Hi from S California

Just thought I would post today, even though I don't have a project to share. Like most of you, this time of year is busy.  Since I'm no longer a Stampin' Up! demo, there is no driving force to "drive" a business to "pay" for my crafting goodies by posting 3,4,5 times a week.  It's actually been a breath of fresh air!

I finally got all my out of state packages wrapped and mailed yesterday. YEAH!  I arrived at the PO about 8:45 am, waited for them to open the windows at 9. I am happy to report,  I was out by 9:15!  Of course, there was a long line behind me, but everyone seemed to be in a decent Holiday mood. The Post Office promised me they would be there by Christmas. I'm praying they will. Ah, there's nothing like procrastination this time of year!

I was so happy to have played along with Merry Monday and Christmas Card Challenges this past year, though.  It was nice to sit down and have almost all of my special Christmas cards made.  I hope I'll have the same drive come January 1st...  ;0)

I hope your preparations are done or close to being finished.  We won't be going to the East Coast this Christmas.We are visiting my oldest son and his family in Boise ,which we are excited about. It's always such a blessing to spend time with family, especially children and grandchildren.

Well I'm off to get ready to go to lunch with a friend.  I hope to be able to create sometime today and have a post or two up by the weekend.

Make it a great Wednesday and go do something CRAFTY!

Crafty Hugs'
BernieBee

Happy Birthday / MOJO427/Seize The Birthday

Just popping in late today to post a card that I made for one of my daughters who has a December birthday.  As always, I really liked the MOJO 427 sketch and Seize the Birthday had a "toppings" challenge for their card today.  Perfect combo for me. Although snowflakes can be used all winter, this just "screamed"  HOLIDAY stamp to me.

I looked through my stamps and decided on 2 SU's Paper Pumpkin kit stamps, Nov. 2015 and the May 2015. I used my 1 1/4 inch Square Punch after I had stamped the snow with Pool Party and the Snowflake with lost Lagoon. This happens to be one of my favorite color combinations. I just love that Lost Lagoon color. I dry embossed the 4X5 1/4 piece and the 1 1/2 inch piece to add texture.

I thought embossing the Happy Birthday with WOW Silver Embossing Powder would add some extra sparkle along with a rhinestones in the center of each snowflake.  They were also from the Nov. 2015 kit along with the silver snowflake on the inside of the card.  I tried several times adding  Silver Ribbon, but it just wasn't wide enough to do the sentiment circle any justice. Lost Lagoon ribbon won out!

I'm off to make some bread for the week. I just love my Cuisinart Bread Machine. It makes the job  so easy.  I hope you have a great Monday and are able or were able to do something CRAFTY .

Crafty Hugs,
Bernie Bee

Wishing You/Merry Monday#182/CTS#151

Happy Saturday!  Today I am posting  another Christmas card for 2 challenges. I was not going to make anymore cards for Christmas, but I keep thinking of people I wanted to send a handmade cards to! How about you are you finished making those special holiday cards?

I am posting this card on CAS(E) this Sketch and Merry Monday. 

To fulfill the challenge to use some kind of bird, I used the Tree Builder punch for the birds. Love those little guys!  I used  the tree punch which coordinates with the Festival of Trees that  was stamped on Old Olive card stock.  Smokey Slate was used for the circle and the sentiment is from Christmas Messages stamped in Cherry Cobbler.    **SU Large Polka Dot EF, Merry Moments DSP**

That's about it for today.  I hope you make it a great Saturday and are able to do something CRAFTY!

Crafty Hugs,

Bernie Bee

Christmas Cheer/ctc371/FMS215

Just popping in today with a Christmas Card I created for 2 challenges,Color Throwdown and Freshly Made Sketches.

I loved the the colors and already have a special person in mind to send this to. The color combo is SO her! The sketch will be going into my Sketch Folder and will certainly be used again. I just love when things come together like this. Don't you? It really makes my creating so much easier when so many talented card crafters give so much inspiration.

