Dot & Whimsy

First off, I want to extend my deepest gratitude and thanks to our military men and women serving today and in days past.  Thank you for keeping us safe and God Bless you all!

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I went to pick the kids up today from school and was flipping through radio stations while waiting.  Our local 'light rock' station is now officially playing ♫Christmas Music♫ all.day.long.  So, I'm assuming that I'm not alone in being excited about this...after-all, they must do some sort of research before launching into Holly Jolly Christmas on 11-11-11 don't you think? One of my favorite new found Christmas songs (and it's an oldie) is Christmas Waltz...I've heard Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole both sing it and they're equally beautiful!  I also love the old Coventry songs like The Holly & The Ivy and Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring...I can honestly say that they've grown on me a lot over the years...maybe I can just appreciate them more now.

While enjoying my Christmas music, I set out to make a new album for Etsy.  Several years ago I purchased a huge lot of vintage cards from eBay, so I thought this guy would look so grand on the front cover

Ahhh, I LOVE him!  Reminds me of the very nostalgic Coca-Cola Santa♥

Here are a few more photos to share of the album;  these are close-ups so that my Etsy customers can get a better look as well. To see the pages entirely just visit Dot & Whimsy

AND, I was so busy last week and the week before that I forgot to show my other mini album

 that I created for Etsy.

The Little Boy Blue collection from My Mind's Eye was the perfect setting in creating this album.  Turquoise, olive green and brown...love this combo of my favorite colors.

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 My HELLO FALL project will go live on the LYB blog next Tuesday!  It looks so lovely sitting in my living room...I only hope that I can find an easy way to store it until next year though.  Once you see it, you'll understand my dilemma LOL

I will be giving a video tutorial at Miss Art's Papercrafting School in February!  If you haven't visited Miss Art's, please do...you'll be pleasantly surprised :)  I really like the selection of classes that they offer and the website is like stepping back in time; so much fun and very welcoming.

I'll keep you updated in the months to come with the class title and other pertinent information regarding my tutorial.

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That's all for this Friday night.  Sydnee, my mom and I will be having a girl's day tomorrow...a little shopping, lunch, and who-knows-what-else *wink* 
Hope you have a terrific weekend!
Shellye

Ready to lay down your cards? Welcome to week one of the Cards Sharks Contest...complete the challenge below and link up your entry to this post by midnight, PST on November 17th. the challenge will earn you 5 points and three special mentions (chosen by the design team) will earn an extra 5 points. play along to win as many points as possible!! Here we go:

Phase 10 is a fun rummy-style card game by Fundex. The object of the game is to play each hand, building off of that hand according to that Phase's requirements, until you have completed all 10 Phases in the game.

Since we do not have weeks for this challenge (smile) we will complete 3 Phases for our 'Card' game.

Phase One: create your card base

your base MUST include the following (everyone will be dealt the same hand to begin the game)

ONE pp background

ONE smaller block of pp or cardstock

ONE strip of pp, trim, chipboard or sticker across the bottom of the block of pp or cardstock

ONE decorative trim at the bottom of the block below strip of pp or trim

(i have given THREE examples below of phase 1)

before moving onto Phase 2, take a picture of your 'card base'

Phase 2: embellish (build) your 'card' hand.

you may add any embellishments, trims, chipboard, sentiments, anything you like to your card base.

before moving onto Phase 3, take a picture of your card

Phase 3: post your finished card along with Phase 2 pic
--Cards shown here were created by the very talented and sweet, Danni Reid--

can't wait to see your 'Phases' and 'Cards' ladies. if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

happy creating♥

be sure to check back tomorrow for the rest of the challenges for week one!

A full list of rules can be found here!

Phase 10 Card Sharks Challenge Cards

It is time to announce the My Scrapbook Nook Blog Hop winner from my blog!  My daughter, Sydnee, chose the number and the winner is

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Kari Ann, just email me at paperposey@aol.com with your mailing address and choices of THREE different fringe assortments.  You can view them all here

Congratulations, Kari Ann! Thank you, everyone for the sweet comments...I cherish them all :)
The official winner of the MSN prize will be announced very soon!

