Getting ready for the holidays takes up lots of time. Shopping and wrapping and, of course, sitting on Santa's lap! In my case, making up those last Holiday Card orders. You saw the first stab at them in my last post and see the final version here.

I leave soon for my holiday trip back to Louisiana. I can't believe it, weeks without stamping! I don't know how I'll survive. Well, maybe I'll read that book I've been meaning to read for a while now.

I wish you Joy.

It's been too long

Well I'm finding that those 2 craft fairs took it all out of me. I worked so hard getting ready for them that I have hardly done any stamping since.

It is December, you know. Christmas is coming. Do you have your cards ready. Need one for your special person? I still have a few left and have a little time left to make some for you. See this new card that I made last night. You can't really see all the glitter, but boy does it sparkle!

Church Bazaar!

My church had it's annual bazaar today. We had a good turn out and enjoyed the event! Here's Ann and me with our tables.

It started out snowing last night and had us worrying but quit and was a cool day, but no more snow until 3:00.

Christmas Shoe Box Swap

Well, it's Shoe Box Swap time again. Everyone is making a Christmas card. So again, I have to use current stamp sets - I have lots from years past that are favorites. I found ideas on the internet and then created this card. It took a few tries to get the trees the way that I wanted them to look.

I'm still going crazy getting things ready for the craft fair at Lutheran Church of Hope on Saturday. After that I get to go back to my own stamping! Last Saturday I spent the whole day making the cutest little calendars to sell at church.

I hope you enjoy my Christmas Card. The scan doesn't quite pick up the Razzleberry color, it might scan better in red, maybe I'll try that later.

Happy Halloween

Well, you gotta have a Halloween Card. Here's the one I made for Ali. It's cute but not scary. It's really bad form to scare the 3 year old niece. They might not invite me back!

Quilting Class

I also took a quilting class and have started a quilt. This is fun... and time consuming! Here are a couple of pictures of the quilt so far!

Where have I been???

It's been ages since I posted. I've been so busy making multiples of things that you have already seen, getting ready for the Lutheran Church of Hope craft fair on November 15th. Turkeys, snowmen and penguins are coming out of my ears.

Butterflies

It's a beautiful day outside, although quite cold. Winter came early this year and my butterfly bush was frozen earlier this week, so no more butterflies visiting outside my window. Here's one to lighten up my day. Isn't it beautiful with all the colors. I do love stamping butterflies.

Rocking Horse

Back to those cute new babies. I saw this rocking horse and just had to color it. I'm trying to stay with those neutral colors, but I think I can feel those pinks and blues getting ready to pop out. I just can't stand it any more. I love those colors. The baby on this horse looks pretty cute in pink!

Got any new little ones on the way? Contact me at julieablanchet@yahoo.com

Flag & Eagle

Here's the second version of the card to be sent to the troops. I really love the way this one came out. (Can I say that?) I wondered a bit as it started out, but it is powerful. I'll have to think on this to see if anything else comes to me.

Support Our Troops

Well, The Woman's Club of Abbeville, Louisiana is putting packages together to send to the troops and have asked that I design a card or two to put in with the goodies. Here's my first attempt. It is very masculine and strong. I think I'll work on another design since one of the packages is going to a woman soldier.

I don't know how to express the honor I feel to have soldiers risking their lives for my safety.

EEK! A Mouse!

Ever find a mouse in your mailbox? If it's up to me you may, but this way is a little more pleasant. A little swiss cheese and a mouse just says "Happy Birthday" to me, doesn't it? Well, maybe you collect mice? Susan got the "Original" mouse card and I got more ideas after it went into the mailbox. Maybe next year she won't even recognize it with so many enhancements! Ha! Ha!

Are you looking for just that particular card? Just check with me! I can usually accommodate. I can make cards with butterflies, roses, golf, beach, hummingbird, many florals and many more. If I don't already make one, I can design something for you. Contact me at julieablanchet@yahoo.com

What a Darling New Baby!

So your best friend just had a baby or, as in my case, your best friend's daughter is expecting! Need to find the right card. Can't send the same one you sent to your other best friend, if you know what I mean...

Anyway, I saw the cutest card and I took the idea and went from there! Here my version for a girl. I made it in yellow and in blue as well. They all look stinkin' cute, if you ask me!

As you saw with boy birthday cards, once I get on a topic, I run with it. There are more baby cards in the works. Just wait to see what's coming!

Holiday Table Decorations

Are you ready for the holidays? They are coming faster than you think. Here's a cute way to jazz up your table. Use them as place cards, use them on your buffet to identify the dishes, or just as a table decoration and keep them for next year too!