There is a double black banner on this card. I had tried using the smaller banner in white, but I just wasn't pleasing to me. The sentiment from SU's Christmas Messages was embossed with gold embossing powder. I used SU's Gold Glimmer paper, Everyday Chic DSP, Color Me Irresistible DSP,  and added some Metalic Sequin embelishments to finish it up.

Christmas Thank You / MOJO426/ and Sympathy Card

Yesterday I worked on two cards.  One for my sister-in-law who just lost her husband on Thanksgiving Day.  He was a great guy and will be greatly missed.  I'm so blessed we got to spend time with them this summer.

This second card is a MOJO 426 sketch challenge card. As always, being the last Monday of the month, it is a Tall and Skinny card.  I really loved this simple layout and size, and knew immediately that it would be perfect for Christmas Thank You's. The paper is some I have had in my stash for quite awhile, but love the little houses scattered on it. I paired it with some SU card stock and 2 stamp sets and punch to compliment the paper and the houses.

The card I made for my sister-in-law was a "semi CAS" card that I saw on Pinterest by Paper Girl and just added my own touches.

 On this card I used Blackberry Bliss paper and ribbon. I choose SU's  "Thoughts and Prayers" for the outside and inside sentiment. The EF is by Cricut and the inside heart is from the "Hearts a Flutter" framelit.

That's about it for today.  I'm off to get ready for my Tuesday morning Bible study, then onto some Christmas and grocery shopping. Make your Tuesday great and go do something CRAFTY my friends!

Crafty Hugs,

Bernie Bee

Merry Christmas / pp273

Today I had some time to play with stamps and paper. The Paper Players had a challenge and I decided to play a long since I still needed several family Christmas cards. I chose the Patterned Paper/Sparkle or Shine/Tree Tic Tac Toe combo.

Here is the card I created drawing my color combination from a retired DSP by SU.

I know I've used this tree punch on quite a few cards, but I love the stamp set it coordinates with,  Festival of Trees. The "sparkle " factor comes in on this card , not only on the glitter paper stars, but the Diamond Stickles by Ranger that I used on the ornaments on the tree.  I haven't used Stickles in so long and I'm not sure why. Looks like I'll have to create other cards and use this fun addition of sparkle.

I'm off to heat up some leftovers for supper and then attempt to get my Studio back in order before I head off to bed. I hope you have had a wondeful Sunday and were able to do something CRAFTY like I have.

Crafty Hugs,

Bernie Bee

A Christams Goose / PP272

Today I worked on another Christmas card.  I have 2 more to create for my immediate family and I'm using the Paper Pumpkin kits to created the remainder.

I decided to play along with the Paper Players #272 sketch challenge to create this goose card.  I was a little hesitant to use black, red, and very vanilla, but I do like the way it looks. What do you think?

All the papers are by SU, the black pattern paper is retired and so is the ribbon. I created the tag on my Cricut Explore Air and mimicked the corners on the red background with a retired SU punch. I used the Wetlands stamp by SU, but hadn't used the goose on too many cards with this set. I thought it was about time!

That's about it for today.  I'm off to do errands and give my pup a bath today.  We are going to a Thanksgiving function in Scottsdale, AZ, so I will not be doing much cooking this year. Although, I love the whole Thanksgiving preparations.

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND BLESSED THANKSGIVING from my family to yours!

Crafty Hugs,
BernieBee

Deck the Halls /FMS213/SCCC

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Another quick post today. I'll be getting this posted just under the wire for the sketch challenge over at  Freshly Made Sketches . I'm also playing along with Christmas Card Challenges this week.

I really liked the layout and the great inspiration over on both blogs and just had to create a card. I wanted to use a holly image to go with the sentiment, but I didn't have one, but I do have my CRICUT Explore Air. I looked at several images and my final  decision was one by Teresa Collins-December 25th. which I resized it and layered.

 I'm off to clean up my Studio, AGAIN! I hope you have a wonderful Sunday and go do something CRAFTY, my friends!

Crafty Hugs,
Bernie Bee

**All papers and sentiment are by SU (retired). The holly is cut with the Cricut Explore Air.**

Turkey Money Holders and Kids project

Just a quick post today. I just finished up my grand children's

cards and Thanksgiving activity pocket. They really should have been mailed yesterday, but I didn't have them all finished until late yesterday afternoon and had a dinner to go to last night.

Darn my procrastination!!!  

This a picture of the completed project and money holder card. I also made a little pocket to hold crayons to color the turkey on front and a card where they can write what they are thankful for. The pocket, the writing, the insert card and Turkey all were created on my Cricut Explore Air using my subscription images and fonts.

 Here is the card with the burlap belly band. The Turkey was attached with foam tape.

This is the card I made for my three new grand babies, Kate, Annabelle, and Wren who will celebrating their first Thanksgiving this year. If you would like any information on measurements and what image cartidge I used, feel free to contact me at: bpb4553@gmail.com.

Make it a wonderful Friday and go do something CRAFTY!

Crafty Hugs,

BernieBee

**All card stock is by SU; DSP is retired by SU**

Little Reindeer

Today I created the card that I will be sending to my sweet grandchildren this year.  I just love making them fun cards and this one was so much FUN! How can anyone resist this sweet little reindeer? He is from the Create a Critter 2 cut using my Cricut Explore Air and subscription.

Today am linking this card to MOJO424 and Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge

I hope you get a chance to stop by these 2 great sites for inspiration today.  

I'm off to finish up my Beef Stew for dinner and get ready to meet with our Connect Group here at our home tonight. Have a blessed evening and go do something CRAFTY my friends!

Crafty Hugs,

Bernie Bee

**All papers and stamp are by SU (ret.stamp and DSP) 

Christmas Card Grunge

Today I went WAY out of my comfort zone with this card. I fell in love with the graphic little trees on this paper, Sweet Li'l Things DSP and just had to make it work with the PCCCS170 challenge and the Christmas Cards All Year Round  Tree challenge.

Okay, I know, Basic Gray and Hello Honey are not actually Christmas colors, but I'm really pleased how this card looks. I used 3 SU stamp sets,Christmas Messages, Festival of Trees, and Gorgeous Grunge.  I also used the coordinating punch for the tree. Let me know what you think about this unconventional Christmas card. I would love to hear your opinions. ;0)

Well, I'm off to pick up my hubby from work. I hope you get to do something CRAFTY sometime today.

Crafty Hugs,
Bernie Bee

Happy Christmas Mittens/ FMS212

Good Morning! Actually, it might be afternoon for some of you. Just popping by today to post a card that I created for the Freshly Made Sketches212 challenge.

I pulled out paper from my "stash". Some that I have had for quite awhile. Most of you know how that is! I had seen some really cute cards with mittens and knew I wanted to do one for myself.

The Mittens were die cut using my Cricut Explore and the Holiday Cakes cartridge. I used SU silver glitter paper for the cuffs and snowflakes. I was so pleased how the snowflake cut. Such a tiny, intricate piece, but the Explore did an excellent job. This machine is truly amazing.

Although the patterned paper is not SU, the Midnight Muse and Pool Party matched perfectly with it. I was a disappointed with the one mitten not being lined up better and almost started over, but decided against it. Maybe the person I'll be sending it to wont notice. ;0)

Tomorrow I hope to be posting some Cricut Explore and Thanksgiving projects that I have been working on , but today I'm off to do errands. 

Go make it a great Friday and  go do something CRAFTY my friends!

Crafty Hugs,
Bernie Bee

Festival of Trees Christmas

Today I was able to head into my Studio and create a Christmas card using the new MOJO Monday #423 and a new challenge blog to me, Christmas Cards All Year Round.

The Christmas Cards All the Year Round challenge was to create a card with trees being the focal point. I believe I met that challenge and the sketch challenge over on MOJO Monday. I'm considering using this layout for my Christmas cards this year. Of course, I still need to finish my Thanksgiving cards to give that any serious thought yet!

Make your Wednesday great and go do something CRAFTY my friends.

