Well let me start my post by saying Happy Hanukkah! I’m truly not sure I know much about it. I know (think) you get a gfit each day for 8 days.
So this card is in honor of that 😀
I was raised and am Christian, so have only known that way of belief.
I have alot of Jewish friends and readers, and you know what? I know NOTHING about their belief, religion or how they celebrate it. I don’t want to be in the dark anymore!
So please, if you are Jewish or heck any other religion, I’d love to hear what you do this time of year! Special traditions, what they mean, special foods……..whatever you would like for the world to know about your religion or you.
So much goes into Christmas around the world, and I feel most people know the in’s and outs of it, so I am curious about you 😀
I would have made a Jewish themed card, but for obvious reasons, don’t own any appropriate images. So I’m keeping today’s post holiday neutral! LOL! I hope my top card is appropriate. I feel its a good one for any occassion. Its my first criss-cross style card.
I used wrapping paper,and ribbon by Martha Stewart for the card 😀 Gotta LOVE that! Its also Martha Cardstock. The gift image is from Icing on the Cake (part of the newMFT release) was KISSED with the confetti image in the set,to create the look.
I used my cuttlebug Textile folder for the embossed portion. This is meant to hold a gift card, when you pull up the inner layer 😀 That sentiment is Essential Sentiments, and is a really great set. Each sentiment works out to be ONLY 0.59 CENTS!! Hello!!! That rocks!
Hope you will take time to comment, or read the comments others put for today’s post.
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Now I want to share that TONIGHT is theMFT December Release Party from 9-11 p.m. Eastern time.
Head over to the MFT forum to find out all the details and join us there tonight. There will be give aways, coupon codes, a challenge and sneak peeks. Find out how you can become a MFT Guest Designer. Hope you will join us!
Did you also know that Kim made some new Digi paper!! Way cute! I really HOPE to start feeling better so I can get my hiney in gear to make some projects with it. Its really easy (trust me I’s so computer challenged), and goes through fast, not using much ink. Think NO MORE hoarding the paper you love-just print another 😀 Hope you check it out on her site.
Now Sneak Peek time 😀
Now since this was part of the Paper Pretties Promo its not too top secret, but cute all the same!
This is Baby its Cold Outside.
I personally LOVE to get alot of mileage out of my images, so I’m thinking Valentines with this one! Why not? It’s still WINTER right? The sentiment is WAY cute. Inside it reads “You melt my heart”
I love winter images. I try not to stock up on too many HOLIDAY specific stuff, and if I do try to stretch it. This to me is pretty ALL winter occasion 😀
The used the large rectangle nestabilities, for my scallop layer.
The patterned paper is Holiday Swatch by Paper Salon. I embossed that with the Snowflakes folder. Stickles also adorn my image 😀 If you don’t have ANY, and aren’t sure which to get first I’d go with the icicle ones. It can be applied over ANY color! Thats that way to go. Then once you are addicted you can move on 😀 I also recommend checking out liquid pearls . They are perfect for those flower centers! Again, start with a neutral color like white, then move on from there.
You don’t have to ask, my image is colored with Copic markers. People always ask me which set to start with. I got A & B first, then promptly ordered C & D! LOL! They ARE that good. The thing I have is, I do think a SET is best to start with. ATS-has many options for that. If you buy one here and there, then you really have a hard time keeping track of what you have, and you don’t want to waste you money on getting a repeat, if you do get a future SET. That could be a glitter pen or other product! LOL! Seriously, if you consider them, make sure you have enough to buy ONE set. Even if its the seasonal sets.
I use my skin tones, and blues ALOT. People always ask me what my faves are. I honestly don’t keep track-I just pick my colors and go with it. I am not as organized as the infamous Debbie Olson 😀 I have all I can do to photograph and edit let alone keep the Copic number straight !! I do use B00 ALOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My colorless blender-of course! Then alot of the pinks too. I really can’t tell you what YOU will use. Its to each her own 😀 Just know, I swear they are worth EVERY WHOPPING CENT. Its not just a FAD.
I also want to say if you are JUST starting out, don’t bother. Honestly, build up your other supplies first. Also get the Cuttlebug before you get the markers. I am shocked to know some still don’t have it!
