More Christmas Cards...

Hello friends...

Here are some more Xmas cards for inspiration...

They ended up with similar design... using a centered embellishment and sentiment as main elements, framed with squares or multiple layers of mats.

I took a piece of patterned paper, then embossed a piece of cardstock to match.

In the center a die cut tag with Xmas trees, in which I stamped a Holiday message and added a ribbon.

The photo does not make justice, since the embossing and the glitter I added to the borders of the mat, really look nice...

For the other card, with same paper, punched a scalloped circle and matched with nestabilities shape to frame a pre-made die cut of an ornament.

Stamped the sentiment and added more color with other patterned paper scrap I had from other card.

Well... let me continue making more cards... I do want to make more and more and more... Love this hobby!

(cardstock: Bazzill, AC; patterned paper: My Mind's Eye; stamps: TAC; others: Nestabilities, ribbon, adhesivs, ink)

It Smells like Christmas!!!

It's closer and closer... it's almost Christmas. When we get to November, we feel it's already Christmas... and the spirit starts to get into everybody. Most people even change behavior... Have you noticed? People is more kind... and tolerance is the order of the day... Since it's Christmas, some think it's a reason to be a better person, understand others and give in... yes... I know... It is what should happen all year around... but you know... let's enjoy the season and witness what the human beings are capable of... LOVE.

These are my first Xmas cards this year... I so needed to do something just because... and these are my first...

For this one I used a Santa sticker, which I placed in cardstock and then cut so it can be stronger because I wanted to place with square dots in 3D.

The "hohoho" message is from a commercial tag I had from a gift. I thought it was worth it to re use it in a card... why not?

I also had this Magnolia image that teacher Maribel had given me in a class. I painted it with watercolor pencils and used Xmas colors to make it suitable for the theme, since the image is not a Christmas intended one.

Just left it as simple as possible so the girl can be the star of the card.

I hope you like my first Christmas cards this year... More to come later on...

Have you started yours? Do you make cards for your family and friends, or for selling, or for fun? Share with me... :)

(cardstock: Bazzill, American Crafts; patterned paper: My Mind's Eye; stickers: EK Success; stamps: Studio G, Magnolia; adhesives: Scotch, Generations; others: Martha Stewart border punch,Spellbinders Nestabilities, watercolor pencils)

Franciscan Winery

Hello my friends...

Remember I promised to talk a little more about my trip to Napa? Well... in this post I will tell you about Franciscan. It's a winery founded more than 30 years ago.

I first heard about Franciscan from a coworker and friend who shares passion for wine, and told me about a great wine he enjoyed with his wife. I immediately told my husband and we took note about it and when the trip to Napa was a reality, we included this winery on the list.

Personnel was really friendly and we discovered Franciscan has signature as well as limited release wines of different grapes. They also have "winery only" wines which you could tell by the description, that you can only taste and obtain if you visit the winery.

We had the opportunity to taste wines from Mount Veeder Winery.... But... we were at Franciscan!!! What happened? Well... it's a winery also owned by Franciscan. We chose the tasting called "wines with altitude". Mount Veeder elaborates wines from a specific soil from this mountain, meaning high. Higher soils provoke the grapes to develop thicker skin when try to protect from higher temperatures or the sun. This then makes the grapes to have more tannins... also more sugar and therefore more alcohol.

We tried Rosenquist Vineyard 2007 which was 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, or Cab as we call it. Strong, and fruity at the same time... Very robust and perfect to pair with meat or even to enjoy by itself.

We also tasted Elevation 1550 2008, which was a blend, mainly Cab. (Note that a wine blend is usually described by the grape with 85% or more part in the mix. Sometimes we call a wine a Cab - Cabernet Sauvignon- but it really has Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, and others in the blend... depending on the flavors and combinations the wine maker desires.)

Another blend we tasted was the Reserve 2006.

All wines were spectacular... but our favorite was the Rosenquist 2007... and the one we brought home.

We took a picture beside the landmark fountain at the entrance of the winery (Franciscan even has a wine called Fountain Court and it is to honor this fountain).

Needless to say, my husband was very happy with the visit to Franciscan... you can tell in this picture below... LOL!!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Hope you are having a wonderful Halloween weekend!

I went to a party last Friday... and tomorrow will probably do some trick or treat around the neighborhood...

We've been several years in a row wearing customs at work... and each department select a theme and enjoy a get together... However, this year is not the case... Guess economic situation and tension have limited budget and intentions too... We'll have fun anyway... We are a very good team.

Let me share with you this simple Halloween card...

Little Frankie is a digi image from a free download. I don't have the name of the source. If someone knows please let me know and I will give the corresponding credit.

I used distressed inks combined with watercolor pencils to paint the image. It's not really the best painted image but I finally liked it combined with the TAC papers and the other elements.

Letters are Tim Holtz', border is from Bazzill, and stamps are from Inkadindado. I hope you like it or at least give you some inspiration...Boo!!!

Also wanted to share my custom this year... I was a policewoman and my husband was an inmate... LOL!!!

Your comments are always very appreciated. During the last weeks I haven't had the chance to respond to many of them, but I assure you I read them and that they make me feel I am your friend. Thanks for not stopping visiting my blog, recommend it to your friends and be a follower... Take care :)

Wine Country

Oh Yes! I had the opportunity to visit Napa Valley, CA a few weeks ago!!!! Isn't that a blessing? Thank you God for letting me go to places... and have fun... and learn... and laugh... and taste wine... and see how beautiful our World is...

I am still reviewing in my mind.... A balloon flight full of beautiful sights... seeing the sunrise like never before...

Tasting of wines that are not exported... signature labels from great wineries... while enjoying a view to the vineyards...

Grapes, and grapes, and grapes... in the middle of harvest! Cabernet, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay... All my juicy little friends...

Touch the fruit... feel the emotion of looking at wine capsules (this is what my husband calls the grapes)... future glorious liquid in a bottle we'll be able to enjoy in evolution.... mmmmmmm...

I really enjoyed our trip to Napa... Had the opportunity to visit lots of wineries... I will share more in future posts... I can't do it right now... I am still mesmerized and walking on clouds.

Super Hero Birthday!

Hey...

A friend asked me to make a birthday card for a friend who loves comics, but specially Wonder Woman...

It's an adult, but my friend wanted me to include this image of the Wonder Woman comic page and add his name...

So, I thought that would be cool to use a patterned paper I had from the All About Boys stack form DCWV... and created the card.

I added the name with felt letters and support the "child" look of the card....

I also added the message in 3D so the card can be opened and display in a cool way...

I hope you liked it! This card is for an adult who has a child inside ... This reminds me how important it is to allow us to enjoy common things we sometimes think are not "for us" because of our age or any other reason... No, no... don't do that... enjoy what you enjoy, laugh if it makes you laugh... and don't bother about it...

Have a good day!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Yeah! Today's my birthday... I am out of town... I combined a business trip with some additional time for pleasure, so I can have an excuse to celebrate my birthday and celebrate life...

I am so grateful! Life has given me so may things I enjoy... and some that I don't, but they make me be me... it's just like that!

So when you read this scheduled post I left to say hello, I should be having mixed feelings thinking about how can time passes so fast, and at the same time convincing myself to get older with dignity and accept my lines and knees in pain, LOL!!!!

Seriously, I should be finishing a business trip and taking this day off because I need to celebrate that I'm alive!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday... lalalalalalala...