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Well, if you frequent the forum at The Nook, then you know we've been without power for a week now...I'm happy to announce that it's back up and running! 

While the board was disabled, a blog was set up so that we could continue to share challenges and news with all of you. 

My latest CARDS Challenge will go live at the blog tomorrow, but to keep with my "Wednesday" schedule at the forum, I did go ahead and post it there today. 

I'm giving away a PRIZE to the first (non Nook DT person) to complete the card and upload it here at the forum  *hint* the theme is "Give Thanks" :)

And here is a beautiful collage of the November Kit...shop for yours today!

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I adore this newest set of stamps that I received from Ippity last week! 

I had my Christmas tunes playing, so I was really in the 'spirit' while making this little cutie.

I stamped, then cut out the image from a sheet of white cardstock.  I mounted that onto a sheet of patterned paper (by My Mind's Eye) and cut it out a little larger.  Using that same size, I also cut a circle from the front of my card.  The actual stamped image is placed on the inside of the card just for kicks :)  I then outlined the circle in baker's twine.

Heather has ALL of your favorite Ippity stamps by Unity!  Be sure to visit her at

It's a bittersweet time for Erica at YSS!  She will officially close the store's doors on December 31, 2011.  I can simply say that I have thoroughly enjoyed designing for one of the most fabulous scrapbook stores on the net :)

YSS will be greatly missed!

I will be working with some adorable papers and accents from Bella Blvd this month...I'll be sharing those soon as my last stint as a Design Team member *sniff*

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I will see you all in a couple of days, if not tomorrow.

Take care,

Shellye

It's time to say 

A

VERY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to 

Leah Killian!

♫♪Happy Birthday to you, dear Leah♪♫

I hope that you have a fantastic birthday!

Papers and tags are from this month's Nook Kit, Times & Seasons!

Just as soon as we have the Nook blog winners announced, I'll select a winner from my blog :)

See you soon!
Shellye

Welcome to the hop from My Scrapbook Nook
We're offering one lucky lady a 3 month subscription to these gorgeous kits and several smaller prizes for other hoppers!
We have hidden 7 birds among the design team blogs....so hop around, find the birds and keep track of who's got em'. Once you've found all seven, email those names to: myscrapbooknookdt@yahoo.com
One random winner from those that find all the birds will be drawn to receive a 3 month subscription to the Nook

As for the rest of the prizes, they will be drawn from the designers blogs at random. So comments are optional, but the more you leave the better your chances are of winning a prize, which include kits. For an extra bonus drawing for a $50 prize pack- leave a comment at Danni Reid's link including a link where you have facebooked, blogged or tweeted about this hop- you can leave up to three comments for a shot at that $50 prize pack!

The Nook kits are filled each month with the latest paper collections and embellishments to make you swoon! They are a fantastic deal and our international ladies love the low shipping ;) If you sign up for a 12 month subscription you'll get a free kit after your 12 month mark! Now that's a bakers dozen of goodness!

This month will kick of my status as a CARDS Design Team Member at My Scrapbook Nook...I'm so excited to be working in concert with such a truly fabulous and talented team!

Here is a layout that I created using the October Nook Kit.  One thing that I can say is that these kits are amazing and go such a long, long way.

To be in the drawing, just leave a comment on this post, as well as your email address so that I may contact you if you're a winner :)

Thanks for looking and here are your hopping orders
Shellye (<-----you are here!)
Danni
Kim
Pamella
Nicole
Jaz
Deanna
Lisa
Carol
Hilde
Lilith
Marinette
Anna
Jessy
Katarina
Gina
LG
Leah

Hop ends on Fri., November 4 at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time.
Winners will be announced on Sat. November 5th!

Be Sure to check out our Christmas Card Class and New Contest "Card Sharks!" a fast paced, four week battle of creativity!!!! 

Thanks for stopping by!
Shellye

Have you ever worked and worked on something only to have it go in the trash?  What a waste of time and good scrappin' supplies.ugh. I had one more layout to submit for Your Scrapbook Stash and I thought it would never come together...but it did...finally :) Saved me from going bananas or hysterical...not that one would be prettier than the other LOL

 Patterned papers and clear overlays from Phantom by Pink Paislee.  I doubled the overlay on the photo of Snoopy.

 A Not So HAUNTED Halloween on the Great Pumpkin Train excursion in Palestine, Texas a couple of years ago.  Such a nice relaxing trip and the train ride was like stepping back in time.

Speaking of bananas, I made the yummiest treat this week

1/2 cup butter, softened

1½ cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup (8 oz) sour cream

2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 medium ripe bananas, mashed

Cream together butter and sugar.  Add eggs, sour cream and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.  Stir in bananas.  Spread in a greased 15x10x1 inch baking pan (jelly roll pan).  Bake at 350º for 20-25 minutes.  Cool.

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 tsp. vanilla

3½- 4 cups powdered sugar

Cream together cream cheese, butter and vanilla.  Gradually beat in sugar.  Frost bards.  Store in refrigerator.

Here are two other layouts that I created for Your Scrapbook Stash.  The first is based on a sketch that I created for their blog

I absolutely LOVE this set by Pink Paislee...VINTAGE VOGUE

And finally...another layout that I did using the Vintage Vogue.  I adore this layout of Sydnee and Tyler's girlfriend, Kristin.  Kristin took these photos with her cell phone, so not the best quality, but I just couldn't resist scrappin' them!

The flowers were crafted from the Vintage Vogue Ribbon Trims.  I simply threaded a running stitch through the top of crochet trim and gathered into a flower design. Aren't those papers so sweet?!? 

As always, SAVE when you shop at Your Scrapbook Stash...Erica loves to share coupon codes with her customers :)

Speaking of Erica...she just announced a SKETCH CONTEST with a couple of great prizes to give-a-way!

To get the full run-down, just visit the YSS BLOG

Just use one of the sketches from the Gallery and have it completed and uploaded by Thursday, November 3rd.  Hope that you can play along...AND win a prize...Good Luck!

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Whew, lots going on over at The Nook!  I will begin my official capacity as Design Team member this next month...I'm sooo ready and excited.  I am counterpart to Danni Reid in the CARDS division, which is located on the fabulous Nook Forum :)  Each week we will host a couple of cool challenges, sketches, tutorials and more.  If you love making cards then this is the place for you.  New to cards, then this is the place for you.  Be sure to join us!  The rest of the awesome Design Team will be providing other challenges in the area of layouts and altered art.  Also, Danni and Leah (owner of MSN) have been up to creating one-of-a-kind cards kits and classes to go along with them.  If you're interested, be sure to check out the forum and soon before they're gone!

Guess what?

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I will update with the 4-1-1 later on this weekend.  And yes, you read it right...Leah will be giving away

  Ten SUPER FABULOUS Nook Kits

Stay tuned...

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The Little Yellow Bicycle blog is going full blast!  If you haven't visited in a couple of weeks, there are several new projects that have been posted featuring the Cycling Team.  I did get my HELLO FALL project done and it should be up sometime next week....I will post it in its entirety once it's up, but in the meantime here's a little peek

I can't wait to show you the rest!

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I'll be back in the next day or two...still lots to share and update!

Shellye

As the old proverb goes...time flies when you're havin' fun!  I finally got back to the craft room yesterday and whew, I've whipped up a couple of cards, two layouts, a sketch and even an album for Etsy.

After my October kit from Your Scrapbook Stash took a major postal detour, it finally arrived at my doorstep on Friday...so happy and relieved to see it :)  It's always like Christmas when I rip open the tab to peer inside...this month I was surprised with a collection of Phantom by House of Three and Vintage Vogue by Collage Press!

 I love the way companies are designing papers with an edge of embossed or glittered accents...it's like stamping, but it's already done for you.

For my third pop of color (since I design in three's) I used some lavender brads from my stash AND a couple of the sweet Chipboard Pops from the Vintage Vogue kit! And I'm now addicted to making medallions, just so you know.

I have an adorable layout completed with Vintage Vogue;  as soon as it goes live at YSS's blog on Friday, I'll share here...along with a cool sketch by lil old me.

Yeppp...got me some new stamps this week!  

While I had my Vintage Vogue papers still out, I thought they would look cute paired up with one of the 'girls' from this stamp set.

Tomorrow is Wednesday Wowsers over at I Heart Ippity Blog...check it out♥

Things are humming right along over at the Nook forum...never a dull moment...always tons and tons of inspiration and chat.  I ♥ The Nook :) I'm still churning out the cards using the October Kit...can I just say that it's going a loooonnnggg way!  

This is a card that I crafted using a sketch by Danni 

 I've just listed this beautiful mini album at my Etsy shop...here's a little peek...

LITTLE YELLOW BICYCLE

So, next on my agenda is a project with the Hello Fall from LYB!  I will work on this tomorrow...hint...I will be incorporating something from my yard :)  Can't wait to share it with you.

Take care!

...and here is the proof...

I love how the bright cottage colors dress up the distressed, but plain, chipboard album.  The papers by Echo Park/Bella Blvd are cheerful and celebrate the good things in life.  I used the last of my corrugated butterflies, so I must get more and soon!  Candy sweet...eye yummy-ness that makes my ♥ happy.

Wow, I really need to get my blog caught up with all of the card projects that I've created lately.  I will start listing some of them at my Etsy shop tonight...my card box is over-flowing!

I Heart Ippity Wednesday Wowsers October 12, 2011

Created for one of My Scrapbook Nook's October CARDS Challenges

Another card created for a challenge over at the Nook.  Part of the challenge was to use a hexagon shape, which is oh-so popular in design right now.

I'll be peddling again soon with Hello Fall by LYB.  I received a box full of goodies yesterday and I can't wait to dig in and come up with something super special for their blog readers :)  So many choices...I'm not sure what to do first! 

 

Weeeee!  It's like riding your bicycle down a giant hill with your hands waving in the air...what a thrill it is to see my Little Yellow Bicycle project up on their blog ♥ I can honestly say that this was an absolute blast to put together...with so many great textures like canvas, the metal in the straight pins, glittered sheer die-cuts, chipboard...I love it!  The patterned papers are vibrant and the designs are so fun and easy to use.

Without further ado...here she is...Head of the Class Corkboard Mini Album!

 Here are the detailed instructions on how to create your very own Corkboard mini album.

What a week, what a week!  

When I took on the project of constructing a diaper cake for a friend's baby shower, I had no idea that it would take me two days...sometimes you just wish that you weren't quite so OCD...it turned out so cute though. I've seen the elaborate and the over-the-top-elaborate diaper cakes, but elaborate does not describe my friend, Kristi.  She doesn't like a lot of clutter, so neat-and-simple was the way that I decided to go.

 Now, I know you're probably looking at this and asking "it took you two days to do this?" But wrapping those diapers just 'so-so' takes time and skill LOL  I think she will love it ♥

Wowee!  I received my LYB Head of the Class goodies this week...such FUN to work with!  I will share it here just as soon as it goes live on their blog, so be sure to check back.  I created a mini album and there was some cork-board involved *wink* I had a blast and look forward to doing more projects with the material.

I doubled this card as my latest project for I Heart {Ippity}, as well as  for a challenge over at My Scrapbook Nook :)  I will be a part of the CARDS Team at the Nook beginning in November, but I'm getting my feet wet by doing as many of the October challenges as possible.  But I digress!  Here is my card using the Faith & Blooms Stamp Set IPK-125 and the Nook October Kit

I have a plethora (one of my all-time FAV words) of cards stacking up...I will be listing some of them at my Etsy shop soon!

We begin our district play tonight in football...had last Friday off...not fun.  I think the consensus is that we just need to forgo "off" weeks LOL  The boys are itching to get out there and play. Zach's 8th grade team is still undefeated;  they have not lost a game since they began playing together in the 7th grade.  

So, I need to get my sparkly orange and black BEARS shirt ironed and get ready to head out to feed the team.  I hope to be sharing my LYB project with you very soon!

Ya'll be good!