Happy New Year!

Out with the old and in with the new. That was the type of party we had the last night our family was together. And, then after a breakfast at a restaurant this morning we said our good-byes. And, that is always the hardest thing about a visit, but we managed to get through it. Anyway, I thought I would share a few photos of my family who were in attendance last night for our little party. As you can see some of us acted a little silly. But we played a game that all ages could participate in and it was fun.

Several family members were missing as some had health issues and three others could not attend as they had to return to work.

Anyway, from my family to you I wish you all a very happy new year.

God bless,
Verna

Merry Christmas!

Just a quick note and a card for all my blogging friends to wish you a most wonderful Christmas and a happy new year. I am so grateful for each and every one of you. And, this card is one I made from the leftovers laying on my desk.

So sorry it is a bit blurred. But with a houseful of company time is limited to work on things but I just had to remember all of you. I used the holly die from Heartfelt Creations, the poinsettia from Cheery Lynn Designs and the sentiment from Gina K. Designs which was stamped with Kraft dye ink. And, I finished it by adding some enamel dots from Stampin' Up!

God bless and happy holidays to all,
Verna

Trimming the Tree

We are so lucky we had two eager helpers to trim the tree this year. They did a fantastic job too!

Our grandsons Kyle and Henry did a fantastic job of placing the ornaments and helped their Dad and Grandpa string the lights too. And the smell from a real tree was so pungent. Too bad it fades away so fast once it is indoors for awhile.

Today they are visiting their Aunt Julia and Uncle Ryan and Cousin Anna but they will be back again this evening. If they are not too tired we may decorate cookies. At any rate, we are enjoying having extra guests for the holidays.

I hope you are having a great week as well.

God bless,
Verna

Starbucks Tag

One of the gifts I am giving this year includes an assortment of Starbucks Instant Lattes and so when I heard about this Starbucks Cup Printables which are available at lovelyplanner.com I decided to get a set of them so I could make a tag for my gift. These are able to be downloaded and printed with your computer. I am going to add this tag to the Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop as well since it fits the theme. There is a badge on my side bar which has the dates so you still have time to submit a winter themed project using designs of tea, coffee or hot cocoa.

I had some scraps so I cut a tag and then put some green gingham paper on it. Then I took the sentiment from the digital freebie which was available from Verve Stamps and fussy cut it and layered it onto some red and fussy cut around that as well before placing it on my tag. I used some ribbon from  Really Reasonable Ribbon and put a strip along the bottom and also at the top. After that I added the Starbucks cup. The last thing as an adornment for my tag was to add some red rhinestones.

Well, I keep saying this is my last coffee themed project and this time I REALLY mean it. I found out that I still have some room in my freezer so I will start baking some goodies for the holidays. I am sure with up to 15 people in the house at one time we will have no problem getting rid of them. Mainly a few cookies and that is about all I will do. Then I will do a little more cleaning as well. The upstairs beds are all done and made with fresh linen so I have to do some refreshing in the downstairs area. And, I need to get a haircut before the holidays. LOL I am looking like a shaggy dog.

Well, thanks so much for stopping and for sharing your comments. I will try to pop in later to wish all a Merry Christmas. In the meantime, take care and have good days.

God bless,
Verna

Coffee Sleigh

Another digi freebie offered at the Winter Coffee Lovers Hop for 2016 was this cute sleigh image from Stamplorations carrying a gift and cups of various coffee products. I just had to grab that and use it for a card design. And on the side bar is the badge telling you the dates of the hop in case you want to join in on the fun. Lots of great prizes and lots of freebies too!

First I printed out the sleigh image on white layering weight card stock and then colored in the image with Bic Mark-It markers. Next I made a mask to cover up the snowy areas and then sponged on some light blue dye ink for the sky. Using the Pine Tree stamp set from Altenew which is a two step process, I stamped the pine trees onto the scene. Then I die cut the scene out with the Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame Border die.

The sentiment is from the same Altenew Pine Trees set so I used that for the greeting in the snowy area. This scene was then added to a base card of red card stock. And, inside I added some white paper to which I can write a message or stamp another sentiment.

I will also be entering this into the Stamplorations Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge.

Well, I must say since I cannot do any baking as my freezer is full at the moment, that I have had so much fun making Christmas cards. I am hoping these will be a start of my stash for next season. Only thing I did was cover some pretzels with almond bark one day and maybe I will leave the cookies until the grandsons from Japan arrive to help me with them.

Thanks for all the lovely comments as well. I read each and every one of them.

God bless,
Verna

Happy National Cocoa Day

I made a card especially for this day and once again used the free digital stamp from Jessica Lynn Originals called Marshmallow Snowman. I think that is such a cute image and this time I colored him with an older set of Stampin' Up! water color pencils. They were handy to get at so I went with that option!

This card will be also entered into the Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop for 2016 in which one is to make winter cards or projects using coffee, tea or hot cocoa themes. You can go with Christmas or Valentines or just put a bunch of snowflakes on your entry. But it should be a winter design. If you want to join in, there is still time and there are lots of great prizes given out. Also many of the sponsors have provided free digitals for your crafting pleasure too! The dates are listed on the badge on my side bar.

The pattern paper is from Gina K. Designs as is the card stock. The ribbon border die used on this card is one I saw at Kat's Scrappiness store and it is made by Gina Marie. I cut that from the same Red Velvet card stock that the red layer was done with. Both the pattern paper and the red layer were die cut with the Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame Border dies. The marshmallow snowman image was fussy cut and placed over all the layers.

Well, I must say I have enjoyed doing this coffee hop again. It is always nice to find inspiration and I am so enjoying seeing what others are doing with their entries too. I also appreciate all who have checked out my work and stopped in to comment.

God bless,
Verna

Pine Cone Tag

Today I found a tag that was cut from the Stamplorations Cutplorations Luggage Tag die set so I decided to make it into a tag that could be used for a package. I chose to use images from the Gina K. Designs Festive Foliage set and used my MISTI to try and get a better impression. I think I should have done one more stamping of the one set of pine cones but it is not too bad looking. I used my Distress Markers and did a direct to stamp coloring. With repeated stampings I got it to look fairly nice.

Well, not sure if I will be doing much more artwork until after Christmas. I will see what happens unless some of the grandchildren want to do some. But I am thinking they will just be having fun playing together and no doubt sliding. I also heard the grandsons from Japan have home work assignments to do so that will take up some of their time as well.

I will try to pop in now and then if possible. But if not, you have great days! And thanks so much for being my blogging friends and for all the wonderful comments.

God bless,
Verna

Hot Cocoa Christmas

I am still into the tea, coffee and hot cocoa themed winter cards which is the type needed for the Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop for this year. There is a badge on the side with the dates on it and if you want to join in there is still time. Lots of freebie digis, and prizes to be given out too! So it might be worth your while to enter a few card designs. You might be a very lucky and happy person!

Once again I am using one of my favorite images from Gina K. Designs to create this card. I love these mugs and they can be used for lots of different hot beverages. I combined it with some beautiful pattern paper and tried to add the same stars and snowflakes to match in the center panel. All things used in this card are from Gina K. Designs except for the frame die.

I used my MISTI to get really great stamping on the center panel. And the panels were die cut with the Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame Border dies. These are some of my favorites too. The layers were all placed on a base card of white card stock.

Thanks for looking and for all your sweet comments. Have a good evening.

God bless,
Verna

First Coffee

Verve Stamps was so kind to give a free digital stamp set for the Winter Coffee Lovers Hop for 2016 but it is only available until the end of December. So if you are interested in entering a card design you can get this set to make beautiful coffee themed cards. It is called My Cup To Yours. I used a couple of the sentiments to make my card design. On the side bar is the badge showing the dates of the Coffee Hop in case you want to join in the fun.

 I normally don't use many digital stamps so I am not always sure I am using them correctly. But maybe if I do it more often I will learn a thing or two and gradually get to be more expert at it.

I had some scraps of plaid pattern paper left over from Stampin' Up! so I used that on a base card of light green. I added a ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon over the edge of the plaid before I added the sentiment which I die cut with a Cheery Lynn Designs classic circle die and then layered it onto another Cheery Lynn Designs die cut red circle. The last thing I added to my card front was a couple of stamped gifts which are from the My Favorite Things Trim the Tree stamp set. These were fussy cut and popped onto the circle.

I did not add any white paper inside the card as I thought the lighter green would work for adding a written message and still be quite clearly read.

Inside the card I added another sentiment from the Verve digital stamp set. But I layered it onto some of the red card stock first to give it a bit more finished looking.

Well, that is another of my winter coffee themed cards  and if I don't need these for sending out this year I am then happy to have a start on next year's cards. It seems no matter how soon I start I am always rushed right before Christmas.

Well, thank you so much for all your sweet comments. I love each and every one of them.

God bless,
Verna

Naughty Doggy!

Hey! Good thing you are a cute doggy as that was Santa's coffee you stole. I hope you will still get something for Christmas as he may decide differently now that you have been naughty! And you are just sitting there and acting so innocent!

Hahaa! I just could not resist making this doggy image again and this time I made him as a naughty doggy. But hey! He knows a good cuppa Joe is awesome at least!

This is another card I am entering in the Winter Coffee Lovers Blog 2016 which is going on this week. You can see the dates you can enter by checking the badge on the side bar. I hope you can join the fun! You must use a winter theme for your cards or projects. Lots of fabulous prizes too!

I recently got a step card die from Cheery Lynn Designs and had to use that template to make a step card using their cute doggy image as well as the Christmas gifts. The tree is cut from pattern paper from Gina K. Designs. I thought it looked like there was light bulbs on the tree so figured it was a perfect design. The tree is cut from a die by My Favorite Things Die-Namics line. And the sentiment. red gingham paper and the cup are from Gina K. Designs. The star on top of the tree is actually a snowflake die.

I like that this type of card can fold flat and fit into an envelope and not need extra postage to mail it. I only made a couple of these but I am sure I will be doing more step cards in the future now that I have a die that makes the cutting so easy.

I am showing you a side view too so that you can see more of the fold details on the card design.

Dies used:
My Favorite Things Di-Namics: 788 Trim The Tree
CAS-UAL FRIDAYS Fri-Dies: Funky Flakes
Cheery Lynn Designs: Step Card Bundle Set #4-B587; Funny Dog CAFNN-2 and Whimsical Christmas B849.

I am also entering this in the Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge-Red and Green and the Scrapy Land Challenge #55-Anything Goes.

Well, I am so glad for all the wonderful comments you leave and I want you to know I appreciate each and every one of them.

God bless,
Verna

Marshmallow Snowman

When this cute digi from Jessica Lynn Originals was offered free I had to have it. The digi is called Marshmallow Snowman. I wanted to share the card I made with him and will be entering this into the Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop 2016.

Now can't you see how cute he is. And, he seems so happy soaking in that hot chocolate. I will be using this cutie again I am sure.

The pattern paper I used is from Gina K. Designs. The sentiment and snowflakes are from A Jillian Vance Design. I also used the Memory Box  Cross Stitched Frame Border Dies to cut the layers. To finish the card I added some of the pattern paper design inside too.

Thanks so much for checking out what I have been doing and have a wonderful day.

God bless,
Verna

Peppermint Latte Christmas

When I saw this cute die set from Cottage Cutz I knew I needed it to make fun Christmas cards and use it for the Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop 2016 which is going on right now. Check the side bar for the dates of the hop. Hopefully, you can join in as well. You must use a coffee, tea or hot chocolate design along with a winter theme to enter.

 I die cut the cup, cup label, snowflake, whipped cream and candy cane from white card stock and colored them with Bic Mark-It pens. I sponged a little on the whipped cream though with light blue dye ink. The pattern paper is from Stampin' Up! as is the ribbon. The sentiment is from A Jillian Vance Design. My card base is a duplex red and white card stock.

I also added some of the pattern paper design inside the card too. I wanted to make more with this set but time is running out for me so now I am going to concentrate on other things before the Christmas holiday arrives.

Thanks for stopping by and for all the wonderful comments. Have a great day!

God bless,
Verna

Winter Coffee Anniversary

Today I am featuring a card I made for my daughter and her husband's first wedding anniversary which was at the end of November. I hope you like the design.

I am entering this card into the Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop 2016 and I have posted the information about it on the side bar. I hope you can join the fun too.

This card uses the coffee mug image and a sentiment from the Gina K. Designs line of products. I also used a doily die from Cheery Lynn Designs called Nesting Doill-Circles #1 on which I had stamped the mugs and sentiment. I also sponged some ink around the edges of the doilly. Once this was done I used Versamark to cover the circle panel and added some sparkly clear embossing powder which I heat set. I placed these on a base card of white card stock and then I added some snowflakes which are from CAS-UAL Fridays Fri-Dies line called Funky Snowflakes. These snowflakes were die cut from some glitter paper which I had in my stash.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are having a great day. We are nice and warm inside but outside it was below zero. Brrrrr! Stay warm wherever you are.

God bless,
Verna

Christmas Bows and Recipe

This is another clean and simple design that I made using stamps from Altenew. I chose to use the bows from the Bells and Bows stamp set and a sentiment from the Holiday Wishes set. These bows I used are a step style of stamping which involves using three or four layers of stamping. Thus when a bow is completed it has dimension to it.

I stamped the bows and the sentiment onto white card stock and then layered it onto a base card of green. I also layered a white panel inside the card too!

I just love the way those bows look so realistic when the layering is complete. With these bows I only used three of the steps to make them. These would work on birthday and anniversary cards too. And the sentiment went perfectly with them. I am entering this in this week's Mod Squad Blog Challenge.

I also am starting to do a bit of holiday cooking and candy making. So far I have only gotten some Fudge made so I thought I would share that recipe with you. It is an easy one to make.

Fudge

2 tabsp. Butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

Combine the above ingredients all together and bring to a boil. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and add the following ingredients.

2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts

I have the ingredients all measured out ahead of time. Stir all together for one minute and spread into a buttered pan and cut into squares when the fudge is set. 

Well, if I am not around a lot it is because I am getting ready for our family Christmas visit from all of our children. Joe and boys arrive on December 19 and the rest of the family will be joining us soon after. We are getting really excited now.

You have a wonderful week and thanks for all the comments and visits to my blog.
God bless,
Verna