Interested? let me know. julieablanchet@yahoo.com

Brrrrr! The Penguins Are Out!

Well, it's getting cold. I decided it was time to get out the penguins. They were so much fun last year. These are made completely out of the Stampin' Up! punches. Aren't they cute?

The Lutheran Church of Hope Christmas sale is coming up and last year these went like hotcakes, we put these on peppermint patties. They are cute for little hostess favors at your family dinners. I'm getting started early - I've got to make snow men and turkeys too! If you won't make the church sale and would like some, just contact me at julieablanchet@yahoo.com.

I'm working on cards with penguins on them. They are pretty cute!

Little Boy Birthday Card

Here's the final "Little Boy Birthday" card for the Shoebox Swap that I made. It took many iterations to get this. I had giraffes and hippos in the jungle - not as cute as it sounds. I tried the giraffe on a train - a very small train, it didn't thrill me. So finally, just the blue giraffe.

It came out very cute and I got several compliments on it. Sweet and Simple are what they said. I like that.

Here Comes the Bride

Here's a simple card for the bride that could be used as a shower card or a wedding card. Just a simple bouquet hints of the wedding that is just around the corner. I just love the little flowers. I want one for myself! (The bouquet, not the wedding :)

Simple Note Cards

I made up a set of cards for my Aunt. She just wants note cards - just something pretty on the front with nothing inside. Here are a few that I made for her.

These can be made into a Happy Birthday, Get Well or Thinking of You card. Indeed whatever you can come up with! Take a peek!

The 2 cards with roses are hand watercolored.

Tractor

Well, I had to finish the tractor - or at least get a working copy up here. Just to prove that I could. I think it turned out to be part old John Deere and newer Farm All. Hey, it looks like a tractor! So, Anne - Cat, you reading this? Need these for Brookshire Farms?

Boy Card - Truck

Well, I like the train, but the first version of the train kinda looked like a tractor. I changed it to green and started out. Well, I made some cool tractor tires, but I couldn't quite get it right. It looked more like a truck with tractor tires. So, a clip here, a snip there... we have a green truck. I still think that it needs some work, but it looks pretty good. Still, no place to put Happy Birthday, but I think that the present gives a hint!

Next Shoe Box Swap

Well today I'm working on my next shoe box swap - a birthday card for a boy. I don't have any stamp sets that are suitable for this. Ann has offered several sets, but they are at her house and I want to work on this now. Punches! I'll try to make something with the punches.

So, I've seen several cute cards with trains. I decide to try. The first effort was good, until I realized that two of the punches I was using were ineligible. Try again. Here's the second shot. I still don't have room for a "Happy Birthday" on the front. I don't know how I feel about that. I may have to scale it down a bit, but that adds many complications. Punches don't get smaller, you know. I'll think about it and see what happens. I might just start over with a completely different card. But I will keep this one in my set of cards!

Who's turning 65?

A friend has many friends turning 65 and has commissioned a set of cards for them. Cute but not too funny, the joke is on the inside. Gotta be good, but not too hard to make if I'm making 16 of them!!! Here's my first draft. (copyright Stampin' Up!)

Shoe Box Swap - Yes, making cards

I attended my first Shoe Box Swap this week. (That's where you bring everything you need to make a bunch of a card you designed and then make everyone else's cards). My card is a women's birthday card. (copyright Stampin' Up)

It was lots of fun, but a bit frantic, since I am a slow-poke when making cards. I wasn't the last one to finish, but close. In another week I have to come up with a boy's birthday card. Hmmm.

Christmas is coming!

So it's a Holiday Card Sale. Yes, I make handmade greeting cards which I sell. If I'm going to sell any Holiday Cards I need to start making them now.

All cards in this posting are copyright Stampin' Up 1990-2009

First we have Frosty, the all around winter icon. We all love him.








Now another snowman, watching it snow, the sentiment inside this says "Let it Snow".

















And the traditional Christmas flower the poinsettia.



If you are interested in any of these that you see, you can contact me to purchase some. You can get any number 1 or 10 or 25, or 7 and you can mix and match styles. I sell them for $2 a card. You can reach me at julieablanchet@yahoo.com. I am only interested in selling in the Denver & Boulder area at this time.

Since I make them after you choose them, there's some flexibility on what's inside. Personalization is possible at an increased price.

Now that I have one, what do I do?

So I have a blog, what's important enough to put in here?

I'm planning to use this as a way to show off some of my handmade greeting cards. For example, I'm making samples of Christmas cards (yes, already!) and I'm planning to put photos here and see if anyone gets here and wants to look and buy from me.

So look for photos coming soon.