Crafty Hugs,
Bernie Bee

**All products both retired and current on this card are by SU**

Merry Christmas/FMS211/PP270

Hello all! Just dropping by today with a Christmas card that I created for Freshly Made Sketches and The Paper Players.  Although I'm just making it under the wire with the FMS challenge! I hope you all had a great Sunday and were able to do something crafty.

I did make numerous attempts to emboss the image, but the Black Embossing powder was giving me fits. I really dislike that stuff. Probably more practice will get me past the frustration of working with it and be successful using it.

Well, I'm off to eat, care of my Chloe and then headed for serving at church during our 5PM service.

Have a wonderful evening and go do something CRAFTY my friends!

Crafty Hugs,
Bernie Bee

**All products on this card are from SU except the scalloped and square die cuts.

Thankful For You

Hello there friends. I didn't get a card up yesterday like I said and thought I would.  Too many errands to do which is normal on the day I have the car.

I did get a chance to get one together  today which I will be posting over on  the Jennifer McGuire blog. She is doing a Share Handmade Kindness challenge and this is week one: Friends and Family and I'm also sharing it over at Word Art Wednesday.

This was really a timely post for me. This past Tuesday at Bible Study, the ladies I got share with in our prayer time, were talking about how important it was to thank others and show it by "snail mail". We are all so accustomed to texting or emails, but a nice hand written note or card would be so special.  That set a little thought into action. I make cards so I decided to make each of them (3ladies) a card for them to send to a special friend or family member. 

Why not stop by Jennifer's and the Word Art Wednesday blogs to receive some great inspiration and perhaps win some prizes!

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend and I hope you can do something CRAFTY!

Crafty Hugs,
Bernie Bee

**All products used on this card are by Stampin'Up!

Sending Many Thanks/Mojo422/ctd367

Today I settled in to enter a card for MOJO#422  and the Color Throwdown ctd367 challenges. I had planned to post a card on Monday, but unfortunately over the weekend my hubby was admitted to the ER with Pulmonary Embolisms and DVT. This was his second incident since January and we were trusting it was taken care of then.

But we are rejoicing in Gods answer to prayer, for not only having him suspect something was just not right, but getting to the hospital before it was as serious as the last time. He also was able to come home on Monday evening which was a answer to our prayers. He'll have to be on blood thinners indefinitely, but he has accepted that and is moving on.

Now on to my card...

I had fun playing with the colors and this sketch is one that I will be keeping around.  I went back and forth about adding texture to the mason jar, but in the end I just decided to add the twine to the gold die cut paper.

I hope you have a wonderful remainder of the day.  I'm off to clean up my "mess" and work on a card for the Share Handmade Kindness Challenge over at Jennifer McGuire's blog this week @sharehandmadekindness.com

Now go do something CRAFTY my friends!

Crafty Hugs,
Bernie Bee


**All papers, embossing folders, and stamps are by Stampin'Up!

Masculine Card Thank You #2 / Blog Candy Winner

Today as I was cleaning off my desk, I came across some bits and pieces left over from when I was creating a card for the 3 challenges I had entered on Wednesday. I had the card base, had added a strip of Cajun Craze to the embossed piece, and had the Thank You  which I had also decided against using.

I was just going to file them away for another time, but thought why not see if I could put a card together.  BINGO, I was able to create another Masculine Thank You in less then 20 minutes! Don't you just love when that happens? This one also has a nautical theme, but I used the By the Sea shell stamp from this set and keep it to just a two color combination. Since the SUO challenge is still in effect, I will be entering it there for my last post of the week.
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Speaking of posts, I have a winner of my 500th. post by a random drawing. 

The winner of the BLOG CANDY is

Congratulations Elisha! If you can send along your mailing address 

to me at: bernadettebliss@gmail.com. I'll have your Blog candy in the mail early next week.  

Thanks to all who stopped by and left a comment. I truly appreciated it.

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend and go do something CRAFTY my friends!

Crafty Hugs,
BernieBee

**All products on this card are by Stampin'Up**