Happy 2012!!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!

May your 2012 be great!

Hugz,

Gramma

Merry Christmas!

To family & friends, and my faithful followers near and far..
Merry, Merry Christmas!
Hugz,
Gramma

Not a card....

Hi bloggers... Snowing in WNY.  Just in time for the holidays.
The challenge at "Pike's Playground" this week is "Anything but a card."  This was a tough one for me, I'm a cardmaker... Anyway I settled on doing a tablescape for my grandchildren.  I went through Dustin's images, new and old and picked out the carolers he's drawn.  Then I colored them up with Copics and put them together on foam board and quilt batting.  The tree is a cardstock cone covered with MS branch punches and decorated with liquid pearl bulbs.  Hard to see in this photo.  The little step ladder is just clipart from microsoft.
I hope you are inspired to join the fun.

Okay, so my bows are a little off... try to ignore them...LOL
Hugz,
Gramma

Remember Mr. Green Jeans?

Any Captain Kangaroo fans still living.  Maybe a few, eh?
This is little miss Green Jeans.  I tried to make the background look better, but I am so lousy at Photoshop, I gave up.  Just look at the subject, OK.

Hugz,
Gramma

Finally a Facelift....

Not me, my blog guys.  There is a wonderful person at CraftyHipposDesign.com who is responsible for my work of "heart." I have no clue when it comes to blog design so she stepped up to the plate and took me on.. Great job! Don't you agree?
This is her info for any of you that might be interested in a do-over:

Jeannette Aurora is the designer behind Crafty Hippo Designs who did my blog design.  She created Crafty Hippo Designs to expand on her love of blog design and to keep from annoying her readers by re-designing her own blogs every other week.  Blog designing is her creative outlet and she really loves what she does. Jeannette believes that a makeover is a luxurious and relaxing event, so why should your blog makeover be any different?  She offers unique, beautiful, and affordable blog designs to fit your needs.  With Crafty Hippo Designs your blog makeover process will be a pampering experience.  Let her cater to your every need!

Crafty Hippo Designs offers Facebook welcome pages, Twitter and BlogFrog backgrounds, Etsy store banners and avatars, and three complete blog makeover packages: the Relaxing Design Package which includes 5 points worth of extras, the Glamorous Design Package which includes 10 points worth of extras, and the Luxurious Package which includes all her possible extras.  Each of these three designs comes with a custom header, blog background, coordinating text colors, your choice of blog template/layout, and installation.  Her extra design elements include three different kinds of navigation bars, custom fonts for sidebar widgets and post titles, sidebar and post title background images, signature, post divider, custom social networking icons, and more!  You can see all her designs and extras here.  You can also check out her portfolio to see some of her past work. She always offers a 10% discount to military bloggers.  And she also offers a 10% discount for returning customers and for a referral program which stack.  You can read all about it at the bottom of her terms and conditions page here.  

Her designs are normally priced at $30 for the Relaxing package, $50 for the Glamorous package, and $70 for the Luxurious package with all the bells and whistles but right now she is offering you two different discount options.  You can choose to receive 20% off all her design services, including a custom blog design, social networking remake and/or etsy design, or you can help her promote her business by posting about your experience working with her on your blog, facebook, blogfrog, or twitter account after your design is completed like I have and get 40% off all her design services!  That means you can get a complete custom blog design for as little as $18, or a social networking remake for only $16, if you head over to her site today and fill out her design order form!

   Totally awesome, right?

I hope you enjoy my new look.

Hugz,

Gramma

Egad! It isn't even 9 am yet!

So what the heck am I doing up?  No grands here to ease me awake with an "are you sleeping Gramma?"  Maybe its because I am so excited for Christmas this year.  The youngest granddaughter is old enough to tackle presents and I can barely wait.  The older two are just a joy to watch because they don't know whats coming.

Thinking about beef on weck for Christmas dinner... be nice to have something easy to clean up for a change.  Or, I could do pizza and lay it out on paper towels... Now thats easy!

Am posting this card front I colored last night. Holy moly was that a job! I put sooooooo much effort into it I felt I should share with my favorite bloggers.  Enjoy (I hope!)

Hugz,
Gramma

Non-traditional Christmas color(s) card.

