Sparkles Christmas Challenge

It's time for another Sparkles Christmas Challenge and I'm so happy to bring you two Christmas Cards this month.  Pat chose a theme based on a Christmas Carol.  I love snowmen and this trio singing Joy to the World was such fun to create. And here's the inside....

One of my goals this year is to use what I have.  The base of this card is craft stock.  The red and gold metallic paper has been hanging around my craft room for Years.  They are from Hot off the Press - Paper Pizazz - Metallic Gold.  The punched trim is from DCWV Metallic textured stack.  Also paper that's lived in my craft room for many years.  The snowmen are from Uptown Rubber stamps designed by Sandi Gore Evans.  The sentiment on the outside is from Northwoods and on the inside is from Stampendous.  The punches are Martha Stewart.  The ribbon is from my stash and was on one of my Christmas gifts.

Here's my second card.  I had a bit more time  this week and decided the best way to spend it was to make another card.  I used the Sunburst layout using snippets left over from an album project.  The green is suede and I love the texture it adds to this card.  Santa is an embellishment that I honestly can't tell you it's origin.  It's been hanging around my Christmas embellishment box for way too long.  The background on the sentiment is glitter paper I made and the sentiment is from Stampabilities.  I heat embossed the sentiment using JudiKins gold transparent embossing powder..  Sorry the photo doesn't show how pretty the embossed sentiment truly is.  The base is craft paper.  Here's the inside:

The inside was also made from bits and pieces.  The Teddy Bear is a left over embellishment too.  The rubber stamp is from Stampabilities. 

 This month Marianne Design is offering a most generous prize.  You could win two dies or one die and a rubber stamp.   Head over to the Sparkles Christmas Challenge and check out the rules, add your card and have a look at what the design team made this month. 

I'm off for now, I'm thinking I have a little time to create another Christmas card.  Until later,  Happy Crafting and I'll see you soon....

Hugs to all,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

A Quick Note On April Class and Just Playing

Happy Monday and it is for you I hope.  My honey is under the weather with gout... :-(  But he's being a real trooper!  Hoping today will be the worst day and tomorrow he will feel so much better. 

I wanted to let everyone know, the April class is now filled.  Karen has a waiting list, but in truth, this group of girls rarely cancel.  This is one of the cards (the card on the left).  Yesterday while Brenda and I had our girls play day, I made the card on the right.  The same, but different.  The image on the right is slightly larger, I forgot to check the box when printing and this is what printed.  Waste not, want not...right?  Because the image was larger, I couldn't fit the sentiment on the bottom, so, I moved it.  I didn't have off white pearls, so I colored them with my Spectrum Noir pens.  I raised the doily, used different papers and the outside is done. 

The inside of this card is different than the card class inside, so I shall share.  The entire card took 1/2 of a 4 x 8 piece of decorative cardstock, plus the base and frame.  So, here's the inside.....

Isn't it fun doing the same but different?  Well, I'm off to baby my honey....have a most wonderful day.

Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Love Is In The Air

It's Mrs. A's  Butterfly Challenge and I am ready.  I've been waiting for Mrs. A to announce the challenge and this month it's yellow and butterflies.  Amy sent me a very nice thank you card and she included the image of this lovely couple.  I've had a great time coloring them and when Mrs. A gave the rules.....I knew I wanted to use these young lovers.  Thank you Amy for sharing!

And here's the inside.  Now all I need is someone to celebrate a 50th anniversary.....anyone?


Well, I'm off for the night.  Tomorrow I'm taking a card class at Karen's.  It's always fun getting together with the girls and when we create something pretty, it's all the better.  If you want to see what we are making......check it out here.  

Since yellow and shades of yellow are my very favorite colors, I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone creates.....so, happy crafting,

Hugs from me to you,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

What's On Your Workdesk? Well?

It's Wednesday and this week I'm doing something different.  I'm showing my work desk, but it's more like my photo booth.  Which is a work desk, it's the last spot my cards see before posting. 

