Midwinter day

This was a good weekend to get outdoors with the bright sunlight keeping temperatures right at the freezing mark - but it can't last.  Tonight is supposed to be cold again and there is a Nor'easter in the forecast which could bring lots of snow on Tuesday.  For the moment though I am warm and snug and able to get a little post in before bed.

My inspiration for this card came from the Muse Challenge 101 and Freshly Made Sketches 170. I hope to enter my card in both challenges.  In the picture it looks a little lopsided, but that is my picture taking skills (or lack of).

I tried sponging blue ink for a background but it didn't do it for me, so I added blue Faber-Castell Metallic Gel Stick over all.  Although this picture doesn't show it, the gel stick leaves a nice shine to the blue.  That is the Memory Box Honeyblossum Sprig embellished with some sparkly gems and a bit of white ribbon.

I hope you are keeping safe and healthy.
Thank you for stopping to read my blog.

Chloe Hugs

Many years ago when I started stamping, I had a habit of leaving new stamps on my desk until I used them at least once.  Now they have graduated to a box on the floor waiting for their first ink.  What to use first..... Do the other dies feel sad because I picked this one?


Apologies for the poor scanning job on the picture.  I am rushing to post tonight to enter in the NBUS challenge at Darnell's website.  I used my never-been-used Sue Wilson die set from Creative Expressions and Chloe stamp from the Stacy Yacula collection at Purple Onion.  The paper I used and the embellishment in the flower were recent gifts (Lots of NBUS stuff with Christmas and my birthday only a day apart!)  Finally, this was my first try using Gamsol with colored pencils.  Not tremendously happy with my background, but it just means I have to practice!

A co-worker told me that his wife said today is National Hug Day.  I confirmed by the great Google tool that January 21 is indeed an annual holiday.  So hugs to all my readers! 

January 2015

I had every intention of updating my blog when I was on vacation in December, but that nasty bug that is going around attacked me. I never got around to photographing my Thanksgiving or Christmas cards to post.  I will post two cards today to start off the New Year right.

This is my first Valentine card this year.  I apologize that my pictures seem so dark. I am experimenting with different ways to take pictures since it is too cold and snowy to take them outdoors.

The dies used are Simon Says Stamp's Curvy Heart and Spellbinders' Curved Borders One.  Since all these dies are new to me, I am entering them in the Simon Wednesday Challenge. The LOVE stamp is a gift from a friend; the package says it is by the Little Yellow Bicycle.

I finished my eighty Christmas cards and got them in the mail in the knick of time.  I have a confession to make though: the last thirty were not hand-stamped.  I die-cut cards, received in previous years, and mounted them on pieces from my scrap box.  It was so much fun, using up all these bits and pieces, that I used the same technique for thank you cards and gift cards this year. 


Thank you for stopping by.