OCC - Celebrate Food and Drink!!

We have all been eating and drinking our way through the Holidays and in to the approaching New Year. Our OCC challenge this week is to create a card or project with some kind of food or drink theme.

My two older girls (ages 14 &13) are learning to cook. Their job is to choose what they will cook for dinner for our family once a week and then to accomplish this on the scheduled day in a timely manner. So far their biggest challenge is the timely manner. I've seen a big improvement though in their time management and they are tackling things I've shied away from. This week, they made leek and apple curry soup and brie stuffed brioche. HOLY SHAMOLIES!!!!

We have a family philosophy - we love GOOD food. We don't really care what nationality the food is as long as it is yummy. It's a plus if it is healthy ;). We are finding that most very flavourful food tends to be healthy as over processing and frying deadens many natural flavours that we are particularly fond of. We rarely eat dinner apart and I believe this has helped establish a firm foundation for our family.



While creating this card, I was thinking cherry cobbler, black forest cake, and all sorts of other cherry goodness. I used some graphic 45 paper I've had for awhile which I bought just because I like it. The cherry images are all from Kitchen Classics by Crafty Secrets which I coloured with copic markers.

I guess I haven't got over Christmas colours yet, but to be honest, I feel like I have lost a month so Christmas really did sneak up on me. However, this POSH children's bedroom decor has given me boatloads of inspiration thanks to this week's inspiration challenge on SCS.

Please relax and take a few minutes to browse the creations by the rest of the OCC design team; Cindy, Dana, Jennifer, Jenny, Jocelyn, Linda, Lori, Melissa, Silke, and Wendy.

stamps; kitchen classics (crafty secrets)
paper; vintage cherries (graphic 45), cardstock (core'dinations)
ink; espresso adirondack, antique linen, tea dye distress ink (ranger)
accessories; labels 9 nesties (spellbinders), ribbon (offray), rhinestones (bazzill), swiss dotsA2 folder (provocraft), copper leafing pen, copic markers

OCC Let it Snow!

This week our December host, has issued the call to "Let it Snow!". Everyone is crazy busy this time of year crossing things of our lists and preparing for the Holidays! So today is another easy one, create a winter themed card featuring snow or snowflakes somewhere on your project.

Here's my take on this challenge! I think the last card I posted would have been better for this challenge, but beggars can't be choosers right now, I think!



I forced myself to take some studio time this week. My dad is telling me I must leave off cleaning out the other house by noon so I can spend lunch with my 2 walk home kids and rest in the afternoons. We have taken more than 6000lbs to the city dump according to the weigh bills. I'll do a final tally once there is no more garbage to go. Donation pick up happens on Tuesday, which will really help the situation both to see exactly what is left, and to have more of the toxic second hand smoke residue out of the house. Don't jump on me over it, there are tar streaks running down the walls and on one set of windows there is such a significant tar build up that I can't get it off. Any tips for that? It's pretty disgusting. And yes, this clean out is pretty much just my muscle making it happen and my dad's kindness for loaning his truck for this use (I keep getting asked about that). His muscle helps me fill the truck and offload it, but mine gets all this stuff out of the house.

This card was done with this inspiration in mind. I love the colour of this card, and the striking white against the rich green. I stamped a snowflake swirl on the green cardstock and heat embossed it with white powder under the reindeer image, but had a 'D'Oh!' moment when I discovered that the reindeer mostly cover it up. Dagnabbit!

I coloured the image using prismacolors and gamsol. I've had these ranger frames and memory glass sitting on my desk for weeks - I think since the last time I was in my studio before my mom passed away - and while this isn't the use I envisioned for them, it'll do for today!

Enjoy your weekend, and Merry Christmas! Please do take some time to check out the wonderful projects for this challenge by the rest of the OCC design team! Jenny, Jocelyn, Linda, Dana, Lori, Wendy, Silke, Jennifer and Cindy.

stamps; holiday lineup (SU!), snowflake swirl (inkadinkado)
paper; figgy pudding (basic grey), green textured cardstock (eksuccess), hershey, pomegranate, coconut swirl, ivy carstock (bazzill)
ink; espresso adirondack, brushed corduroy distress ink (ranger), versamark (tsukineko)
accessories; ribbon (martha stewart, SU!), memory glass and antique copper frame,seafoam ep (ranger), poinsettia dew drops (the robin's nest), felt snowflakes (SU!)

Part 2; The Saga Continues

I had 2 card making classes 2 nights in a row, then a camp that same Saturday. That Sunday I was in a bit of a fatigue haze. I sat down and made this snowflake card for a little me time, and to carry on with my Christmas card list.

Last Monday morning I received a call that my Mom passed away. This wasn't a surprise as she was ill for an extended time. I can't give more details than that except to say that her estate is in extreme disarray and this will be taking up my time for the next while. I'm not sure when I will have the time to stamp or post again before the end of the year. I hope the bulk of what I must do will be done by then.

Lady Bea went to her forever home yesterday afternoon. We are now on a planned break from foster dogs for the next month. I've seen God's hand working in this circumstance, before it even started. During the summer, DH and I decided that I wouldn't work full time until after Christmas so my kids could adjust well to public school. We arranged with our foster organization a month ago that we would have December off. Our ministries at our church have either ended or will be ending this week to give families time together through December. I think I see a divinely appointed plan here! I've seen significant evidence of God's hand guiding me through what I need to do and God has told me repeatedly through his word to not fret. I'm taking Him at His word and will wait on Him.

Thank-you for popping by so often. All the support I've received means so much to me.

Part 1: The Saga Begins...

Lady Bea loves to cuddle up for her naps in my husband's guitar case...all 60lbs of her!

Last Monday I started substitute teaching. It was a one off position while the teacher wasn't feeling well. It's all good, and until I have my permanent certification, I will accept as many placements as come my way! I was in a grade 3 classroom and the morning went very well. They were a bit chatty and I quickly learned what was an acceptable decibel level for the other teachers.

I checked my voicemail at lunch. First message, 'Hi, Mom. I don't feel well. Talk to you later.' *sigh* First day?!!! It will be okay. Second message, ' Hi, Loretta. Do you know where your foster dog is?' * EXCUSE ME?!!!* When I left the house that morning, she was in the dog run, exactly where she should be... My prayer; 'God, please take care of my home front while I'm not there...'

My son took some advil and recovered. A nice neighbourhood lady took the big, ferocious, dog aggressive rottie cross (we still haven't seen dog aggression. Timidity, yes quite a bit which I know can lead to aggression in the right situation) to the local vet where Lady Bea had a lovely day visiting with all the other dogs and people that came in the clinic. My husband reported to me over the phone after school, ' Um, yup, she pulled the chain link door in and popped the latch. She pulled the security bars off the window and pulled out the screen. Then she forced the crank window open and that was that.' HOLY SHAMOLIES!!! Are you kidding me?!!!!

Lady Bea howled for 4 nights until 2:30am, starting up again at 5am. I went to teach with very little sleep. A week ago, we started kenneling her in our room at night, and the howling stopped. She is up with us all the time, and is the happiest dog - better behaved than my shelties, fer sher! Stay tuned there is so much more that happened last week people...


This image is from 'Just Skating By' by Chicken Girl Designs from i {heart} papers. I coloured the image with prismacolours and cut it out with circle nestabilities. This sentiment is long and narrow which it perfect for creating a banner.

I cannot take credit for the hardware embellishment. I saw this card by Vicki Garrett last weekend and I just loved how she used ribbon on her hardware. I wanted to give it a go, and I happened to have this skate embellishment which fit this card perfectly.

Thank you for stopping by today!

stamps; just skating by (chicken girl designs by i {heart} papers)
paper; eskimo kisses (basic grey), parakeet, coconut smoothis (bazzill)
ink; black soot distress ink (ranger)
accessories; ribbon (basic grey), charm (karen foster), brads (making memories), ribbon (basic grey), HH, snowflake #2 die (SU!), circle nesties (spellbinders)

Inspired OCC

Our November hostess, Jennifer Meyer, has challenged the OCC to a color challenge – Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie & a Neutral. Fee free to match these color with other company supplies. Just have fun with the challenge and we can’t wait to see your color samples!!

There is no time limit on our challenges - feel free to participate whenever you are able. To play along, upload your creation to your blog or gallery, then leave us a comment linking to your project so we can check it out. If you upload to SCS, remember to use keyword: OCCC



I saw these buttons for today's Inspiration challenge and used the graded colour palette from them for my inspiration. The buttons helped me stray a little from the palette - in a good way *grin*. I tried the pumpkin alone on the background, and it was quite harsh for the look I wanted. I almost sponged it to soften the edges, but I wanted a more elegant feel. It's been awhile since I used Stella Ruby paper from Basic Grey, but it was so perfect for this colour palette that I just couldn't resist.

