Greetings all!!
Now is the time to relax & reflect on the year that is nearly behind us & look forward to the year ahead. What better way to do that than a relaxing, bubbly, bubble bath! For me....this has been for some reason, one of the most hectic holiday seasons on record!! Seems like I was just starting to make my halloween cards & now...POOF! It is nearly January 2009!!!
This card was made with the newly realsed set "Girly Girls"....makes me just want to jump in & relax!!! But alas...I have to jump in my car & get to work! Hope you all enjoy your last week of 2008!
Gwen

Where the heck have I been???

Well first of all... I went on a cruise down to Key West & Cozumel!! my first cruise, We had a blast!!! I won't bore you with a lot of pictures! just the one of our ship & this other of me & my husband on formal night...sooooo fun!!!

The problem was the timing of it! we returned home 2 days before Thanksgiving! SO back to work for 2 days.....then cook & clean & get ready for thanksgiving company! Luckily all went well & nothing burned!

Then of course all the Christmas stuff starts! all of my family lives in Minnesota, so I need to get all gifts, cards & projects done & in the mail early!!!! (still not done!) I actually have been working on a few cards...I will get to posting them a little later! but soon I hope!
I saw these last year on the Martha Stewart show....made several of them to give as gifts...they are wine bottle covers.....So cute on the kitchen counter.

And one last thing I have my 50th birthday coming up later this month & my DD the Vet tech/total animal lover thought I needed a third dog so she got me this 3 month old little puppy as an early BD gift....she is cute as a button but OMG!!!! she is a wild one!!! hard to get her to go potty OUTSIDE!!! her name is Chewy...guess why??

Then add in a couple of Christmas parties & a few sick days (didn't think you needed to see pictures of that) And poof! nearly 4 weeks have gone by!!! So hope none of you were worried, & hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! I will be by sometime this weekend to see what you all have been up to! Thanks for stopping by!!!!

Gwen

inchie sneak peek

Good happy Monday!!!! this is the last of the sneak peeks for Clear Artistic Stamps November release!!! I made this little card using inchies....just for a little teaser! ;) This card shows a few of the images & I LOVE that there are 2 butterflies in this set & they each face a different direction!!! I don't have much time for a long post as I need to get to work. You can see a bunch of other sneak peeks AND get signed up to join in on the release party here in the cottage studio.
Thanks for the visit today!!! hope you are all doing well & are on schedule with your holiday card making!!! I sadly am not...but I will catch up! :)
have a good one!!!
~Gwen~

Sneak peek...

Happy Saturday all! Well I finally get a couple of hours of crafting time this weekend. I have been wanting to create a white on white card for some time now & not had the chance until today. This is a quick card that can be used for many occasions...for this one I just colored & stickled the image & left everything else white with a bit of texture. The image is new in a set due to come out very soon from Clear Artistic Stamps. This stamp is so versatile that I have made it a bit Christmasy here in my post at the Cottage studio.

Hope you are all enjoying your Saturday..Looking forward to seeing all your holiday creations that seem to be popping up on a daily basis now!! Guess I better get busy!!! I have a lot of catching up to do!

Thanks for the visit!!

~Gwen~

Happy Birthday Travis!

So my son was 20 on Halloween. I made this card for his BD. We have always tried to keep the BD seperate from Halloween so I made him this football card....He has been a die hard fan of the Minnesota Vikings since he was 3 years old! (not kidding) hence the purple & gold color :) It is a tri-fold card that I embossed the purple & yellow paper & actually made the football myself with my oval nesties!!! I love how it turned out!!! At least they managed to win this week! He is over every Sunday for football all day as we (my husband) has a 65" tv & the NFL ticket so they can watch every game every week! I also made him this football cake...not bad for my first try. We had his family party on Sunday & his sisters had his "friends" party on Halloween.
And now...just like that...November is here & it is about holiday time! YIKES!!! better get busy!

