Congratulations Bridget

My sweet granddaughter has been taking riding lessons, and she has already been in her first jumping competition.  Am I proud?  Well maybe just a little!  I know there will be many more competitions.  I thought maybe I should have a card ready for the next one.  Today is my day to post on the Poppystamps blog page and I chose this card to display. 

The background is one of the new Memory Box stencils.  It's called Garden Birch Trees.  I used stencil spray to hold it to the white card stock.  I sponged a blue background, covered the entire piece with glue.  After removing the stencil and quickly putting it into soapy water for cleaning, I covered the card stock with a transparent glitter.  Pretty yes?  Please say yes!  I didn't get the name Glitter Grammy because I didn't like glitter!  Thankfully my granddaughter inherited my love of crafting and glitter.  I covered the Poppystamps  Trotting Pony die with silver glitter, added a bow and the front of this card is finished. 

And here's the inside.  I used white, silver and blue on the outside and I wanted to follow through with the same colors on the inside.  I love it....and it's ready for her next win....Speaking of, do you want to see my sweet girl? 

Here she is.  I am so very proud of her. 

Well, that's it for today, I hope you take a minute to check out the Poppystamps Blog page and have a look around to see how everyone is using the Memory Box stencils and the Poppystamps dies. 

Until later,  Happy Crafting,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

More Butterflies and Flowers

Boy this was a stretch....do you see the flowers?  They are very small.....This card did not start out to be a butterfly and flower card.  It started as a Sunburst card, which I will reluctantly show you at the end of this post.  This card was made with the bits and pieces left over, or as Di calls them Snippets.

Last night I started on a card that I thought would be very easy.  Well guess what, it wasn't.  I cut and cut and glued and glued and was not happy with the end result.  I decided that this card would not go into the trash bin, I would take the bits left over and create something.  Note:  The pieces on the left started as 1 1/2 inches x 4 inches.  I cut and cut and arranged and rearranged for hours.  I am not exaggerating, it was hours.   I was determined to finish this card before going to bed.  Well the above is what I did to make the outside.  And below, is the inside.....

It's not the best card I've ever made, but it's one I will keep.  Now, do you want to see what I originally made?  It too was made from snippets.  Trust me it's not what I envisioned.  Even if I take my glasses off, it doesn't look any better....are you ready?

You know I have a thing about always finishing the inside....well here it is.  Keep your glasses off, and if you don't wear any...squint...it might help!

No I was not drinking when I put this together.....maybe I should have been!

I'm going to share this with Valery's Butterfly Challenge and with Di and the Snippet Challenge. (well I will when she opens the gate.  I tried shimming under once, but she caught me....Darn guard goose!) 

I'm going to add some photos of a squirrel that was pulling twine out of our tree.  We tie bits to branches just so we can see the squirrels trying to figure out how to make off with the pieces.  Since a storm is on the way, I'm thinking "Barb the Builder" has plans for reinforcing her nest.

She spent considerable time getting this 2 foot piece into a ball.

Perfect, now how does she get it off the branch?

Keep pulling......

Done and heading home.... Love our little furry friends!

Until next time....have a crafty day and how about sharing your creations. 

Hugs from Me to You,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Butterflies and Flowers

Hello again,  I've met some pretty sweet gals on the internet and Valery is one of those most sweet gals.  She has a new challenge for all of us and this month it's Butterflies and Flowers.   I can't promise that I will enter each month, but I did want to let everyone know about this new challenge and I did want to make a card for this very first of what will be many Butterfly challenges....

This is a birthday card for a dear friend.  I hope she doesn't check into my blog very often as it will be a few weeks before her birthday. I have to say this template design is not mine.  I happened to find the layout while searching the web.  Bibiana's original card looked just like this....

Mostly because this is the card Bibiana posted.  She was kind enough to include a template for the card, which is what I've used to create my card.  You can find the template on her blog page:  Check out her blog here. 

I want to congratulate Valery, who most of us know as Mrs. A., I'm sure this new challenge will be full of interesting challenges.  I hope many of you will want to play along.  What better way to create a card, have fun doing it, and then having cards on hand when you need them.  There are some cool prizes this month and you could win one.  Now that's incentive! 

Note:  I just went to Bibiana's site and I couldn't find the template for the card.  I did write down the dimensions, so if you can't find it, let me know and I'll write up the instructions. 

In reading about Bibiana, I found out she is on the Memory Box design team.  I'm on the sister company's design team, Poppystamps.  Small world isn't it.  I also noticed she just posted a card that uses the same stencil and die that I used on a card that will go live on the 18th.  Now that makes this world even smaller!  Or is it great minds think alike? Check back on the 18th to see what I've made. 

I hope you have a bit of time and check out Valery's blog and Bibiana's blog.  And I hope you share this new challenge with your friends.  I'd love to see lots of Butterflies and Flowers.  Especially when so many people would like to see a bit of spring and summer even if it's only on paper!

Happy crafting, Hugs from Northern California,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Wednesday....ok, maybe Thursday

Don't you hate it when we bloggers start with..."I can't believe it's Wednesday again.  Well guess what, I can't....Before I go farther....here's the desk....

