My Year In Review... 2011

This is my second post for today.

I'm really enjoying the "year in 

review" posts so many of you have done, so I thought I'd give it a shot, too. I hope you'll like looking through some of my favorites I've created for my first blogging year... 2011.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs!

Linda

A Proper Gentleman

There are times when a 

project just doesn't materialize unless you keep at it. This was a half-a-day card... literally.

I started with Graphic 45's 

A Proper Gentleman "On the Boulevard"... but what a struggle after that. I cut two different card bases before settling on this Core'dinations Sandtrap cardstock. I cut five mats... then chose the black Core'dinations Clocks from the Timeless Collection and paper from the Bo Bunny's Timepiece 6x6 pad. 

I used both Vintage 

Photo and Black Soot Distress Inks.

The headlights are 

from the Teresa Collins Christmas Home Brads pack. 

Have you noticed all

the fabulous sales going on everywhere? This is a great time to stock up on supplies, like those new stamps or dies you've been wanting. I ordered some stamps from Verve Stamps at a terrific discount and some TCP Studio Jewels from A Cherry on Top at a great price with an extra discount code. What fun! What bargains have you found?

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs!

Linda

Masculine Card #4

I believe that My Mind's Eye 

papers are at the top of my favorite's list right now. For this card I pulled out last December's Times Square Twenty 11 from my stack of Pixie Dust Paperie kits.

Aside from the May Art's

Burlap string, Antique Linen Distress Ink and adhesive everything to make this card came in the kit. I love when everything goes together... like the Brick Red, Cream and Dark Brown American Crafts cardstock, MME Lost & Found "Princess Crown" and "Demure" DP, and Echo Park's Everybody Loves Christmas "Happy Holidays" DP.

The button is from the MME

Lost & Found Union Square "Moments" Buttons pack.

Thank you for the visit!

Hugs!

Linda

Double Duty For Tecolote

The papers in the Tecolote Kit

were so gorgeous, I couldn't put in away. So I made another get well card for my masculine stash.

Kraft cardstock from The Kraft 

Outlet is the card base. From the kit I pulled out Cosmo Cricket's Odds & Ends "Chalk", My Mind's Eye Lime Twist "Bloom" and Sassafras Starters "Intro". I used my Tim Holtz Paper Distresser and Vintage Photo Distress Ink on all the edges.

The burlap came in the kit

as did the MME Stella & Rose brad. The old coat button is from my stash and the bow is May Arts Natural Burlap String.

Here is the inside. 

Thanks for dropping by today!

Hugs!

Linda

A Tecolote Get Well Card

Here is another in my series

of masculine cards I'm making from my stash of Pixie Dust Paperie Kits. This time I've used the September Tecolote Kit which is loaded with fabulous My Mind's Eye papers and embellishments along with lots of other goodies.

The cardstock is American Crafts 

Carrot and the Designer Papers I chose to go with it are My Mind's Eye Lime Twist "Everyday Alpha" and GCD Studios' Ella Blue "Georgia". I also used a Journal Card from the GCD Studios' Antiquities sheet. I edged it all with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Not included in the kit 

were these Tim Hotlz Sprocket Gears that worked perfectly with the Journal Card.

The twill trim is from the

My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose "Little Lady Trim" packet. Don't let that name detract you from putting it on a man card... I think it's a great match. So many of the product in these kits are double duty items, which is one reason why I love them!

So glad you stopped by today!

Hugs!

Linda

Masculine Get Well Card

As I said before, I need to

build up my stash of masculine cards, so as always, I've relied on my Pixie Dust Paperie Kits to come through with what I need.

I chose the August Picnic 

Basket Kit to produce this get well card and pulled some American Crafts cardstock from the June Summer of Love for my card base. The mats are AC Denim cardstock teamed with Pink Paislee's Daily Junque "Map" and Cosmo Cricket's Odds & Ends "Trinkets". I edged all the papers with Antique Linen Distress Ink

The charm is from my stash

and is tied with May Arts Natural and Olive Burlap String I purchased from It's Always Fabulous on Etsy.

I actually have begun to

enjoy making man cards. I love creating with lace and flowers and girly things, but a masculine card is a challenge. I think I'm up for the task! How about you?

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs!

Linda

A Call of Duty Birthday

On this Monday morning

I have a masculine birthday card to show you, that I made for a friend (he's actually more like a third son) who turned twenty on Christmas day.

Black Bazzill cardstock

was used for the base and the mats. The images were online and the DP is from Prima's Printery 8x8 paper stack.

The Distress Ink is

Black Soot and the paper clock is adorned with Tim Holtz's Ideaology Game Spinners.

After all the Christmas cards,

it seems strange to make a birthday card again. I need to get back into the groove, and get my stash of get well, sympathy and anniversary cards built back up. Seems that I have nothing in those categories and certainly none on the masculine side. I suppose that's normal for this time of year. How about you? Do you find that your stash is low also?

Thanks for the visit!

Hugs!

Linda

Merry Christmas!

To all of our dear friends...

