Chakra Medallion "Root" by Crystal Moore

I love the beginning of the month.  It means that Queen Kat Designs has a new batch of stamps to release from its artists!  I made this gate-fold card using a December release stamp from the lovely and talented Crystal Moore, whose line of Chakra Medallions has captured the hearts of many a crafter.

Today's featured stamp is called "Root", and I wanted to make a special card to showcase her image, so I punched out a "frame" of sorts with a scallop circle punch, centered on the edges of each "gate" of my card.
I stamped "Root" with ink that coordinated with this winter patterned paper I had leftover in my Christmas craft box.

It all came together with some dark teal-colored card stock and a sentiment that comes from another QKD stamp set called Winter Deer.  A vintage button and a paper rose finish off my newest Christmas card.

For more of Crystal's fabulous stamps, check out the Shoppe.

December Home Decor Blog Hop

Welcome to the December Home Decor Blog Hop.  If you came here from Diane's blog, you're on the right track.  If not, you won't want to miss out on all the inspiration, so start at Shannon's Blog.

Today I want to show you a wreath I made.  I started with a Styrofoam base and wrapped several different wired ribbons and strings of beads around it.  I tied bows at the bottom, and added some greenery.

It's hanging on my front door, ready to greet guests as they come into our home!  Well, that's it, and now it's time to hop along to Shelly Lynn's blog for more inspiration and fun.

If you get lost along the way, here's the blog order for you.  Happy Hopping!

   Shannon - http://shannonleffew.blogspot.com/
   Tonya - http://ittybittyladybugs.blogspot.com/

   Pam - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/
   Esther - http://forthejoyofcreating.blospot.com/
   Lisa - http://lisascreativeniche.blogspot.com/
   Diana - http://daisylovecreations.blogspot.com/
   Pat -  http://patacakespages.blogspot.com

   Shelly Lynn – http://kccroppers.blogspot.com

Mmm, Leftovers

My favorite part of Thanksgiving--besides sitting at the table with family, passing the house with Christmas lights twinkling, and yummy food--is the leftovers!!  I make two special dishes with the turkey meat, and I made the first one earlier this week.  I had help, too!  My new daughter-in-law, Cami, came over to help and to make pies for her family.

Here are the results, a pie for me, hubby and daughter.  Cami took hers home for the family to enjoy that night.  Each pie is custom made for the individual's taste buds.  I like mushrooms but not peas, Wendy likes peas but not mushrooms, and hubby likes it ALL!! LOL

My other special leftover dish is lovingly referred to as "turkey balls"!    They are croquettes, small molded balls of cut-up turkey and cream of chicken soup, rolled in flour and egg and bread crumbs--crunchy on the outside, creamy on the inside.  Mmm-mm-mmm!

So, do you have any special leftover dishes you make after Thanksgiving?  Let me know!!

Make it a Shiny Christmas

Squigglefly Challenge Blog has a new weekly challenge today--use glitter and bling and a Squigglefly digi image!  So I just had to alter this small metal tray and make this Christmas present for one of my co-workers.  My project started with this vintage tray I snagged at a craft show/rummage sale called the Bizarre Bazaar.  I got six trays for a dollar (not to mention a whole lot more, each item being a dollar).

I used acrylic paints to cover the tray, then Mod Podged some pale teal-colored patterned paper onto the face and sprinkled the first layer of glitter while the glue was drying.  Next I printed an image from the Inger Harding Winter Wonderland collection.  I tore the edges and again used Mod Podge and a sprinkle of glitter.  I love the new papers from Inger, don't you?

I chose a Tim Holtz metal tag for the sentiment:

Then it was time to embellish!  I wanted to keep a vintage look to my finished project, so I tied a bit of fiber onto one end of the tag, and adhered a rose onto the other end.  A few well-placed pearls on the edges of my tray and a bow complete the look I wanted, but the whole thing needed something...  

I finally added a single sparkly snowflake and it looks like it is following her down the path she's lighting.  So now I am one more Christmas project into my long list of favors, cards, presents and decor to make for this year's holiday celebration.

So are you into shiny?  do you have extra glitter and bling on hand?  Why not use a Squigglefly digi image and create something festive.  And while you're at it, enter the Squigglefly Challenge for your chance to win!

The History of Bullying Goes Way Back

Let me give you a little Christmas history lesson.  It involves some very mean reindeer and one bullied reindeer--don't worry, it has a happy ending!