I was having a late night on Wednesday, and took the photo but forgot to post it....so now it's Thursday and not much has changed.  The Olympics are still on and I am still glued to the screen.  I'm working on a project that I will share on the proper day.  If you look at my Ipad there just may be a hint there.  My desk looks awfully neat doesn't it.  I might add, it's a small desk that I have in the family room, so it doesn't get nearly as messy.  I actually clean it before I go to bed. 

Before I forget again, I shall post a bit late, but better late than never right?  On to finishing the project and until next time....Check out Julia's blog page and see what the others have been up to.  and then bravely post your desk.  I just noticed Julia and I have something in common, Ipad and glass work surface. 

Happy Crafting, Hugs from Northern California and I am happy to report we have a bit of rain to brag about!

Mary Mac

It's Wednesday and Time to Share

Just playing around today.  My desk looks pretty tidy this week.  I've been playing with glitter and spray glue and I like the results.  Before I say more, I'm sharing with loads of others on a blog hosted by Julia and if you've followed me for any time at all, you'll know that if it's Wednesday, I most likely will be sharing my work desk....well, it's Wednesday in Julia's world and I shall now share.....you can to, check out WOYWW for all the how too's. 

Now, on to my play day.  I used a product called Sprayment to lightly spray, but it's important to cover the entire area of a piece of dry waxed paper sheets. I get mine at Costco, but you can find this at most restaurant supply houses.It doesn't feel waxy.   It's used by prep cooks, if you've worked in restaurants you've seen this product.  Anyway....after spraying I pour on glitter.  For this sheet I used Martha Stewarts yellow gold. I then cover the glittered piece with another sheet of the dry waxed paper and brayer the glittered piece.  After it's dried, I pour the extra glitter back into the bottle. 

Here's the finished sheet....I wish glitter showed up better.  I think I need a class on taking photos with glitter.  (that's a hint for my daughter...lets see if she reads this)

I like how pliable and easy to cut the glittered sheet is.  I'm going to play around a bit more.  I think I will try a spray sealer to see if this will protect the glitter.  I'll let you know if sealing the glitter makes for a better product.  I have tons of colored glitter and I was so surprised to see how little glitter this process really uses.  

That's it for me today.  I hope you have a most creatively productive day. 

Until next time.....Hugs from a much cooler Northern California, with the promise of weekend rain!  Yippee!

Mary

AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Thinking of You

This is a card I created for a friend.  I'm loving this beautiful background die from Poppystamps.  Bailiwick Background #987)  For the inside I used the Leafy Sprig Die #1002.  This card was so simple to make.  For the sentiment I typed it on my Word program.  The dies were cut from snippets, as were the sentiments.  The base was also a snippet.  I must admit the blue background was not.  I love using up my bits and pieces.  I think this format will allow me to do so quickly and easily.  Here's what I did on the inside....

I'm trying to make cards that are pretty and have layers, but aren't so layered they cost an arm and a leg to mail.  I think this one fits the bill.  We will see when I go to post it!

Today this card is the featured card on the Poppystamps blog page.  I hope you have some time to click over to leave a comment.....

 Until later,  Hugs from me to you....Happy crafting,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Sparkles Christmas Challenge and 3rd. Anniversary Blog Hop

 When you put two heads together you come up with a really special album....Karen and I created our own memories while creating this album and I'm so very proud to show it to you.....

Before I show you the rest of the album  I need to tell you about the 3rd Anniversary of Sparkles Christmas Challenge and the blog hop.  The Design Team would love if you visited to see what we've been up to.  To celebrate our 3rd Anniversary, there are prizes and LOTS OF THEM.  For more on how you can play along with us, Check out Sparkles Christmas Challenge.....  Before you go hopping off into the sunset, I want to tell you if you came to me by way of Amy  you came in proper order.....and next you will hop over to Helen's blog.  Now here's the thing...if you want to win, you need to leave a comment or link  on each of the Design Team's blog pages.  Don't forget the Sparkles Christmas Challenge page (see above).  I'm telling you....when you see the prizes you will be happy you joined in.

This month's challenge was presented by Shaz and she chose.......

Anything Goes!

So long as it's Christmas

And now on to showing you my album ...

 The opening page Shows Santa with his bag full of goodies for all good girls and boys.  The next photos show the opening pages.  The top photo shows the page flap closed and when it's opened there is room for those first great family photos.....and then there is room for many, many more....

  

There are tags and lots of them.  The tags fit in pockets hidden in the pages....

and this is the back side of the tags.....

The cover is from Tim Holtz, The pages were mounted onto hidden hinges and covered with beautiful designer paper from the 6 1/2 x 6 1/2  St. Nicholas collection by KaiserCraft.

I think Karen and I did a good job putting  our heads together, and it was fun creating memories as we created this Christmas Album.

Speaking of Karen.  In addition to all the great prizes being offered,  Look what Karen is offering to one lucky person.  This prize is separate from the others and it's Karen's way of  wishing Sparkles Christmas Challenge a Happy Anniversary.  The only people who will qualify for this sweet prize are those who leave a comment on my blog page.

One person will be randomly chosen  to receive all 5 packages of these lovely Christmas embellishments...remember, you have to comment on this page.  Don't forget to play along on the Sparkles 3rd Anniversary blog hop for chances to win even more prizes.  If you are the winner....You'll be notified on February 28. 

I'd like to personally thank each one of the wonderful sponsors for their most generous prizes. 

Until later, Good Luck and Hugs from my world to yours....
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy