Color Throwdown

Hard to believe we're at the last Color Throwdown Challenge in November! I'm sure all of you have all your Thanksgiving meal prep under control and you'll have nothing to do but sit with your legs propped up tomorrow - lol! My legs will be tucked into a car and headed to see my family in Ohio tomorrow...can't wait!  We will celebrate both Christmas and Thanksgiving tomorrow and have been doing this for years.  It works out great to spread out the busyness of Christmas!  I took a little side road there, but I'm back and sharing my take on the fun colors that Vickie has chosen based on these adorable little snowman peeps!

I dusted off my Paper Smooches "Winter Groves" stamp set to create this winter scene.  I smooshed a bit of Tumbled Glass distress ink to ground the cool guy.  The sentiment is a Winter Words Confetti Cuts die by Reverse Confetti. 

Congratulations to Mona Pendleton of Cupcake's Creations - our guest star stamper for the week!  

We sadly say goodbye to Karolyn Loncon - our November guest designer - but stay tuned...we have a new talented guestie joining us in December!

For more inspiration by the rest of the design team, click on their blog links below...or... you can go to the Color Throwdown blog to see their cards and to get the details on how to play along. 
Barbara Anders  
Broni Holcombe   
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins 
Lori Tecler   
Tammy Hershberger
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)
Karolyn Loncon (November Guest Designer) 

Here's another DIY essential oil gift idea!  

 

Mojo Monday

 It's time for another Mojo Monday challenge and once again...Julee has created a fabulous sketch for us!  It's been a long time since I used this Verve Winter Tree Plain Jane stamp, so thought it would be fun to stamp each tree twice on patterned paper then paper piece some of the boughs and pop them with foam tape.  The sentiment is from a retired set by Verve - Holly Jolly Christmas.  The holly leaves are a punch by Martha Stewart.  Papers are from the Old World Winter pad by Paper Studio.

To see what the rest of the mojomakers have created, click on their blog links below...or...you can go to the Mojo Monday blog and click on the first nine thumbnails.
Carole Burrage
Julee Tilman (Owner)
Justin Krieger
Lori Tecler
Marisa Ritzen 
Mary Fish
Sarah Bigelow
Teresa Kline 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)

Wanted to wish everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving this week a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving!  I'm looking forward to celebrating with my side of the family in Ohio!

I'm going to leave you with a yummy sounding peppermint hot chocolate recipe...a great gift idea for those little last minute gifts that might be needed!

Sweet Sunday Sketch

**Scroll on down for my Mojo Monday card**

Karen has a lovely new layout for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!  I chose to use some lovely new papers from Recollections' Winter Frost 6x6 pad.  I die cut the Snowflake Block (Simon Says Stamp) from one of the shimmery sheets, then layered up the 3 snowflakes from WPlus9's Snowflake Trio die set.  The sentiment - from Glad Tidings by Verve - was stamped with Blue Bayou ink (SU). 

On an oily side note...
Here's another DIY essential oil recipe you might want to try for Christmas!  To see previously posted recipes, click on my Young Living EO label in the right sidebar.

Joy to the World

Another smooshed Christmas card completed...this time using the great layout for the CAS(E) This Sketch challenge #149! I used Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers distress inks smooshed on TH watercolor CS, splattered with Gold color shine by Heidi Swapp, then die cut with Stitched rectangle die by Lil' Inker Designs.  I used 3 Confetti Cuts dies by Reverse Confetti:  Wreaths, Branch Out and Winter Words. The sentiment stamp is from RC's Winter Word Coordinates set.  This is also a CASE for one of Jo Nevill's cards - the Featured Stamper on SCS this week!  I primarily cased the color washed background and large circle element.

On an oily side note...
Here's another DIY recipe that you could put together for a last minute gift!

Sugar scrubs work great to get rid of those rough and dry skin areas (for me it's elbows and heels) that are so prevalent in the winter months! 

Clean and Fresh

No card yet to post today, but wanted to share another DIY Carpet Cleaner recipe using essential oils that would make a great gift! I'm in cleaning mode this morning, so guess that's why I was quick to share this one. 

CAS(E) This Sketch!

This is my interpretation of the current CAS(E) This Sketch challenge and I'll have to admit...my card went out of control - lol!  I should have stopped at "merry" only, but no...I thought I should add Christmas to the card front.  I had no plans for sequins, but after applying Crystal Effects to the holly berries and smudging one while it was wet and smearing it on the white BG...it was time to move on to Plan B with sequins. :-/  My simple tag ended up quite busy, but it is what it is!

STAMPS: Winter Word Coordinates (Reverse Confetti)
PAPER: Merry and Bright (Carta Bella), Metallic gold
ACCESSORIES: Holly, Winter Words, Tag Me Too, Mini Circle Garland Pretty Panels Confetti Cuts - all by Reverse Confetti; Stitched Rectangle die by Lil' Inker Designs; Stitched Fishtail Flags STAX Die-Namics by MFT.

  On an oily side note...here's another DIY Christmas gift that you might want to try making!

Peace on Earth

November's Sketch For You To Try challenge on the Reverse Confetti blog is such a fun one!  My starting point was a leftover piece of watercolor CS on which I had smooshed 3 distress inks: Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron and Mustard Seed.  I thought it would work well with Reverse Confetti's Globe Confetti Cuts.  The sentiment uses Winter Words Confetti Cuts along with the Winter Word Coordinates stamp set.

STAMPS: Winter Word Coordinates (Reverse Confetti)
PAPER: Tropical Teal, Simply Chartreuse (PTI), Black, White, Metallic gold.

On an oily side note...

I'm always on the lookout for DIY gift items using essential oils!  This graphic is from a local group that I'm a part of, and thought I would share it with you as well.  Sounds like a heavenly solution for that winter dry skin!
Thanks for stopping by...

Freshly Made Shaker

I'm marching onward to getting my Christmas card stash built up and knew this corner collage design for  the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge would be a perfect sketch to use!  I used two of my fave distress inks - Peacock Feathers and Twisted Citron - to smoosh on the background.  I then added an Early Espresso circle shaker element and layered a metallic gold banner flag and the tree die by Reverse Confetti.  Did you notice those tiny cross stitch dies?  I couldn't resist these fun stitched details and recently ordered the Stitched die set from Paper Smooches. This card is also for the Ways To Use It challenge on SCS to use any gold mediums.  I LOVE touches of gold...especially with holiday cards!

STAMPS: Merry and Bright (WPlus9).
PAPER: Tropical Teal and Simply Chartreuse (PTI), Early Espresso (SU), Metallic gold.
INK: Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron (Tim Holtz), Early Espresso (SU).
ACCESSORIES: Stitched rectangle and circle dies by Lil' Inker Designs; Stitched Fishtail Flags STAX Die-Namics by MFT; Branch Out Confetti Cuts (Reverse Confetti); Atmosphere sequin mix by Little Things from Lucy's Cards; Stitched dies by Paper Smooches.

An oily side note...

Thought I'd share another diffuser blend of essential oils that will make your house smell so yummy.  Bonus is that it includes Thieves EO which is such a great oil to build up your immune system.  Have a great day...it's a blissfully warm day here in VA and I'm off work...yay! 

Watercolor Peace

This was such a fun one layer card to create! I used the sketch by Chrissy Larson for the current CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge and used an older WPlus9 die set for the WPlus9 Throwback Thursday Challenge #8.  I'm also entering this into Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge where anything goes this week.

I created the background by smooshing 4 different distress inks on acrylic sheets, spritzing with water and applying the ink on Tim Holtz watercolor CS.  I heat dried between each color then splattered some Heidi Swapp Gold Color Shine over it.  I added fine glitter to the snowflakes which doesn't show up well in the photo. 

DISTRESS INKS: Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, Scattered Straw, Peacock Feathers.
DIES: Snowflake Trio die by WPlus9; Winter Words Confetti Cuts by Reverse Confetti; Stitched Rounded Rectangle Die-Namics by MFT. 

An Oily Side Note...
Anyone in your household suffering with a sore throat?  A soothing remedy is to fix a Thieves "tea" by adding 2 drops Thieves oil and 2-3 drops lemon oil to 8-12 oz. hot water.  Sweeten with 1-2 tbsp. raw honey (local made is best!).  
I'm also a big fan of adding 6 drops Thieves essential oil to my diffuser which acts to enhance the immune systems of everyone in the room!  The diffuser has the added benefit of acting as a humidifier which keeps those mucous membranes from drying out!  

One Layer Christmas

I really need to kick it up a few notches and get more Christmas cards made! I love the current Retrosketches Challenge and used that as my starting point.  Reverse Confetti had an awesome Christmas release about a week ago, so had to try out the new Holly and Winter Words Confetti Cuts along with their Winter Word Coordinates stamp set!  This set gives you a gazillion options for sentiments!  Amy Tsuruto inspired me when she posted she is making 3 of the same card with each Christmas creation she completes.  I'm not quite as industrious and have made my goal to make two of every design.  This was an easy peasy one layer card to put together.  Papers are from Echo Park's "Tis the Season" 6x6 pad.  Stitched circle die is by Lil' Inker Designs and the flags are MFT's Stitched Fishtail Flags STAX Die-Namics.

 On an oily side note...
One of my favorite fall blends of essential oils to diffuse uses 4 drops cinnamon, 4 drops orange and 3 drops nutmeg.  Here's a chart that will give you even more "recipe" ideas for fall and winter!

Metallic Gold Meets Vanilla

Check out Karen Barber's classy Color Challenge on SCS today! Metallic gold and vanilla.  I started with this striped vellum from SU and die cut the edge using a stitched border Die-Namics by MFT.  The Circle Scribbles dies and the Wet Paint sentiment die and sentiment stamp are all by Papertrey Ink.  Would you believe I still have some of the old SU cording from many years ago and am so happy to see it (along with silver) back in the Christmas catalog that goes live for ordering on September 1st.  So, now I'm ready for the next golden (50th) anniversary that might come my way! 

OILY TIP FOR THE DAY: Lemon essential oil came to my rescue recently when I had a large price tag sticker that had a ton of adhesive residue when I tried to remove it.  I remembered hearing that lemon oil was a much healthier alternative than the obnoxious odorous fumes of most adhesive removers.  I used 2 drops and took a tissue and it wiped off like buttah!  :-)  So quick and easy!  A friendly reminder...if you're using it on plastic, be sure and clean off the lemon oil with a little soap and water so the acid doesn't react with the plastic.  

There's a great deal on getting the Premium Starter Kit by Young Living through the end of August ($10 off the regular price for new members)!  If you have any questions how you can get these oils and a diffuser of your choice in your life, please let me know.

Life of an Oiler

I'm straying from my usual paper crafting posts to share a newly found passion! Young Living essential oils!  It's always bothered me a lot to spray on the high levels of chemicals in most commercial bug sprays, so one of the first things on my oily wish list was to get the ingredients to make my own safe spray.  I also struggle with insomnia and wanted an alternative to help me sleep - other than pills.  When a local friend posted how much oils helped her on FB, it peaked my interest.  I met with her and another oiler who shared their experience and the rest is history!

My photo above shows a lipstick or nail polish caddy that I found at TJ Maxx and it works perfectly for storing my glass roller bottles.  I keep a Young Living EO file on Pinterest and have it full of many different "recipes" and helpful tips.  You can refer to it here:  https://www.pinterest.com/cullenwr/young-living-essential-oils/.

Bug/Tick Repellent: Palo Santo (the only EO that works for ticks!) 10 drops, Peppermint 5 drops, Purification 20 drops.  Fill glass bottle with non-alcohol Witch Hazel or distilled water (or 1/2 of each). 

My project this week was to mix up a LINEN SPRAY using 30 drops lavender, 1/3 cup water and 1 tablespoon witch hazel in a glass spray bottle.  Before using, it's important to shake it well.

I also want to share my SLEEPY BLEND roller bottle recipe:  10 drops Lavender, 10 drops Cedarwood, 10 drops Orange in a 10ml roller.  Fill the rest with carrier oil (I like to use Young Living's V-6).  

I also love to diffuse oils on a daily basis.  Not only does it smell good, but it's acting as a mini humidifier!  I have many, many different combinations that I diffuse and today it's a newly released oil called Northern Lights Black Spruce.  LOVE it!

That's all the oily news for today.  I'll be adding more of my fave oil uses from time to time and I'll be happy to answer any questions if you are interested in learning how to add them to your life to enhance wellness!