My First ATC !!!!!

WARNING: This post contains my ATC card for the swap at Cococat's Cardmaking, so if you're in the swap and don't want to see it before you receive it....Look no Further!!!!

I'm so excited, I signed up for my first ATC swap on Cococat's Cardmaking Message Board. I had never made one before, but admired many, and finally took the plunge to try one. The swap includes 12 people and each person is to do a card for a month of the year. I picked October because Alicia from PCA had sent me a Fall stamp set as an RAK, and I thought it would be perfect for this. For a first attempt, I'm quite happy with how they turned out.

This picture really isn't very good, night time again, but I first stamped my images, them sponged inks in shades of browns, green and a touch of red. then I randomly clear embossed smaller leaves over the card.

I just hope the recipiants like them!

Thanks for looking!

Just play....

OK .....So ...... I accidently deleted this first card when trying to do the links in the last paragraph and ........ of course I can't control where it goes once I upload after I've already written my thing ..... and I'm really tired and want to go to bed even thought it's only 10 o'clock........ so the info and history behind this first card are found near the end of this post, and the first card and beginning of this entire post is actually following this card....... clear as mud right?

....that is what I had some time to do this past weekend, and boy did it feel good. I was at my DMIL's and as always she was kind enough to share her supplies with me! I had a lot of fun playing with some of her stamp sets. I didn't note who's sets they were though. This first card had a lot of flourishes,which, if you visit often, you know I love, and what appeared to me to be flower petals (not sure that that's what they're meant to be) but this is what I came up with. This next card is, of course, a criss cross card. I've been wanting to make one for a while and just had to add some scallops (another favorite of mine) down the edges. Used BG, naturally, on this one. Also added a pearl brad to finish off the strip across the card, love this, thanks for sharing Deb!!!
And for winning a post challenge on the PCA message board, this last card (now the first card....LOL ) I received as part of an RAK from my friend Lee. With a fantastic layout, BG PP's, and Lumier paint on the chipboard monogram (which adds such a great shimmer) how could this card be anything but gorgeous????? Along with the card she sent me a pkg of stampendous clear sentiment stamps. Thanks so much Lee, you are a very generous lady!!!

I just want to add that although I've been crazy busy lately, I still have been checking out everyone's blogs regularly, just not commenting. Everyone's work is just such an inspiration, keep up the good work everyone!

Wow!

....two posts this month, imagine that! These are a couple of cards I did for challenges on the PCA message board.

This first one is for the Lift, Lift, Lift challenge. One of the ladies saw this layout on a blog (I have know idea which one) and linked it for everyone to see, I loved it and wanted to try it so here is my version.
This card is for the January sketch challenge. Used my Skipping Stones, Wonder Years, set for this one.

Other then that, nothing new here except more snow, snow, snow. Two days ago it was so warm all the snow had melted and now, in less then 24 hrs., we've gotten 15 to 20 cm and there's more on the way! Oh well, we got a family ski pass and lessons for the kiddies for x-mas, at least I know we'll get to use it!!!

Happy carding!

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to all you fellow Bloggers out there! I've been missing you, but life is busy now with working full time again.

We had a wonderful Christmas at our house this year. Both sets of parents and my Grandmother joined us for Christmas dinner. The best part was, because we had thought we had sold the house back in September, I had gotten a lot of packing done....... then when I went to get out those rarely used items......such as wine glasses, and the turkey platter, they were all packed and in Debbie's basement!!!! Sooooo, we drink wine from beer glasses and the turkey was served on a cookie sheet covered in tin foil......classy!!!! But we were all Happy, together, and in good health so what else matters!!!!!

Sorry for the poor picture quality here, but this is the best I can do at night, and it was not an easy subject to get a picture of anyway. This is a card I've done for a swap. I started it in Sept/Oct but never got around to finishing it. I wanted to do something different for the recipiant and thought this would be perfect so I dug it out tonight and finished it!

It's inspired by the circle cards, but the base is a clear CD/DVD (DH gets them in the large pkgs. he buys, they are protectors for the CD's in the bottom of the pkg). I stamped the CD in Permanent ink, then made the center "mini card" with punched scallops (they are joined by an eyelet on the side by the bow, and the top of the "card" rotates to open it. I also adhered another scallop on the back side of the CD to hide the hole and the edges of my stamping. Then just embellished and stamped the sentiment I wanted. I hope the recipiant likes it!!!!