned in and lightly cleaned up so it will look crisp when you print it.

I LOVE inspiring crafters. I am not very talented at making cards myself, so I LOVE seeing all of the beautiful things that you make with my digital stamps. I couldn't ask for a better blessing!

Thanks for stopping by to see me!

Hugs,

Judi

Happy Easter to Ewe!!!

I am delighted to play along with the SSW2 DT again this week!  We are using a sketch from the past from SSW~Sketch 219!  This image is from Bugaboo, "Happy Easter to Ewe!"  It includes the sentiment too.  You can find this little Ewe here.

This is the sketch for the week!

This is the card I created last fall with this sketch!  

I used an image from Deidre Mosher Designs.

As you can tell, Bugaboo Stamps is our sponsor this week at 

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.  

If you would like to play along you will have the chance to 

win 7 free digis from Bugaboo.

Remember to follow the Challenge Rules under the tab on SSW2.

Hope to see you around this week!

Everything that you ever wanted to know about Bugaboo Stamps:  As if raising 5 children in the frozen land of the North was not enough of a challenge, Jodie Mackrell decided to dip her cold little Canadian toes into the work of papercrafting by opening an online store full of her illustrations. Bugaboo Stamps has become one of the leading companies in digital images. From seriously snarky to sugar sweet to sublimely soulful all the way over to the other side of the super sexy spectrum, you're bound to find all that you need and more to create your paper projects.  Jodie works very hard to provide New Releases and Freebies every week!!  If your taste runs to rubber (and you know who you are), you can find Bugaboo Stamps at Totally Stampilicious.  And finally, join the Bugaboo Stamps DT for the weekly Challenges at Catch the Bug.

Store www.bugaboostamps.com

Challenge Blog:  http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com

Prize:  7 Free Images

Happy a happy week crafting!

Hugs,

Judi

My Favorite Flower Pots

I do have to say that this "Favorite Flower Pots" image from A Day for Daisies is definitely one of my favorites. At the moment, it is a freebie at A Day for Daisies.  I enjoy gardening and watching my flowers grow.  However I do have to say that weeding is not one of my favorite things to do.  Needless to say, when I saw this image, it got me in the mood for gardening...so what did I do.  I started the process of cleaning up my flower beds in January.  Usually I don't get started until March but during January we had some incredibly warm and dry days that allowed me to do this.

I hope you enjoy my card.  This ribbon was one of the first ribbons I purchased for crafting.  It is amazing what I am finding in my craft room.   It is velvety and stretchy. I love the white gathers on the edge of the ribbon.  I decided to twist it to give my card some dimension.  I really like the look it produced!  Hope you do too!

This is the sketch we are using this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.  I hope you will take a few minutes to play along.  This sketch from Sally was quick and easy to create!  

Our sponsor at SSW2 is A Day for Daisies.  Tammy is the owner of ADFD and has the most unique style of drawing!  I just love all of her images.  They always color up so amazingly gorgeous.

Tammy is offering a $12 gift certificate to the grand prize winner at SSW2 to use in her store!

Just a little info from Tammy:
A Day For Daisies began as a small token to a constant need to create. Pairing a love of whimsical illustration, with a tidy graphic design background, Tammy S Thompson, produced her first stamp designs, introducing irresistibly sweet stamps to crafters around the globe. Drawing inspiration from the beautiful world around us, she strives to express the happiness and gratitude she feels in each stamp design she creates.

Presently, A Day For Daisies has grown to over 3,000 Digital Stamps with a quickly expanding line of Best Loved Clear Polymer. A Day For Daisies has been published and awarded over the years for innovative and unique designs created to inspire the crafting community. With a whole team behind her now, she remains passionate about illustration, obsessed with quality, and dedicated to her customers. A Day For Daisies thanks you for your ideas, comments, and creativity!

I am entering this in the the challenge at A Day for Daisies Blog.

Thanks for visiting my blog this week!  See you again real soon!
Hugs, Judi

A Heart Bouquet Just for You!

Well, it looks like the new year is moving right along...Valentine's Day is just around the corner!  I have created this Valentine card just for you!  This sweet image is from Bugaboo Stamps and is called "Valentine Baskets-Mouse."  Isn't he just sweet as can be!  Look at his ears...I kid you not...when I was finished coloring I looked and saw a heart in each ear from my shading!  Not sure how that happened...I even see a heart in the highlights of the bucket...none of this was planned!  It was a delight to be able to use my MS Heart punch that has never been used.

This is Sally's sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 this week.  I hope you will play along and have some fun with us.

Bugaboo Stamps is their sponsor and will offer 7 free digis of your choice to the Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 Winner.

Everything that you ever wanted to know about Bugaboo Stamps:  As if raising 5 children in the frozen land of the North was not enough of a challenge, Jodie Mackrell decided to dip her cold little Canadian toes into the work of paper crafting by opening an online store full of her illustrations. Bugaboo Stamps has become one of the leading companies in digital images. From seriously snarky to sugar sweet to sublimely soulful all the way over to the other side of the super sexy spectrum, you're bound to find all that you need and more to create your paper projects.  Jodie works very hard to provide New Releases and Freebies every week!!  If your taste runs to rubber (and you know who you are), you can find Bugaboo         Stamps at Totally Stampilicious.  And finally, join the Bugaboo Stamps DT for the weekly Challenges at Catch the Bug.

Thanks for stopping by.  I always enjoy hearing from you! 

Hugs, Judi 

Cute Polar Bear and 

Digi Stamp Boutique

Welcome back to my blog this week!  I seem to be getting my life back after a very busy fall and winter.  I am hoping to create a card for Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 at least once a month.  So I hope you will check back often and see what I create.

This image is call "Cute Polar Bear" and you can find him at Digi Stamp Boutique.  Sally Ann is our sponsor this week at SSW2 and I know you can find an image that will talk to you and make you want to use the SSW2 Sketch of the week. 

"All images/designs are created and copyright owned by Sally-Ann Hancock.  My work means the world to me - it allows my passion to draw and create, to fit with my family life too, often the inspiration for my designs.  Hope you enjoy my images as much as I enjoy creating them."

The Grand Prize winner for this week's challenge will win a £10 voucher at Digi Stamp Boutique. Sure hope you will play along.

Some of you may be getting tired of Christmas and winter cards but I haven't been able to create much in the last two years so I was motivated to find a winter image to go with my new snowflake corner by  Memory Box.  I also have the matching border and was going to try to use it with this sketch but it was too much and took away from the image.  I will use it another time.  A friend of mine, Lin, sent me a Christmas card using these two die cuts and I just had to have them.  

This is the front of Lin's card using the snowflake border die and the inside of her card is using the snowflake corner die.  It's an adorable pop-up card with the trees and the snowmen!  Lin, you are amazing!  I always look forward to receiving your Christmas card every year!

Now my craft room has been in a dormant stage for the last two years and I was amazed when I made my card and realized how many new items I haven't used that were still in their original packaging. Guess I had better get creating so I can use them.  Is anyone else in this predicament?

Hope you are enjoying your JanYOUary and doing things you want to do!

Hugs, Judi