Travis is in the middle..he is Ace Ventura, pet detective....anyone remember that movie???

Thanks for the visit!!! now back to the election results!!!

~Gwen~

I miss sassy!

I made this card for my friend Ilene (AKA Sassy)who I have not seen for awhile! She has had work & medical issues & me with my work schedule.....grrrrr. just no time at all to get together & be crafty!!!!
So I sent her this card & I hope she gets it today!! I used this weeks sketch from CPS...it was perfect for my cute Bella image. All the DP are from goodies that I picked up at the CK convention & the ribbon is from Michaels. Oh...& the little "Sassy" stamp I also got at the convention. What a find!!! Well...as I type this I am on my lunch hour so I best be getting back to work!! enjoy you day!!!!!
~Gwen~

Happy Birthday Julie

This is for one of the girls I work with who is having a Birthday this week. Even though this card has tons of paper ( it is so heavy) is seems to be missing something. just not sure what. Oh well its done. I actually had time to do a few cards today. So hope to be posting again in a few days. I will be posting a card on the Clear Artistic Stamps blogg Monday AM if you have time to check it out.

For this card all the paper is from SU. The stamp is from Hanna Stamps & the Happy Birthday stamp is from Clear Artistic Stamps. I tried really hard to not to use another brown bow....but just could not help myself :)

Well that is it for now as I have some blogg hopping to do! hope you all have a fabulous Halloween week!! thanks for the visit!!!!

~Gwen~

long time no post!

So sorry to be gone so long! Work has just been taking all my time lately! Then on Sundays, now that it is football season...I make a big brunch, clean up that mess then cook a big dinner for whoever shows up for all the football games. Not that I am complaining!!! I love it that the kids are over most Sundays now!! For the record...I hate football!! LOL!!!

I made this little set for my little nephew. He is only 4 & wants nothing to do with the scary part of Halloween. SO I thought this would be OK. He, like most kids, loves getting mail. The little envelope pouch is so quick & easy! no measuring, & no cutting!!! It is so easy to make things for the little ones...they love everything!!! specially if it includes candy!! If anyone is interested in the pouch...go here for a quick tutorial!

That's it for today! Better busy...I have about 4 days worth of stuff to get done in my one day off this week!!! Thanks for the visit!!!!

Gwen

harvest moon

Happy weekend!!! All I can say is uff da!! what a week!!! Some of you may have already see this card in the Cottage Studio...But it was so quick & easy to make & to me just so dang pretty thought I would share it here too! The beautiful harvest moon stamp is from a set designed by Belinda Landtroop of Clear Artistic Stamps the set is very appropriately called "Moon Dreams"

All of the paper is from SU & the glitter is new from the Martha Stewart Line. The little bling is from the dollar bin at Michaels. That's it!!! quick & easy!!! Just what I need these days!!! :)

Have a great weekend & go create something wonderful & let me know so I have some eye candy to look at!! Tee Hee Hee!!!! Thanks for popping in today!!

~Gwen~

extra large card

Happy hump day! and a lucky day off for me!! This is a really big card...I usually make much smaller ones. I have had this stamp for a long time but not had a chance to use it :( I just thing he is so darn cute. He is colored with prisma color markers & his face is all sparkles with a clear Spica pen... ( if you double click on the picture you can really see the sparkle!)love those pens! used my oval nesties & stampin up paper. Those cute little stars I got at the scrapbook convention...they just poke in & then flattened on the back. I have had fun already today visiting many, many blogs & enjoying a beautiful cool morning. Now off the knock off some stuff on my to-do list! have a great day! and as always....thanks for stopping by!!!!

~Gwen~

Beautiful baby girl

I am not much of a scrapbooker...but I did make this little photo holder for my niece Melissa. I think it turned out super cute! I printed the photos that she E-mailed me in Black & white on water color paper & then added a bit of color with my SU chalks. Melissa actually took the cute photos herself.

