[Mami Doodles] Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner...

Hello everyone & happy belated Halloween! We had a snow storm along the East Coast. I witness a bunch of wrecks with totaled cars on my very slow, slow drive home on Saturday; and am just overly grateful that my friend Kat and I arrived home so safely. Along my road I saw two separate cars end up in ditches and had to be hauled out by tow trucks and snow plows. 

The weather channel didn't predict this much snow (or chaos) for our area, but I think the fact that we're having a snow storm in October and being "caught by surprise," didn't allow for enough preparation. Let's pray for the many families that still don't have power... I hear they might have to wait was long as Thursday!

Anyways, I am finally back online! We still have an internet outage at home and Comcast is trying to figure things out, but in the meantime I am currently on another business trip and the hotel has a fabulous connection. So here I am to give you a quick wave and check in to let you know who won the Mami Doodles prize from my previous post. My Random.org draw is #2 Carol.

Carol said...
Great card, love the button treatment. Traditionally at Christmas we have home made stuffing and bread sauce (use packets rest of year!). Carol x

@Carol - shoot me an email (<-- see left bar below my profile pic for my email addy) and I will fwd you instructions on how to claim your prize :)

Thank you all for participating in our fun blog hop. You still have until this Thursday, Nov 3 to enter a card in our Black & Orange challenge for a chance to win a pack of 4 fun Christmas/Winter digi.

[Scrap Our Stash] October Challenge - Favorite Quote

This month at our Scrap Our Stash's October Challenge we are creating something with our favorite Quote.

This quote is from one of my beloved and first Waltzingmouse Stamp sets called "Afternoon Tea Sentiments."


Stamps: (Afternoon Tea Sentiments) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper: (Paper Basics Card Stock - Fine Linen, Vintage Cream) Papertrey Ink; (Portrait Collection) Crate Paper; (Wisteria) Basic Grey
Ink: (Jenni Bowlin - No. 11 Brown Sugar; Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Antique Linen) Ranger
Embellishments: (Sewing Thread - White) Gütermann; (Designer Brads - Claire) SEI; (Artists' Color Acrylic Series 1 - Titanium White) Utrecht; (1" Circle Punch) EK Success

Here an closer look at the sentiment. The quote is framed with a scored frame and a cute little brad as an accent. In addition the vintage cream card stock has been distressed with my favorite ink Antique Linen.



This is my first time using acrylic paints. I picked some up when I was last in New York City at an Utrecht. I did not like how stark the white is, so I dabbed some Antique Linen onto the dried paint to bring down the white. But I do like this look quite a lot and will be repeating this technique...



Check out the Scrap Our Stash's October Challenge. You have until the end of the month to finish up something with your favorite quote, so don't forget to enter!

[Paperplay Challenges] Week 43 - Halloween and Witches

Note: If you are looking for DYSU challenge - please keep scrolling :)

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

Those are the famous opening lines of Shakespeare's "MacBeth," but they remind me most of Halloween. 'Tis also the season for lots of Halloween challenges, so I thought to change it up and create a cute candy wrapper. I just returned from my trip from Germany and brought a few yummies along. These make great treats for two special, fun boys that I know. I hope they like 'em...


Stamps: (Midnight Feast, Halloween Party) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper: (Paper Basics Card Stock - True Black, Kraft) Papertrey Ink; (Printer Paper - Persimmon) Paper Source
Ink: (Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versamark) Tsukineko
Embellishments: (Stamp 'n Stuff Embossing Powder - White) Stampendous!; (Drippy Goo Border Punch) Martha Stewart; (Baker's Twine - Red) Stash

I love love love the drippy goo edge punch. I can't get enough of it for Halloween...and red is somehow the perfect colors. I decided to add some fun ties with some Baker's Twine. Alison sent each of us DYSU gals a little extra surprise in our last physical product, and I finally put it to good use! Thanks Alison!

Here an up close look on the witch wrapper. I thought the baker's twine makes a great focal line towards the label. Not sure if you can tell in the picture, but the red paper is watermarked with "Trick or Treat" in a very cool font.



My second wrapper has skulls. Which boy doesn't like cool skulls? ;) Decided to give the twine some fraying, cause it just looked to prim and proper. Not sure If i like it, maybe I should have tied a bow after all.



Go check out the rest of the Paperplay Challenge Design Team to see what kinds of be-witching projects they have up their sleeves and come play. We come around and leave love on your blogs.

Our sponsors this week:

• Make It Crafty

For good measure I would like to throw this card into this week's Wee's Memories Challenge...It's been ages since I have had a chance to play along...