Another challenge for you this week my friends.  Dustin wants you to get your Christmas juices flowing another color besides the customary red and green. You know you can do it.. Join in and have some fun.
I colored this image from the 12 Days of Christmas collection with copics, Stickles and MS glitter.  The sentiment is computer generated.  I hope it will inspire you to join the fun on "Pike's Playground."

This is the first time I've used a watermark for my cards.. Does it shout "professional" to you?
Stay safe.
Hugz,
Gramma

NOEL Card

I made this card a while ago and meant to post it, but didn't, so here it is...
I used my copics to color the image, my nesties to cut the scalloped oval, liquid pearls for embellishment on the cricut cut NOEL.  MS punch for bow. Black card base, not sure of manufacturer. The stamp is a digi, sorry I don't know whose.
I thought it turned out pretty good... Any opinions?

Hugz,
Gramma

Anything Goes as long as it's Christmas

Hey guys Dustin's challenge at Doodle Dragon Studio is one we should all be getting prepared for.. "Anything goes Christmas."   He is still releasing that super deal on the 100 Days of Christmas digis and they are adorable as only Dustin Pike can do adorable.. Join in at "Pike's Playground" for a very merry challenge.  This is my addition for inspiration to all youse.  The last image is from Dustin's 100 days of Christmas collection as are the first two images.

                                                                

Check it out....

Glitterbabe's Fabulous Friday for "new releases" is going on now.  Be sure to check out the artistic projects by her design team.(Including moi!) This hilarious image is the one I was lucky enough to snag for your perusal.  Get inspired... Check it out!

Hugz,
Gramma

Have you seen this......?

...magazine.. Paper & Pixels, an online magazine for digital art and artists is featuring Dustin Pike as a designer this week.  The following is my contribution to the magazine. Enjoy.
Paper & Pixels

Hugz,
Gramma

Another boss and more new stuff...

My dear internet friend Stef Hughes recently asked me to be a part of her DT at Glitterbabe .  I hope you like my rendition of her designs.

and this is another one of her images that kept me awake so I colored it at 3:30 am this morning... enjoy!

Hugz,
Gramma

Anything goes... at Doodle Dragon Studio Challenge

That's right!  Pick up your colors and get to playing... Dustin is sponsoring an "Anything Goes" challenge this week on his blog.  Enter and Win a Dustin Pike image of your choice.
I just returned from a fantastic Retreat/Vacation in sunny Arizona, so this is a quickie card.  Pumpkin buttons from my stash and DP from DCWV's 2010 Indian Summer Fall Matstack. A few Copic markers and Ta Da!  Have a great time with this challenge!

Hugz,
Gramma

Bling to the Max.................

Its showtime at the playground crafters.  Dustin is challenging you to do a super star shiny blingy thingy on his blog. This is my design team contribution to the challenge, meant to encourage and entice you to have fun at the "Playground."  Go ahead... you know you want to play...

Hugz,
Gramma

Spooktastic!!!

Is there anything better than Halloween for great project and card ideas?  I could have a whole room of just Halloween stuff if DH's wallet would hold up.  Which is really funny because we haven't had trick-or-treaters at the house for over 30 years.  The grandchildren come over, but it isn't the same as adorable ankle-biters gnawing on your porch posts for treats.
Dustin Pike is giving you the perfect opportunity to share your flare for Halloween with his "Spooktastic" challenge this week.  There are loads of Dustin's Halloween images available in his store.
 Check out the super "freebie"  in colored version or B&W  available  on his blog.
I hope you like my spooky addition to the design team inspirations....

Hugz,
Gramma

Glitter and Cardinals

I have to tell you guys... I love the "look" of winter... I really do not care for the feel and the ice and the shoveling...etc....  I found this digi somewhere last year and it reminded me of my late mother.  She loved to watch the birds at her feeder in the snowy months of winter in Western New York.

I just added the glitter paper in the back for some sparkle.  I couldn't make myself add snow.
Hugz,
Gramma

World Smile Day Oct 7th.... join the fun

Just in time for World Smile Day, Dustin Pike has a challenge to make a card or project that makes you "smile."  Use one of his images and go for it..  There are plenty of new images to choose from in his store, or you can use an old standard like I did.  Great thing about DDS images... they're timeless.
Several members of the Design Team have been nursing hand and arm injuries..I made this card in their honor and wish them all speedy recoveries.





as an aside here:  Can you make out the shadow on the card left by the screen in my front windows? Rather neat special effect, don't you think?
Take Care and be well.
Hugz,
Gramma