Linda & The Penmaker

My Final Christmas Card

With only one day until

Christmas, you have most likely finished making your cards, except possibly for those you may personally hand to someone. Here is the last card that I photographed (not actually the last I made... because being human, I forgot some folks and had to do a couple more cards on the fly that I didn't have time to shoot). 

After looking at this

photo, I can see that my Merry Christmas isn't as visible as I would have liked. I do love this My Mind's Eye paper though. I'm content in that the season of Christmas card making is completed! 

May you all have a happy

Christmas Eve with family and friends!

Thanks for the visit!

Hugs!

Linda

Gift Card Holders

Here are a few gift card 

holders I've made for my family. These were very simple to do and fun to embellish. 

I started with #8 manilla tags

and covered one side with DP. Glued on a mini bag from Canvas Corp. Topped that with a strip of ribbon, a torn piece of Canvas Corp natural flute that I first sprayed with Marshmallow Glimmer Mist. I next added an image piece cut from Graphic 45" Christmas Emporium. 

I finished up with a Glimmer Misted

rose, a piece of ribbon fastened with a Teresa Collins brad, a May Arts burlap string bow and holly covered with Rock Candy Stickles.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs!

Linda

The Last Tags

Here are (I hope) the last

two Christmas tags I'll show you this year.

I used up a few more of

the scraps remaining here on my desk. What ever I have left after this week will be packed away... until the Jingle Belles challenges start up again.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs!

Linda

Christmas Greetings

Ooopps!!!

Here's one I missed showing you. 

This card is a mix of my favorite Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium and the Authentique 6x6 Bundle Collection... Wonder.

I tied on a vintage button

with May Arts Burlap String I purchased from It's Always Fabulous. Be sure to check out Sue's Etsy shop... she has lots of goodies for your paper crafting projects.

We are nearing the big day,

ladies... how are you holding up? My prayer is that you all take some time to dwell on the real reason for the season. 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs!

Linda

Webster's Pages Fa-La-La

Another Christmas card

going to a special, sweet friend!

I have veered from my 

Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium path and have headed off onto that of Webster's Pages Waiting for Santa. It's not because I've grown tired of the CE, it's simply because I've used it all up (I shed a tear... I've loved this paper). This Fa-La-La pattern, is equally lovely. I fussy cut the roses on the front side and used the back side for my mat. Added a strip from MME Lost & Found Christmas "Tinsel". The stamp is from a Tim Holtz set and those beautiful satin snowflakes were a gift from Sue at It's Always Fabulous (check out her Etsy shop).

Only one more batch of

cut-out cookies to go... then a pecan pie and a carrot cake. I really don't think I'll want to look at another piece of pastry for awhile after I'm finished making these. What a blessing though, that I have a family that will enjoy them. What are you baking for your special ones?

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs!

Linda

More Christmas Cards

This is a very quick post

to show you two of the cards I made over the weekend...

We took our annual trek to Oglebay's

Festival of Lights in Wheeling, WV. If you're anywhere near that area, don't miss this event. We've been going since our children were little. It's just such a wonderful time for us to drive through the park and view the fabulous light displays and then to walk through the lodge, which seemed to be prettier this year than ever.

Lastly, I'm interested in if any

of you have heard anything about Google getting rid of their friend connect service? Marianne posted this the other day and I was wondering if anyone has any updates.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs!

Linda

Christmas Emporium Cards

Today I've gotten three more

Christmas cards made, and all from the Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium Collection.

The middle card has a mat of

Bo Bunny's Father Christmas "Stripe". Otherwise, the cards are made entirely  from the CE Collection, not counting the cardstock, Rock Candy Stickles and TPC Studios Jewels. I've found this collection extremely versatile and fun to work with. Isn't it funny though, that just when you think you are finished making cards, you need a couple more... and when you think you have enough cookies, the kids eat them all. Well, I'm off to the kitchen... again!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs!

Linda 

Joy To The World Tag

Just one tag to show

you today, and then I'm off to the kitchen to bake Christmas cookies.

This Sizzix Bird #5 die

has been one of my very favorite purchases this season. Here I put a dab of Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint on the extra wing and it caused it to fold in slightly giving it the effect of motion... absolutely perfect.

Have yourself a fabulous day.

Thanks for the visit!

Hugs!

Linda

Merry Christmas Tag

Yikes... can't I move any faster?

I have to make four more tags, but no time today. Here is one I made last night...

These terrific snowflakes 

are from E.A.D. Designs, and are the most fabulous rub-ons I have ever used. Seriously, you have to try these.

Now I want to brag on

a card I received from Stephanie over at Ingenious Inking. You may know her as Smilyn Stef or half of the talented duo at Jingle Belles Christmas card challenge blog.

I am crazy for Kraft papers

and as you can see, this card is just ooozing with Krafty goodness. I love this set of stamps she used and the 3-D effect on the center square. 

As you can see there is a bit of 

sparkle on each square. Such a lovely touch! Thank you so very much dear friend!

Now one more tidbit... a win

at The Kraft Journal for my Christmas Greetings tag! Thank you to Beth Moore and the team.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Hugs!

Linda