My sentiment is from, 'Mother Teresa' by Our Daily Bread Designs. I stamped the water lily image in Tea Dye, and then stamped the sentiment over top in Walnut Stain. I just (finally) got my Fleur de Lis Pendant die, so I felt I must use it immediately!! *snort* It's a little tough to get the paper out of it, so if anyone has any tips for me, please let me know - I tore too many of the fleur de lis for my liking this go around. I tried twisting the die to pop it, I used a piercer a little, but the most tearing happened when I 'popped' the paper. I might have embossed it too much by using 3 paper shims, so I'll do that differently next time.

The rest of the creations by the OCC design team are lovely, so take a boo by using the links on my sidebar.

stamps; mother teresa (ODBD)
paper; bazzill brown, french silk, yam (bazzill), poison irridescent (unknown), stella ruby (basic grey)
ink; tea dye, walnut stain distress ink (ranger)
accessories; fleur delis pendant, square and scallop square nesties (spellbinders), ribbon (offray)

IC206, OCC Whimsical Vintage

Our November hostess, Jennifer Meyer, has challenged the OCC to a postcard challenge. Use the sketch layout as your inspiration. Just have fun with the challenge - we can't wait to see what you come up with!!

There is no time limit on our challenges - feel free to participate whenever you are able. To play along, upload your creation to your blog or gallery, then leave us a comment linking to your project so we can check it out. If you upload to SCS, remember to use keyword: OCCC

First, my apologies that I am late today. It's been a frantic kind of week. The fault of my tardiness lays squarely on the shoulders of this big, beautiful girl;


Doesn't she have a lovely face?!! She was attacked by a porcupine - totally provoked mind you. She was running on her own on the reservation and anything smaller than her was lunch. She was rescued and the quills and subsequent injuries were all taken care of. She had been adopted for a grand total of 3 hours, and was returned to my rescue organization because she was a little fierce toward another smaller dog. I don't know if this girl has dog aggression or is just predatory.

The last puppy in my possession from our most recent litter went home today and this rottie mix came to us 2 days ago. She has been a lot of work, but we haven't seen any of the aggressive/predatory behaviour that others have seen. We didn't take any chances though, so she has only been introduced to our house this morning after Lily left. This morning as well, a beautiful young lady who has claimed great affection for Lady Bea came to see her, and we walked Lady Bea together to see if it was a good match. Oh HAPPY DAY!!!! Lady Bea's new person will be coming by every day for the next 2 weeks to work with us with Lady Bea so she won't be bounced around any more. She will go to her forever home, this time forever.


And in the midst of a week of dog shifting, training me to deal with aggressive dog behaviour, puppy house training and much clean up, I did this card for today's OCC challenge;


I was almost done last night before I unceremoniously booted from my studio. Lady Bea and Lily are crated in there because it's more insulated from the rest of the house so the night time howling doesn't keep us all up. I was so close to being done though.

I couldn't decide if I should go vintage or whimsical, so I did a little bit of both. *grin* I used this week's Inspiration Challenge to move me toward the whimsical/vintage balance based on this fab jewellry.

I tried colouring the snowmen like the folk art wooden ones I've seen around, but I think they look like they've spent a week on a beach in fiji instead! *snort* Maybe they have been standing around too long and are a little mud splattered? Anyhoo, in the midst of everything, I got 'er done.

The rest of the OCC design team did some really wonderful stuff, so check it out using the links on the side.

stamps; north pole (basic grey), flaky friends, winter post (SU!), sentiment (whipper snapper)
paper; wassail (basic grey)
ink; black soot, antique linen, tea dye, vintage photo, walnut ink distress ink (ranger)
accessories; rectangle, tags5 nesties (spellbinders), twill ribbon (martha stewart), satin ribbon (offray), button brads (making memories), prismacolours

Gotcha, Man!

I think this image is too funny!!! I saw this 'Let it Snow' set from Impression Obsession and laughed at this snowball fight scene. I have seen this scene played out in my backyard many times, followed by shouts of indignation and a need for patching things up over hot chocolate...with marshmallows.

I coloured this image with both copic markers and prismacolors. I was thrilled to find the pale '0000' copics delivered to my door this morning - finally. They are a thing of beauty!! Throw on a few accessories and - Voila!

stamps; let it snow (impression obsession)
paper; spiceberry (memory box), cardstock (bazzill)
ink; blacksoot distress ink (ranger)
accessories; pink pearl flourish (zva), buttons (basic grey), felt snowflakes, ribbon (SU!), rhinestone (making memories), brads (bazzill), copic markers, prismacolours