[DYSU] Challenge #43 - Halloween

I am in my catch-up modus this week. The whole business trip to Germany causes two things: me to work all my cards ahead, me to catch up on all my other obligations and forgetting that a week has whisked by. Anyways, it's a beautiful October, and every kid's favorite month of the year, because they get to dress up and trick & treat for candy. It's only natural that DYSU is celebrating with our theme of Halloween. What was your favorite Halloween and what did you dress up as?

This week I have free-reign in picking whatever I wanted to play with. *grin* So you know which favorite stamps I'm going to whip out, right? And you know Claire makes great stamps for Halloween and Christmas!


Stamps: (Midnight Feast; Halloween Party) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper: (Preppie Pack) Bazzill Basics Paper; (Paper Basics Card Stock - True Black) Papertrey Ink; (Gift card) Recycled
Ink: (Versamark; Memento - Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko
Embellishments: (Zing! - White) American Crafts; (Nestabilities - Small Classic Circles) Spellbinders; (Drippy Goo Edge Punch) Martha Stewart

I even snuck in a recycling component. The paper quality of this gift card holder that I received is amazing, and I knew I would have a chance to incorporate it. One trim and one "drippy goo edge punch" session later... I have a nice panel for my card.



Here an unclose look on the fun bats and the great white stripe from the gift card. I like how it anchors the "Boo" embossed label down so well.



So here is hoping that you already have your Halloween plans set. I guess this is an appropriate place to confess that I have no favorite Halloween story or dress-up to share with you. When I moved to the US I never dressed up to trick or treat; instead I was the good older sis that stayed home to hand out candy, while my brother went to beg for loot. But he always split his spoils with me :) I have been trying to catch up on my neglected Halloween festivities by carving up some pumpkins...I have two carving sessions under my belt. If I get around I'll post them up on Oct 31 to share :)

Anyways, enough with the pumpkins. Go hop along and see what the other girls on the DYSU blog have whipped up to "scare" you. Play along and who knows, you might be in the lucky Top 3.

Our sponsors this week:

Prairie Fairy $15 Gift Certificate

Sassy Cheryl $5 Gift Certificate

Sitchy Bear $10 Gift Voucher for Stitchy Stamps, Gingerloft, or Reeces

[Mami Doodles] Challenge #36 - Black & Orange Blog Hop

Hello everyone & happy Friday. It is a very exciting day here at Mami Doodles. We want to welcome the three *newbie* additions to our theme. They are ::drum roll:: Frances, Jenn & Pam. I have been spying up on their work and you will be in for a treat!

In honor of their joining we're doing a blog hop today, to make sure you will say hi to the NEWBIE Kids on the Block. If you hopped from newbie Pam's blog, then you're right on track. And to give you a little more incentive, Elisa is in a very generous mood. We have freebies & prizes to give away. Are you ready?

Freebie 1 

• "Scary Mummy", but you need a password. Hint: it's scattered amongst all the DT blog. If you twist my arm, I might tell you *coughnewbiecough*

Freebie 2

• "Boo!", which I have showcased in my current card, is available on the Mami Doodles Facebook page

Prizes

• Want to win 4 Christmas digis of your choice? We are drawing winners on *each* DT blog. That gives you TEN chances to win! All you have to do is tell me what kind of Christmas or other holiday must-have traditions you have.

Shall we get on with the challenge? The theme this week is Black & Orange, in honor of our upcoming Halloween. As mentioned above, I am showcasing Boo! Can you believe I didn't pull the Party Animals again? Don't worry, I was already thinking of ways to make the Black & Orange ;)


Stamps: (Boo!) Mami Doodles
Paper: (Paper Basics Card Stock - Kraft, True Black; Pattern Paper - Damask Designs, Distress Dots) Papertrey Ink; (To Love & Cherish - Juliet) Imaginesce; (Black Orchid Dorota Vista) SEI
Ink: (Jenni Bowlin No. 5 - Chicken Feed) Ranger
Embellishments: (House of Three Soiree Twine) Pink Paislee; (Vintage Buttons - Spring Collection) Papertrey Ink; (Multicolored Tiny Twinkles) Taylored Expressions; (Black Tulle) The Craft's Meow Kit; (Soft-core Color Pencils) Prismacolor; (newspaper print from Mixed Media workshop class) Recycled; (Point 88) Stabilo; (Corner Chomper - 1/2") W R Keeper Memories

I paper-pieced the pumpkins by picking orange and black pattern papers to fulfill the theme. The digi lines were a little weak, so I took my Black Stabilo and re-traced the lines. Messy, messy, and I must admit I was in a hurry...