I have made similar photo projects using flip-flops instead of the little baby shoes. This is the third one of the little baby ones I have made.

I also embellished these little onesies with iron-on transfers that I printed off my computer using regular old clip art. If I remember correctly you can never have enough of these :)

And last but not least I decorated this little box for baby Evie to put everything in along with a gift card to target for diapers!

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!!! we are finally a little cooler here today!!! Woot Woot!! only in the 80's. thanks for stopping by!!!

~Gwen~

simple Halloween

As I was making cards today I realized I really missed creating the clean & very simple ones. So that is what I did for the rest of my day! I made 6 cards today 5 are very basic & simple...no frills or fancy stuff! This one is from a stamp set I got at a tiny little local stamp store.....the set is from Inkadinkado. Some really fun flourishy stamps in the set. You can not see it in the photo but the moon & image are a bit sparkly...I discovered these new pens"atyou spica" the gal at the store say they actually have tiny shards of glass that make them sparkle! I love them. Just gives a very suttle shine. The paper is from SU & the little corner bling I got in the dollar bin at Michaels. I will post the others later or tomorrow. I have a HUGE mess to clean up now!!

Thanks for the visit!!!

~Gwen~

Happy card making day!!!!

This is my first of hopefully many cards today!!! After all it is World Card making day!!!!!

This card I made using a sketch at Taylored Expressions. If it looks a bit off center...that is the way it is supposed to look...Hard for me as I kept looking at it weird...tee hee hee!!All of the paper is from SU. I got some beautiful new glitters from the Martha Stewart line. The stamp set is from Hero Arts.

I hope you all get to enjoy some of the cool stuff that is on some of the many many bloggs celebrating today!



lots of blogg candy.....contests...sketches & challenges!

Thanks for the visit!
~Gwen~

Happy Birthday Zoe!

I actually got a day off today!!!!! I have been working so incredibly many hours all summer that I am just so burned out!! SO took advantage of my day off by what else???? paper crafting!!!! I actually got 2 cards done :)

This one is from a sketch I saw a while ago from somewhere & finally got a chance to give it a try !!

The card is for my flower loving friend from work, ZOE.

from my stash I used:

Old rose stamp from SU, Happy Birthday stamp from Clear artistic Stamps. All paper is from SU. Ribbon is from Michael's as well as the bling! I used a Martha Stewart punch for the border & of course my nesties!

I think it turned out pretty good...she'll like it :)

Now later this eve I have nothing else to do but visit & comment on all the bloggs I want!!!! I am so excited...I have missed you all!! I sometimes get to sneak a peak... but that has been about it! HOPEFULLY that is all about to change & I will not have to spend so much time at work!!!!!

See you soon!! thank you for the visit!!!

~Gwen~

CPS Sketch

Greetings all & happy fall! Hope things have cooled off for most of you...still over 100 here yesterday!!!

This is my post for the CPS Challenge.

This weeks sponsor is:

Clear artistic stamps.Which is where the cute little stockings are from. Created with the set..Joy of the season. They are hanging from a tree branch from PTI...And the snow flake, all paper & ribbon are from Stampin up. Then finished it up with a little stickles! That's all I really have time for today! off to another very long day at work!!!

looking forward to seeing YOUR creations with this sketch!! Thanks for popping by!!

~Gwen~

Happy Birthday DD!!

Greetings from the valley of the sun!! sorry to be away so long....but when you work 50 hours in a week..it leaves very little time for anything else :(

I got to spend part of my Saturday creating these for my DD Amanda. She will be 24 on Monday! Where does the time go???

The first is a gift bag...I just love making these!! I thought this Hanna was perfect! I swear she invented that saying!!! she is one of those girls ;) And we love to tease her about it...tee hee hee!!

This was created with SU'S new DP...love, love the color!!



The other is a card using a different Hanna Stamp & the same DP. The card is pretty simple....but that is all I had time for! Besides.....It will be the cash inside that she will enjoy the most anyway!! ;)

Well that is it for now!! Off to do laundry, cleaning & run a few errands, Monday starts another 50 hour work week!!! UGH!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the visit today!!
~Gwen~

another sneek peek

New release alert!!! This set will be available to purchase on the 16th! I tell ya...this set is soooo much fun to play with! On this one I kept it soft & mellow...I paper-pieced her shirt, her face & her black velvet hat. I think she is so pretty! If you would like to see her all glittered up I have another sample card here 2 completely different looks with the same set. so fun...kind of like paper dolls...tee hee hee.

All paper is from SU, except the black velvet that I used on her hat & the scalloped background. Rhinestones & ribbon are from Michael's.

thanks for the visit today!!!

~Gwen~

SO MUCH FUN!!! CKC second place card winner

Greetings everyone! I am back & what a blast I had at the convention!!! I will try to keep this short....but how do I keep 15 hours of learning, fun & shopping to just a few words!! This is my friend & fellow Blogger Marge At one of the classes we took. We made this from velvet paper...I will show it another day when it is completed. Just beautiful!!!


We also had classes in...flocking....heated velvet stickers....working with canvas boards (loved that) Just so much information!!!!! if I can remember even half of it, I will be happy!!


ALSO!!!! I entered a little card in the Papercrafts card contest WON SECOND PLACE!!!!!! This is the card I entered.....

The paper is from a pack from DCWV & the cute little pumpkin is from A new Halloween set from Clear Artistic Stamps. My prize was a $125.00 package of papercrafts books & Magazines!!! So exciting!!!

This I me with my prize!! & I don't know if you can see the shirt I made or not...but for day 2 I made this with a Hanna stamp & under her is says...

But I need it...

it was the perfect saying for the weekend!!! Well as you can just about imagine...I have tons of new stuff to play with as well as all kinds of new tips & techniques to share with you all!!! So off I go....I have missed you all & can't wait to get surfing again!!! thanks for all your sweet comments & well wishes!!!!

~Gwen~

I need a vacation

See how relaxed my little pups are?? That is what I need!!! I have so much on my plate right that I have to go on a to do list diet :( My job right now is demanding about 50 hours of my week...and will be for the month of September, at least! That leaves very little time left for family, friends, housework, errands, crafts.....etc. Soooo unfortunately one of the first things to go is the blogging & crafting ***I'm crying***My head is so full of to do lists that I am having a tough time creating any way. Next weekend I am spending 2 full days at the Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook convention. I have signed up for a few classes! so hope to be learning something new!! I will be around to visit on your bloggs & do a bit of commenting as time allows.....I hope to be back to creating in a couple of weeks as I get caught up on things!!! Don't know how you all do it all!!!! Maybe I need a class in time management!

See ya around!!
~Gwen~

Black bird

Happy Monday all & Happy Labor Day!! Well..... now that this is Sept first I guess the race is on to get the Halloween, Thanksgiving, & Christmas cards going!! PLUS all the Birthdays & thank yous that arrive during this time also!!! I love this crafty time of year!!! I can make cards & crafts to my hearts content!!
I made a promise to my BBGF to create 2 cards with a stamp set that has never been used (I have many...do you) She actually sent me this wonderful stamp set several months ago & had not had a chance to use it! I love it!!
Thing I used from my stash today:
All CS is from SU...The stamp set is from clearly wordsworth...words are from PTI.....used my new MS scallop punch....SU scallop circle punch. That's it!! quick & easy!!

ALSO as a design team member for
Clear Artistic Stamps I post on the company blog In the Cottage Studio On Monday's if you care to take a peek!!! Each of the other DT members have the other days of the week...so stop by often...Leave a comment so we can visit you back with a comment!!!

Hope you all have a fabulous Labor day with family & friends!! Looking forward to all of YOUR holiday creations...always on the look out for new bloggs to visit!!!

~Gwen~

Cupcake challenge #31

This is my entry for cupcake challenge # 31 over at Taylored expressions. So fun!!! It is a cloudy day here in Arizona (very rare) So makes me feel like Halloween....So I made this a Halloween cupcake! Kinda cute huh? PLUS...I wanted to try out my new cuttlebug embossing folder! The have some great new ones for fall, Halloween & Christmas!! This is the pumpkin one. All of the DP is from last years Martha Stewart line.

Cupcake & phrase are Hero Arts. Twill tape is SU. Rhinestones are from Michaels dollar bin.

This is the sketch...

Hope you are all enjoying your last weekend of summer!!

Have a safe but fun holiday weekend!!

~Gwen~

Happy Birthday Etha

I made this Birthday Card for my fellow DT member Etha! I chose this stamp because as far as I know...(have not actually met her in person) She is the total nature loving person " Enjoying her little piece of heaven in the mountains of Colorado. The stamp is actually from an old SU set. Colored with prismacolor markers...still trying to figure those things out! I added a little stickles to the birds wings.

I am pretty sure these are like no birds she has ever seen before!!! LOL!!! Other stash I used: Brown ribbon from Michael's, Swiss dots cuttle bug folder, The new scallop punch from SU...just can not put that thing down ;) And all of the DP is actually from my ever growing scrap pile! ...good girl...***patting myself on the back*** Tee Hee Hee!! That is it for now!!! It's back to the old crafty table to see what else I can whip up!!! Thanks for the visit!!!

~Gwen~

different kind of a card

This is a different kind of a card! Not one that most people will ever make! I work in a dental office...could you tell?? From time to time we have to send our patients to other offices for...Root canals or to have wisdom teeth out etc. So we send thank you's to them for taking care of our patients. The layout for this is from
2 sketches for you & this is the sketch:

The Stash I played with today:

Dental Bella, prismacolor markers, all paper & flowers are from Stampin up. Words are from G rated stamps. I love the tiny little tooth brad I found at our local scrapbook store! too cute! Well I guess that's it for today! so glad I got to do another sketch! So many fun one's so little time!!! :)

TTFN!!!

~GWEN~

welcome SBS 22

Hello fellow sisters! I am so excited to be introduced to all of you!! After all...you can never have to many sisters. A little about me.....I live in Arizona, transplanted here for Minnesota 11 years ago with my husband of 27 years and our 3 children. I work full time at a dental office, (4, 10 hour days) Hence the name "my crafty days off"we are new empty Nester's... My son Travis just moved out & in with his sisters...he is in his second year of college. My daughter Amanda is a dental assistant and my other daughter Angela is a Vet. tech.

I have 2 new babies to keep me company..... my 2 little dogs...Che Che & Cha Cha.
I have only been doing stamping & crafting for about 4 years... I am totally addicted & just loving it! I am fairly new to blogging...think I started that Last Oct. But seriously....having the time of my life! Looking forward to seeing all of your creations...

TTFN!

Gwen

Happy Birthday Brenda!

Wow this month is full of Birthdays!! Used my ever faithful Cosmo Bella again!! You all are probably sick of her...for some reason I am not :) Love the hot pink with this card! I even did the inside this time! She actually has plans for an all girls weekend to help her celebrate so I thought this was perfect!!

Stash I played with today:

Stamps Bella & TT.

Card stock, SU & Michaels

Prisma color markers

Rhinestone from Hero Arts

SU'S paper piecing template..I just used a marker instead of the poker.

Ribbon also from Michaels

The inside:

For the inside I just lined the the card with hot pink paper, punched randomly, with with different size holes so the black shows through. I Thought it made it look a little more party like.

Now just have to think of some kind of treat to make her!!

I am off search through my cake Doctor book to find something yummy to make her!!! Ta Ta or now!!! thanks to visiting!!!!

~Gwen~

Bella is ready to party again!!!