 I've been getting lots of emails about my photos.  I've got to give my daughter Amy credit, because she's the one that helped me with my photo taking.  Here's my set-up.  This is the long shot of the photo booth, as I had it set up for my Rudolph Day photos.  My daughter found the photo booth and the lights.  The are easily found on the internet.  For this photo I draped the booth with a piece of fabric.  The rest is pretty self explanatory.  I use a tripod and it's set up to manual shooting, which Amy also arranged for me.  The settings are ISO 200, and BRK +-.37, macro with a 2 second timer.  Thanks Amy for sharing your talent!

I use Photo Shop Elements 9 to crop and color adjust the photo.  In truth, that's about all I know about Photo Shop Elements.  On my bucket list is learning more about the program.  Trust me, it's been there for quite awhile.    Here's the cropped and color adjusted photo.

So, now you know about  my desktop,  If you head over to Stamping Ground, Julia will share hers.  This week it looks very productive.  And trust me, mine has looked the same more times than I prefer to remember.  Lets just say, I know where my granddaughter gets her ability to make a mess. 

Since I'm honoring my daughter today....I'll share a Christmas Gift from she and her husband, Linn.  He knows how I love bird watching and they sent this lovely bird house.....

Our birds are a bit slow in figuring it out, so my honey set up a deck for them and put the bird house on a pole next to it.  Today is the first day one of the birds figured out they could have dry seeds in the tray.  The seeds on the deck are under water as it's been raining all night.  Richard doesn't want to put holes in the tray....Now they need to train the others. 

Frankly, I think these guys are too big to sit on the rail. Have a look at this bird...

Well, maybe not a bird, but he didn't mind coming for a snack!  And how about this squirrel.....

Richard built a safe place for the squirrels to eat, well that's what we thought.  Long story short, the neighbor cats were terrorizing the squirrels, so, Richard put boards around the tree, thinking the cats couldn't get through.....Wrong!  this one found a way to shimmy through and is resting after the climb.  Today there is also chicken wire under the boards.  I swear these critters keep my husband hopping. 

Last night we had quite a storm.  Karen from Paradise Scrapbook Boutique, was heading home from the shop when she and her husband took this photo.....pretty wild weather.....

I guess we Californians have been putting a little  too much punch in our prayers for rain.  We are expecting more of the same today and all the way through to next week.  Let's hope it more rain than wind and tornadoes. 

I apologize for all the nature photos, but hey......they are all God's crafts right, and this is what's been on his workdesk this week.

Until later,
Mary Mac
AKA: Glitter Grammy

From Our House To Your House

It's my turn to post on the Poppystamps Blog Page  Today I'm showing this card made with the Brevilla Houses die.  When I first saw this die I pictured this card.  If you want to know more about this card, and have a chance to win the Brevilla Houses, you'll have to go over to the Poppystamps Blog.

My goodness, this is going to be a short post.  Trust me there is more on the Poppystamps Blog Page, so head over there if you'd like to read more.

Until later,
Hugs from Northern California,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Rudolph Day And Pixie's Snippets

It's Rudolph Day and this month.....I am ready!  Today I was cropping with our Monday Group and I worked on my cards for Rudolph Day. 

I'm determined to make cards that don't cost an arm and a leg to mail.  This month's card is flat, however since it's 5x5 it will need added postage, but not much extra.  All three were made with snippets, so in addition to Rudolph Day, I'll be posting on Di's blog, Pixie's Crafty Workshop.  
Here's an up close view of the inisde and the outside of the first card I made....

Now I could give you the rules for entering your cards with Di and Sarn, but I want you to check out what they and the others have made.  So, check it out please and leave a comment if you find something that inspires you.  We crafters love kind words. 

Until next time.....happy Crafting. 
Hugs from Northern California,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Pretty In Pink

This card makes me think of Spring....and I know most of the US is ready for Spring.  I love this Mod Flower Background and I think adding the glitter to the background is a perfect addition.  I've posted this card on the Poppystamps Blog Page.  If you want to know more about this card and have a chance to win the die I used on the inside, you'll have to head over to the Poppystamps Blog Page.
I'll give you a hint....it's a border!

Until next time, Happy Crafting,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy