My Google Reader is bursting at the seams, so I apologize if I haven't made it to your blog lately. I hope to catch up over the long weekend.

The two ATCs below were created for a Mardi Gras Mask Swap on Swap-Bot.com:





The masks were cut from silver glitter paper. I added lots of red / green nailhead gems to them. The "feathers" are Prima leaves. The background is Hero Arts CG119 Flourish Background (VersaMark w/ Glittery Embossing Powder).

I am trying to wrap up several swaps I am signed up for before the end of the year. Not sure if it is possible to get them all done, but I am trying! I really like making stuff for swaps and getting the returns in the mail, but not so much on the addressing, posting, mailing, etc. I guess it is just a necessary evil, though.

Meanwhile my craftroom (aka the black hole of time, space, and money) is in serious need of cleaning and organizing. Hubby says I just have too much stuff and I hate to admit it, but I am starting to think so, too! It is amazing how many stamps and inks and supplies go into each little project. Even if I start with a clean desk, it seems to be a big mess by the time I am finished!

Friendly Fowl ATCs (Take 2; Long Story):


Hero Arts Stamps: CL183 Sparkle Clear: Cute Letters, CL155 ClearDesign: Playful Animals

The quote on my ATC is from The Duck by Ogden Nash:

Behold the duck.
It does not cluck.
A cluck it lacks.
It quacks.
It is specially fond
Of a puddle or pond.
When it dines or sups,
It bottoms ups.

Cupcake Goodness ATCs:


Hero Arts Stamps: CL158 ClearDesign: Cupcakes, CL168 Sparkle Clear: Cupcakes

Love Is In The Air Inchies:


Hero Arts Stamps: CL309 ClearDesign: Whoo Loves You, CL266 ClearDesign: Mix and Match Elements, CL276 ClearDesign: So Sweet

Here is a close-up (trying to show the shine and embossing):



Hubby is impatiently waiting on me. I told him to pause something on TV and that I'd be right there a few minutes ago. Oops. Gotta run...

Thanks for looking! Comments are appreciated!

Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)

Here are my Cheshire Cat ATCs for a Swap on ATCsforAll.com:



I colored the background with Broken China and Shabby Shutters Distress Inks. The Hero Arts tree from CL230 ClearDesign: Live Simply is colored with Copic markers. The cat was a digital stamp by Creative Mundi. I removed the mouth he came with any made my own grin in Photoshop Elements 8.0. After printing and trimming, I added some shading with black chalk and then sprayed him with Pearl Glimmer Mist for some shine. The sentiment is Hero Arts LL095 Cute Critters.

Here is a close-up of one of the cards:



Here are my Friendly Fowl ATCs for a Swap on ATCsforAll.com:



I just love the new CG152 Two Birds cling set from Hero Arts. I sprayed the background with Sea Glass Glimmer Mist before stamping and coloring the images with Prismacolor pencils. I need more practice on coloring the birds, but the flowers and leaves turned out good.

Here is a close-up of one of the cards:



Lots of snow here today. We planned to go to the movies but stayed home instead. Back to work tomorrow after a week off. Good thing it is only a four-day week!

Thanks for looking! Comments are appreciated!

Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)

Here are my cards for the Wishful Thinking January ATC swap. The vintage girl is courtesy of finsbury. The tree in the background is Hero Arts K5256 Winter Pine (one of my recent favorites).



Here is a close-up showing the snowballs. I covered them with Crackle Accents for a cold and icy effect. I also cut the arms and popped them up for dimension.



Thanks for looking! Comments are appreciated!

Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)

Here are my Black n' White Inchies for a Swap on ATCsforAll.com:



Here are some close-ups:





The music paper is from a 1930's hymn book that I bought at Salvation Army for less than a dollar. The black embossed images are from Hero Arts new clear set CL383 Antique Engravings. Isn't it lovely?


Thanks for looking! Comments are appreciated!

Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)

Just for fun, here is a collage of the tags I made for the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas this year:



Wow, Christmas Eve already? It sure seemed to come fast this year. There just never seems to be enough time to accomplish everything I set out to do at this time of year! I really don't like this (self-imposed?) stress and guilt that is associated with the holidays.

I didn't send nearly as many Christmas cards as I had hoped. Our decorating basically consisted of a wreath on the door, a little lighted Disney Christmas Tree on the mantle, and a kitty stocking my Mom brought for Dusty & Penny at Thanksgiving.

Last night I was busy finishing up a crafty project and my husband (with some gentle encouragement) wrapped a present for my Mom around 9:30 pm or so. He scored BIG husband points for that since he hates wrapping. The funny thing is he did a really good job on it. I was so impressed!

Then at about 10:15 pm I finally started making Gingerbread Cookies. I normally make a Gingerbread Cake for Christmas, but Stephen requested cookies this year. Since it was so late he helped me scoop them out of the mixing bowl (again BIG husband points) while I rolled them in sugar.

We had doubts if the cookies would come out ok, but they are really good! Here is our family recipe (ha!):





















Oh well, I won't remember the things I didn't do for Christmas this year, but I will remember the time I spend with loved ones. Stephen and I will be seeing my Mom, Dad, Brother, and Sister-In-Law. And that is really the best part of the holidays.

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas with your loved ones.

Holiday Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)

Here is your fifth page of vintage Christmas sheet music, Silent Night, Holy Night, which was requested by Cynthia K. This one is also from Rubank, Inc. Chicago Christmas Music For Everyone, dated 1937.

Feel free to use this on your digital and hybrid cards and projects! I would love to see what you make!



FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY (Click image to open in a new tab/window, then right-click and save to your computer.)

Scroll down for Days 1 - 4 in case you missed them.

Thanks for looking! Your comments here are very appreciated!

Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)

My husband asked for a card last night so he could give a gift card to a guy at his office. Luckily I had just seen Jennifer McGuire's card and video on the Hero Arts Blog this week!

Here is what I came up with:



This collage shows how the card holds the gift card. Jennifer is so clever!

I created this fun Christmas card / mini album gift for someone special. It is his granddaughter's first Christmas and I know there will be a lot of pictures of that he can put in here! This collage shows all the completed pages (note the tags sticking out on the top and sides; more on that in a moment):


This project started with a single sheet of 12" x 12" Bazzill Dotted Swiss Paper. Lots of folding and then Voila! you have a cute little card / album to dress up and give as a gift. You can find the folding instructions at BoBunny. I had seen this idea in other places, but their directions were helpful. I will admit that I messed up the folding on my first try, but at least I got it right on the second! I am kind of glad because I think this light blue looks better than the light green color I used on my first try.

I embellished the card / album with super cute images printed from the Hero Arts DigiKit Children's Christmas (resized in Photoshop Elements 8.0). I also added some Hero Arts gemstones, paper flowers, felt snowflakes, stamping, buttons, etc.

These pictures just show how the album opens at the top and sides to hold tags, extra photos, journaling, etc. Pretty cool!





Thanks for looking! Your comments here are very appreciated!

Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)

Here is your fourth page of vintage Christmas sheet music, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. This one is also from Rubank, Inc. Chicago Christmas Music For Everyone, dated 1937.

Feel free to use this on your digital and hybrid cards and projects! I would love to see what you make!


FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY (Click image to open in a new tab/window, then right-click and save to your computer.)

Scroll down for Days 1 - 3 in case you missed them. If you have any special Christmas sheet music requests, please leave them below and I'll see if I have it in my collection!

Thanks for looking! Your comments here are very appreciated!

Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)

Here is your third page of vintage Christmas sheet music, God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen. This one is also from Rubank, Inc. Chicago Christmas Music For Everyone, dated 1937.

Feel free to use this on your digital and hybrid cards and projects! I would love to see what you make!



FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY (Click image to open in a new tab/window, then right-click and save to your computer.)

And just for fun, here is my little brother on Christmas morning. Not sure if you can tell, but he is wearing handmade elephant pajamas courtesy of our Mom.



Scroll down for Days 1 and 2 in case you missed them. If you have any special Christmas sheet music requests, please leave them below and I'll see if I have it in my collection!

Thanks for looking! Your comments here are very appreciated!

Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)

I inked the stamps from Hero Arts CL248 SparkleClear: Gift For You while they were still on their carrier, then I stamped them directly on this little pocket (created with a Sizzix die in my Cuttlebug). Next I folded it up, colored the images with Copics and added a gift card and bow. Super easy!

This sweet, glittery holiday card from Judy1223 arrived in my mailbox yesterday for the December Card Chain Challenge! Judy used adorable Hero Arts bird stamps (beautifully colored) and they are busily decorating a fun paper-pieced tree. Such a sweet card.



Thanks so much Judy! I really like your handmade card stamp on the back, too!

Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)

This Snowman ATC was sent to someone special. So glad she liked it! Also submitting for the Hero Arts and Caardvarks Digital Showcase.



Hero Arts Snowman Stamp DigiKit, Making Memories Mistletoe Papers, Martha Stewart Baker's Twine, and Snowflake Brads (need to check company)

Thanks for looking! Your comments here are very appreciated!

Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)

This Snowman Card was sent to someone special. So glad she liked it! Also submitting for the Hero Arts and Caardvarks Digital Showcase.



Hero Arts Snowman Stamp DigiKit, Making Memories Mistletoe Paper and Card Base, Punched Snowflakes

Here is your second page of vintage Christmas sheet music, Come, All Ye Faithful. Feel free to use this on your digital and hybrid cards and projects! I would love to see what you make!

This one is also from Rubank, Inc. Chicago Christmas Music For Everyone, dated 1937. This song just means holidays to me. I even remember singing it in my elementary school Christmas pageants many many years ago!



FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY (Click image to open in a new tab/window, then right-click and save to your computer.)

Speaking of many many years ago, here is what my baby brother thought of Santa, circa 1979. Not a great photo, but his face says it all!





















Here is Day 1 in case you missed it. If you have any special Christmas sheet music requests, please leave them below and I'll see if I have it in my collection!

Thanks for looking! Your comments here are very appreciated!

Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)

I recently started collecting some vintage items, including sheet music. In the spirit of giving, I am going to post some pages this week for you to use on your digital and hybrid cards and projects! I would love to see what you make!

These images come from Rubank, Inc. Chicago Christmas Music For Everyone. It is dated 1937 (if my Roman Numeral converting is correct) and cost 75 cents at the time for 24 pages. It is in fairly good shape - there is a tear on the front cover where there had been a label and some of the pages have writing on them. I believe I picked this one up at Salvation Army for less than 10 cents (the checkout lady "didn't feel like" ringing everything up)!

Here is your first page, Joy to the World, a song I have heard plenty of over the years:


FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY (Click image to open in a new tab/window, then right-click and save to your computer.)

Thanks for looking! Your comments are very appreciated!

Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)

I created this butterfly card for Lucy's Wings & Strings challenge. The wings are obvious, but the strings are the hand-stitching down the side and the butterfly body (wrapped around wire).



I used Hero Arts cling stamps (CG130 Butterfly and CG119 Flourish) and Distress Inks / Foam Blending Tool. My card is inspired by a couple of the cards I made in Jennifer McGuire's classes in November. Can you guess which ones?

Here are some close-ups:





I have been making tags (here) all month for the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas, so it was a nice change to do something more girly! Oh, and have I mentioned how much I love my white Memories ink pad? Works like a charm!

Thanks for looking! Your comments are very appreciated!

Hugs,
dustypenny (aka Joy)