This card is for one of the young girls at work that is turning 21 (legal drinking age in Arizona)so made her this card. My BBGF Marge makes a lot of cards with the cut out like this..so fun!! this is the first time I am trying it. worked perfect to fit in the #21. Don't you just love it when you really get your moneys worth out of a stamp??? Well this one is it!!!!! Those of you that have visited my blogg in the past will know how often I have used this cosmo Bella!

Things I played with from my stash:

Cosmo Bella stamp. All paper & ink is from Stampin up. Colored bella with prismacolor pencils & markers. The Happy birthday stamp is from Clear arstic stamps. I am just in love with Stampin up's new scallop border punch! (top of the card) Ribbon is from Michaels craft store.

Thanks for visiting today!

~Gwen~

cupcake Birthday

Hip Hip Hooray!!! It is Saturday!!!!! I have lots of Birthday cards to make today.....One down 4 to go! This one was inspired by a sketch by Taylor Vanbruggen . I love this sketch! very clean & simple!
what stash I played with today:
CS by stampin up...new colors Pink pirouette & Pacific Point....DP by DCWV...Red gemstones by Hero Arts
Stamp from SU...Pink ribbon from Michael's....finished card...5x5.
This is the sketch is you would like to play along!

Hope you are all enjoying what is left of summer!!

Until later....

~Gwen~

summer into fall

A little bit of summer..... a little bit of fall. I love the summer & fall of this card cause summer is almost over & fall is just around the corner!!

Stuff I played with:

paper by Stampin' up, Cuttle bug Swiss dots, oval punches by stampin' up, stamps by Paper Trey, Ribbon is from Michael's, ink also from Stampin Up. Hope you all are enjoying your week!

Blogg at ya later!

~Gwen~

basket of spiders

I was at my good friend Ilean's house yesterday & she had this fabulous Halloween paper! The spiderwebs are actually flocked..so it has that wonderful fuzzy feel to it. Sorry I do not know who makes It :( She was kind enough to give me a couple of sheets to play with!! THANKS ILENE!!! So of course had to think of something fun to do with it & this cute little basket is what I came up with!!!
The basket shape is actually made using a brass template circle from stampin up that I traced & cut out...so easy & perfect size for a few little treats!! No stamping done with this one! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!!
~Gwen~

Let's Chat!

This is my last Sneak peek at the new "Autumn Treats" set that will be released this evening by Clear Artistic stamps. This my favorite stamp in the set! I just love this little mouse!! Isn't she just so cute!!!

Tonight Clear Artistic Stamps is releasing a great new set for fall called "Autumn Treats", and "I'm just saying" One hour before release there will be a chat where everyone can be involved. We will have lots to talk about besides the stamp release, so don't miss it! The chat will take place at 8pm eastern, 7pm central, 6pm mountain and 5pm pacific. Here is the link to the chat:
Chat!
If a little window comes up about a certificate, just click "trust" and you will be in the chat room. Then type in "/nick yourname" for your name to show up instead of the word "visitor".

See ya there! There could be prizes!!!

~Gwen~

sneak peek #3

Well here we are...Monday again already! Hope you all had a great weekend. I saw the new Batman movie...not usually my kind of movie...but I really did like it.
This card is made with another stamp from the soon-to -be released set "Autumn Treats" From Clear Artistic Stamps.You can check out the store here...or the company blogg for more samples here OR the yahoo group here
I love the warm fall colors of this card!
The CS & buttons are from SU as well as the punches & used for the scallop & plain circles. The scallop square is made with a marvey punch. The ribbon is from Michael's & the DP is from DCWV.
Well that's it for now...I PLAN to participate in several interesting challenges this week!! lots of fun ones...you can check them out under "challenge/sketch Bloggs" to the right of my blogg. Have a great week everyone! All the schools are back in secession here in Arizona! I think most of the rest of the world waits until Sepetember. Thanks for visiting!!!
~Gwen~