My card showcases Coriander Shea's lovely new stamped image Reindeer Decor, offered by Queen Kay Designs.  By taking a line from the song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the football frenzy of the last week, I ended up with a couple of rough looking reindeer.  They are the ones who called Rudolph names and wouldn't let him play games with them (especially Antler Tackle).
I stamped, colored and fussy-cut three images and adhered them onto an embossed card front.  The sentiment is a line from the Christmas song, and I embellished with red glittery border from K & Co., as well as a leftover Christmas brad I found at the bottom of my Christmas craft box.
Don't these reindeer look like they're ready to tackle you?!  I even gave each the football smudges under their eyes so the sun wouldn't distract their targeting ability.  I am definitely giving this card to one of my guy friends who appreciates a little football humor.
You can check out all the new Christmas rubber at the QKD SHOPPE today!!!

A note of seriousness here: even though bullying is a priority in schools nowadays, you can't help someone who won't tell people they are victims of bullying.  Watch for signs from your kids, your students, your family. Keep the lines of communication open.  Google sites that give you the symptoms, warning signs and advice on how to handle someone who is being bullied.
Our area has been hit with quite a few suicides in the last year, despite the "high awareness" that schools are on.  I was lucky enough to discover that my daughter was being bullied when she was very young, and got some really good advice on how to handle her and the main bully and her mom.  My daughter came out of the experience stronger and with a new best friend.  She is now a senior in high school and very empathetic to others who are being bullied.  And she is alive, which is more than I can say of other worried parents.
Keep your ears and hearts open to young victims.  You could save a life!

I'm So Thankful...

...for my life, my loves, my homes, my job, my five senses, my creativity...
AND the new Squigglefly Challenge!!  (You'll never guess what the new challenge is...wait for it...)
A THANKFUL THEME!!  (Bet you didn't see that one coming)

You can create a thank you card, a Thanksgiving card, or anything with a grateful theme.
One of November's newest digi releases from Squigglelfy mixes both the "giving thanks" theme with the Thanksgiving theme for one terrific image.  Our very talented Fawn Palmer is the artist of Happy Turket Day digi image from Squigglefly Designs.
I decided to go along with the Thanksgiving theme and create a feast for the eyes, in bold bright colors!  I used my Copics to color Fawn's image, then added a little Stickle here and a little Liquid Glass there for a little shine, especially on the pumpkins.  I actually printed up two images, then used just the larger pumpkin to add to my scene.
I found a leftover piece of Dasher patterned paper and distressed the edges.  Before adhering my image to the card, I fell into a feather frenzy for a fun feel (feeling funny using all those F's).  I glued the feathers under the image and slipped the pumpkin pie recipe sticker (Tim Holtz Idealogy Sticker Pad) and a bit of K&Co border in orange along the side.  Then had to staple a few snippets of ribbon and thought I had better quit before my card exploded!!
The girl in the image just looked like she was having a blast in her turkey costume, so I wanted to give my card that same fun feeling.  I hope you like it!  For more of Fawn's digi images, check out the Squigglefly Store.  And don'y forget to showcase the things for which you are grateful with a card!  Use a Squigglefly image and enter it in the challenge for a chance to win!
p.s.  One more thing to be grateful for:  the honor of being on the Squigglefly Design Team for another term!!  I am such a lucky duck (or should it be turkey, in line with the season?)!

Favors From the Queen

I love to come up with different kinds of favors to give to each guest.  One of the ideas knocking around in my head is to give each guest a cupcake to take home (or to eat if pumpkin pie, cheesecake and Christmas cookies aren't enough).  I found these cute squat Mason jars at a rummage sale and picked up a handful.

I thought that Crystal Moore's image, Solar Plexus, a Queen Kat Designs November release stamp, would be perfect to decorate my jar.  I decided to stamp the image onto a pastel green background, using VersaMark ink and red embossing powder.  The image really pops!

I attached it to the top and for this photo, placed candy inside the jar.  I might even go with the candy contents instead of the cupcake, because I have these wonderful bite-sized Mars chocolates left over from Halloween, and I thought "do I really need to add another baking project to my full day?" LOL

I added Christmas ribbon to the top screw-on lid, and just a single Christmas sticker, since I want all that candy to shine through to my guests.  Simple yet pretty, thanks to Crystal's Solar Plexus, and I can do them up well before the actual celebration, since chocolate lasts for six months, and it's in an airtight container.

QKD has released some beautiful stamps this month, and Christmas is coming!!  Get your wish list going for Santa (or hubby) to choose from now and check out the Shoppe!!