The newspaper print actually was a little paper cone that Nathalie Kalbach had put our cute little supplies in for the Mixed Media class that I had attended. I thought I would rip it apart, blot some Chicken Feed color on it and give it some orange. The tulle, buttons and twine are from my stash just itching to be used...



Anyways, thanks for stopping by and making it all the way through my long post. Your next stop is the very talented and sweet Stephanie. Tell her she rocks for me :)

And in case you got lost, here's the entire blog hop list...
Elisa
Frances
Jackie
Jenn
Lisa
Manuela
Pam
Ren-Yi (<-- you are here)
Stephanie
Wendy

[DYSU] Challenge #42 - Trees

I'm currently sitting in a hotel room and realized that I forgot to pre-schedule this post for tomorrow. Thankfully being in Europe is getting a six hour head-start, if you're used to your US schedule... ;) This week we're playing with  Trees. Perfect way of honoring the fall weather that is quickly fading off...it's super cold here, and I am convinced that I didn't pack enough warm clothes for this trip.

This week I'm showcasing a Hope Jocare digi. It's my first time working with Claire Phillips work, and I am thoroughly enjoying them. The were easy to color in and are so cute and whimsy.


Stamps: (Treetop Houses) Hope Jocare; (Out of the Limbs Sentiments) Papertrey Ink
Paper: (Paper Basics Card Stock - Vintage Cream) Papertrey Ink; (Basic Card Stock - Cream) Recollection; (Wisteria) Basic Grey
Ink: (Perfect Match Pigment Ink - Simply Chartreuse, Vintage Cream) Papertrey Ink
Embellishments: (Soft-core Colorpencils) Prismacolor; (Point 88) Stabilo

I pretty much tried to take a watercolor, artsy-like method to the tree... Not sure if it looks too well-blended but I had fun coloring. It was my zen moment of the day...



This card deserves a nice quote on the bottom, and decided to stamp on a friendship sentiment. We don't send enough "just for fun" cards to tell our friends how much we appreciate them, right? Here an up close look on what it says...



Anyways, I'm off to go sleep now... Go hop along and see what the other creative girls on the DYSU blog have been up to. And make sure to play along...i am sure you have something in your stash that can resembles a tree!

Our sponsors this week:

Bugaboo Winner’s Choice of 7 Digis

Hope Jacare Winner’s Choice of 3 Images

Stamping Boutique Winner's Choice of 5 Digis

[Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz] Giving Thanks

Hello there - i'm late, late, late...! I hope you will forgive me, but when I realized that I had to miss last month's blog hop (Halloween theme too!) due to so many other things, I really wanted to make a card for this month's theme. This Waltzingmouse Waltz is one of my favorite activities, since I get to see so many inspiring designs all in one place! If you're new to the Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz, you can read all about it here. Come check the amazing creations out and put on your dancing shoes for next month's waltz, won't ya? It's a waltz of endless fun, inspiration and super friendly and talented ladies!

This waltz's theme is Gratitude or Giving Thanks! With Thanksgiving just around the corner, this is a great way to get us thinking what we're grateful for. I shared on the Waltzingmouse Forum my items of thanks. They include my grandmothers who are still alive, and one is currently visiting, my job that it offers many opportunities and is still challenging in a fun way, the new friendships that I have made in real world or online through paper crafting, and of course for my family & friends. What are you grateful for?


Stamps: (Join Us, Holiday Labels No. 14) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper: (Paper Basics Card Stock - Kraft, Royal Velvet) Papertrey Ink
Ink: (Versamark) Tsukineko
Embellishments: (Stickles - Golden Rod; Embossing Powder - Gold) Ranger; (Mabel - "Little Lady" Trim) My Mind's Eye

My inspiration was to use purple and gold as fall colors and tried to stick to elegant colors. I love these Holiday Labels, aren't they just decadent in design? I also used the little damask-like stamp from Join Us, to create a nice background. My first thought was to center the Thank-You label in the middle of the card, but the beautiful background was blocked. So I decided on off-centered sentiment and the crochet trim lying in my stash was just perfect for this sort...



Pretty quick and simple card. I'm off to Germany on business. It seems that my last waltz I was off to the same country as well...maybe it's becoming a trend ;) Anyways - I'm itching to hear what Thanksgiving plans you may have...mine aren't completely sorted out yet, but I am sure there will be a food component!