Papertake Weekly challenge - Spots N Stripes

Good morning!! I hope you made it through your Monday without too much grief! :) With today being Tuesday, that means it's time for a new Papertake Weekly challenge. This time, Dawny challenged us to use spots and stripes, and it's being sponsored by the amazing Simon Says Stamp! Spots N Stripes....sounded like the perfect background for another Christmas card, and this one with adorable gingies!!! I LOVE cute gingerbread people! And I do mean I LOVE THEM! LOL!

This adorable pair is from Peachy Keen Stamps and they're colored with Copic markers. The DP are both digi, the striped paper is a Pink Petticoat download and I don't remember where I found the spots (sorry). I left this card VERY simple as I didn't want anything to distract from those cuties! I simply added a bow made with gorgeous lace ribbon from May Arts. Thanks for the link, Becca!! That's it for today! Be sure and pop over to Papertake Weekly and take a look at the fabulous creations from the other designers. Then grab your paper and glue and play aong with us for a chance to win a wonderful prize from Simon Says Stamp! Thanks for stopping by to see me today and hope to see you back again soon! If you're looking for the BBTB blog hop candy, or the Magnolia-licious blog hop candy, please check my posts below! HUGS!

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I saw a Christmas tree today. As in, a full blown I'm-a-Christmas-tree-!-Christmas-tree.

Shoot me now.

Spiderwebs, step-by-step

First, I love you guys!!! Thank you so much for taking the survey. If you haven't yet, there is still time.

Your comments are so helpful...and sweet...and FUNNY! I wish we could all get together for lunch...or margaritas!

Several people mentioned that step-by-step instructions with pictures would be helpful. While, I'm no Pioneer Woman (but wouldn't that be fun?), I will try! {Please note, I do a lot of decorating at night or early in the mornings, so the colors may be a little off.}

Alrighty...spiderweb cookies, step-by-step...

• Outline a spiderweb shape in black royal icing using a #2 or #3 tip (AmeriColor Super Black).
  
• Thin black, pink and orange icings with water to the consistency of thick syrup (AmeriColor Deep Pink or Electric Pink and Orange). Cover with a damp dishtowel and let sit several minutes.

{Here's what the thinned icing looks like after sitting several minutes. Yes, the it looks charcoal-y colored...it will darken. Read more here.}

{Gently run a silicone/rubber spatula through...it won't get all the bubbles, but most.}

• Stir gently with a rubber spatula to pop any air bubbles that have formed on top. Transfer thinned icings to squeeze bottles.

• Working 6 - 8 cookies at a time, fill in the outlines in black, using a toothpick to spread into corners.

• On top of the wet black icing, pipe on the thinned pink and orange icings in alternating circles.
  

• Drag a toothpick through the icing, starting at the middle, towards the points to make a spiderweb pattern.

• Let dry at least one hour.

{So, now it's night and my camera is not liking the lighting. :) Sorry!}

• Using piping consistency (non-thinned) icing , pipe spiders on the webs using a large plain tip for the bodies (such as a #7 or #12) and a #1 or #2 for the eight legs.
• Let dry overnight.
  

Bitten By The Bug blog hop - tag challenge

Welcome to another Bitten By The Bug Blog Hop! Hope you've been enjoying your hop along the path so far! If you've arrived here via the fabulously talented Shelly, then you're on the right track. This week, Regina challenged us to use the pointed tag from Stretch Your Imagination. I have never used this tag, and that's just another reason why I totally love these challenges! I am crazy about the way this tag looks and can not wait to hang it off a gift bag!!

I used this adorable stamped image from Belles and Whistles thanks to my friend. (she knows who she is and thank you again!!) And I have fallen in love with this stamp! I colored her with Copic markers and the papers are from Recollections from Michael's. The bat is from Magnolia-licious, and added a button with a little bow up and a cute jack-o-lantern charm by the hanging cord.

Now for the fun stuff, leave me a comment on this post by midnight Friday night, and I'll pull a name via random.org to win some blog candy. This consists of a fun set from Rob & Bob, a bag of flowers, some eyelets, a book of tags, and some metallic rub-ons.

After you've left your comment, head on over to Marina's. She's one talented lady, and I'm sure you're going to love what she has to show you! If you get lost along the way, just head over to Bitten By The Bug to help guide you through. Thanks so much for stopping by to see me today, and hope to see you back again soon! HUGS!

Things you would really rather not discover.

Tis a long weekend down here.

I received this text my sister this afternoon.

'We came home and let the cat out of the linen cupboard.'

I'm starting on my Christmas cards!

Happy Saturday! I am finally starting to work on my Christmas cards. Pretty soon, I will be working hard and heavy to try and get them all done so I don't have to stress about it. I always start out with such good intentions, and always end up short of my goal. Maybe this year will be different. We'll see. For this card, I used a new stamp set from The Cutting Cafe' called Christmas Long Borders. If you haven't checked out Regina's digi stamps, please do yourself a favor and go have a peek. She's got some really amazing Christmas sets available right now!

This gorgeous little girl is Noelle Bearing Gifts from Digital Penil Too, and she's colored with Copics. Is she not just gorgeous?? I just adore her Christmas coat and she has the most beautiful face. I placed her on a mat that was trimmed with a Martha Stewart border punch that my wonderful friend Jacque sent me! Thanks again Jacque! The DP is from an old, old, old stack and the cardstock is Bazzil. The images are printed on cryogen white. OH! Almost forgot to say that the snowflakes are cut with the Cricut Expression and Winter Woodland cartridge available for a wonderful price at Hallmark Scrapbook.

That's it for today. The kids went to the Pumpkin Patch today, so tomorrow we will be busy carving faces in them! Hope you're enjoying your weekend! Thanks for stopping by to see me and hope to see you back again soon! HUGS!

Taking Flight

A number of years ago, E spotted a chrome model airplane he liked and wanted for our home, but we didn't leave the store with it that day. The next time we returned, I saw the disappointment on E's face as he realized the airplane was gone. He searched for one online to no avail and before long the plane went unmentioned.

Nate Berkus

Months later and a few weeks before Christmas, in a moment of good fortune, I happened upon the silver airplane E had desired; that time, I made sure it left the store in my hands.

Nate Berkus

I am terrible with surprises, and although I desperately wanted to give it to E the moment I got home, I did manage to hold off until Christmas; E's excitement and disbelief when he realized what he was holding made it worth keeping the secret those few weeks.

Castleberry Antiques

While one airplane in a home may be enough, I can't help but covet some of these representations, models, and items made from parts of airplanes.

Installations Antiques

voila! via 1st Dibs

The airplane windows above have been converted into lights, as has the nose of an airplane, as seen in the pendant below left.

L: Ma(i)sonry via 1st Dibs. R: Nicholas Brawer via 1st Dibs.