Get Your Jingle On

Nope, your eyes are not deceiving you, I REALLY made a red and green Christmas card today! I like it, too! Crazy, huh? I'm trying to get over that little quirk of mine, embrace my "Christmas Spirit" and just go with those traditional colors. Maybe it had to do with my favorite man in the BROWN suit (he's kind of like Santa, isn't he?) who delivered a box of new stampin' goodies to my house yesterday. I finally ordered the Tags til Christmas set and couldn't wait to ink up that ornament stamp. I think I have established that I love my Ornament Punch, mucho! :) 

I was inspired by this week's challenge at Fresh Brewed Designs, which is a Winter/Christmas theme.

Then, I saw this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and was immediately ready to "get my jingle on":

I guess my color inspiration came to me after running errands earlier today. Yeah, I BRAVED the grocery store the day before Thanksgiving. I like to live on the edge, what can I say? Holy cow, it WAS brutal, though. Never again! I did manage to pick up two of my favorite things while fending off the crazy shoppers today. My "favorite things" from this shopping trip are not NEARLY as cool as Oprah's, but they make me happy. Here they are: 

(If you have never tried these Mint Truffle Kisses, RUN to get them ASAP!)

*note how the bag has already been ripped open

So, thinking about coffee and chocolate, I went to a (retired) Simply Scrappin' set, Christmas Jingle. I bought this kit last year with the intent of making a boat-load of holiday cards with it. But, like most of my coveted retired DSP, I couldn't bring myself to cut into it. To all the "supply hoarders" out there...YOU understand what I'm talking about, don't you?? Yup, it is time to start using up this stash of goodies I own...

I made sure to add an appropriate amount of "bling" in the form of pearls. (If SU! ever gets rid of these I will probably need therapy, not kidding!) I decided to use the "Joy" sentiment from The Snowflake Spot (ret.) because it played off all the dots and pearls. It's just simple and I love that! 

I dressed up the inside with the sentiment from the A Cardinal Christmas set. There you have it "jinglin' in the holiday spirit"! I'd love to hear what you think about the card, grocery shopping today, chocolate...or anything else! :) Please leave me a comment, I appreciate them and I am happy you took time out of your day to visit me. 

Stampin' Up! Supply List: 
Stamps: Tags til Christmas, The Snowflake Spot and A Cardinal Christmas
Ink: Real Red classic ink
Paper: Real Red, Old Olive and Very Vanilla card stock and Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit (ret)
Accessories: PEARLS!!! Ornament punch, Gold elastic cord (ret), Old Olive 1/4" grosgrain ribbon and 1" Circle punch
Non SU! Accessories: oval and scalloped oval die cut


Have a happy day! :)

Paper Players Challenge #24-Color Challenge

...Oh, and because I'm SO super excited, I have to share some news! It's my BIRTHDAY today!! Whoo Hoo!!  "Go Anne Marie...It's your Birthday...go, GO!!" Are you doing the "Birthday Dance"? I sure am!  ;) What better way to start the day then to share my card for The Paper Players challenge this week! I am still so excited about being a Guest Designer this month. These gals are amazingly creative and I am so proud to be working with them. Come play along with us this week, it's a lot of fun! :)

Please, stop by and visit all of their fabulous creations. Share some bloggin' love: 

Ann

Lesley

Nance

Jaydee

LeAnne

This week, our focus was Ann's Color Challenge:

Yup, yup...I'm kind of scared of the whole red/green color combo on a holiday card, so I really had to put on my thinking cap for this one. I tried to stretch myself out of my creative "comfort zone" by trying a something with a "vintage-feel". My Cardinal Christmas set has been in my stamp collection since I first saw it in the Holiday Mini. Sadly, I have struggled to use it...probably because I had to color it in. Don't get me wrong, I love water-coloring...just NOT when I do it. I made an attempt with this one, using my classic ink pads and a blender pen.

I used the cardinal who hangs out in my front yard as my inspiration (he's ridiculously annoying, by-the-way...so this will be his only "shout-out"...grrr!):

My color combo was Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke and ...um...2 neutrals...Crumb Cake and Early Espresso. I made sure to sponge any and all Crumb Cake card stock on the card front with Early Espresso ink. Thought it added to the "vintage-look". Of course I had to include a photo of the inside, jazzed up by my card scraps:

This ribbon was actually recycled from a gift I received earlier this year. I saved it and low-and-behold it matched the Always Artichoke...love that! :) Please check out the end of the post for all of the items used to make this holiday card. 

I have to share this photo of the GORGEOUS roses my friend, Kasia sent to my door on Saturday. I have known her since the 3rd grade. She is so incredibly thoughtful and I am so fortunate to have her in my life. We were born EXACTLY 2 months apart...she's older...I just had to throw that in! Haha! Thanks, Kas...you are awesome and I love you!! 

Update on "Schnauzer-Gate 2010"...yup, he's STILL here. Despite all of our efforts, no one has come forward to claim this munchkin. He has been doing well and Ozzy has been doing a great job looking after him. Who knows what is next? *Sigh* Here is a photo of the boys relaxing together:

Stampin' Up! Supply List:

Stamps: A Cardinal Christmas

Ink: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso classic ink

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso card stock and To the Nines DSP (ret.)

Accessories: Blender Pens, sponges, pearls, Scalloped Border punch, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, red glitter, Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue, Scallop Trim border punch (inside), Finial Press embossing folder, 2 x 1 3/8" XL Oval punch, 

Non-SU! Accessories: ribbon that looks like an Always Artichoke imposter, square scalloped die cut

Thanks for visiting today! :)
Have a happy day,