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR PEOPLE????? (slapping you with a wet noodle)
EDITING THIS TO ADD
OK I did not mean to apply ANYONE is a LOSER!!! LOL! You do need one though 😀
You can use the nestabilities in the Cuttlbug-
You should get the tan mat, so you can emboss them with ease
https://www.allthatscraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=551&products_id=4792
WOW! I have no idea how and why I got on my product opinions, but I apologize, unless it helped you, then you are welcome 😀
Next up!
I so LOVE this set!
It’s called Rain or Shine. The sentiments in the set are so sweet too. Kim really nailed it with this one. I wanted to keep this clean and simple-so I did 😀
People do some amazing stuff with Kim’s images, but I do feel they can be for those of us who like clean, quick and simple. I felt this card definitely conveyed that these images can do just that.
The paper is K & Co-by Amy Butler, the Sola collection. I so LOVE this pack of paper!
Anyway. I hope you like! I hope you share. I hope to see you in the MFT thread tonight!
As ALWAYS, any questions, let me know!!
I think I may feel my mojo, so I may just TRY to stamp something! LOL!
Till tomorrow. Oh and yes I will work on the sledding tutorial. Maybe for this Sunday. I’ll keep you posted. I got lots to do. Tonight is Alexa’s Holiday Concert, and she is in the front. Sometimes being small is a good thing 😀
Lord knows Noah and Amber will always be in the back! I know I always was!
I am 5’11. I have been since 7th grade! FUN times!
OK off to stamp.
29 Responses for "Happy Hanukkah-and the MFT December Release info!"
Awesome samples Lauren! Looking forward to the new release tonight, though my wallet…is not. Hoping that you are feeling better, and that you all enjoy Alexa’s concert tonight…those were some of my best memories as a kid…the holiday concerts, we were a musical family…so if I wasn’t watching, I was playing.
Have a Happy Wednesday!
These cards are great! I love that Martha Stewart blue color!! I’m one of those losers that doesn’t have a CuttleBug yet, guess I’ll have to add it to my list!
Oh, Lauren, that last card is to die for! I love blues and greens together. The dp, the boots, the raincoat! Sooo cute!
Oh, I really like all of these cards!!! The last one with the blues and greens though is sooo cute!!! I do own the cuttlebug and the copics but just don’t seem to use them!!! (Opps, I guess I shouldn’t have told you that!!!)
Glad you are feeling better and the mojo seems to be returning!!! Enjoy Alexa’s concert tonight!!! I remember these as a kid and as a parent going to watch them!!!
Since I’m such a loser and now feel the need to get a Cuttlebug, I have a stupid loser question….are the Nestabilities used with the CuttleBug too or is that a different machine I need to get? My Christmas list is getting longer everyday…hubby’s going to take my computer away 🙂
OK I did not mean to apply ANYONE is a LOSER!!!
You can use the nestabilities in the Cuttlbug-
You should get the tan mat, so you can emboss them with ease
http://www.allthatscraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=551&products_id=4792
[…] mytime wrote an interesting post today on Happy Hanukkah-and the MFT December Release info!Here’s a quick excerptI used wrapping paper,and ribbon by Martha Stewart for the card Gotta LOVE that! Its also Martha Cardstock. The gift image is from Icing on the Cake (part of the newMFT release) was KISSED with the confetti image in the set,to create … […]
Hi All! Oh, yes, I would LOVE a Cuttlebug for Hannukah, and all those Nestabilities… and Copics! But I do think that building up supplies and getting new toys in a timely fashion so you can learn and play without storing them and not using them and feeling overwhelmed by all that there is to learn with each one is a good idea, too.
Remember folks, not everyone has carved out so much time to devote to learning and using all this stuff… so ONE thing at a time, right? ;^)* And, yeah, it is easy to feel like a “loser” when we all don’t have everything that the “pro’s” have at our disposal… Lauren is so cute when she shouts praises from the mountaintops… we do listen! And we know you mean the best… LOVE YOU!
Now, about HANNUKAH!
(I am the first generation to have married outside the Jewish faith, but my DH is wonderful and we are raising out kids Jewish… a bit difficult on the small island near Seattle, where we live… not a lot of Jews, but we get along in our own way…)
My small family went to friends’ for a meal and candle-lighting last night… it is tradition to light more that one menorah in many homes — we have one for each set of adults and every kid had a menorah… that meant there were four candlabras lit last night.
There is a lamp that is supposed to be ALWAYS lit at the ark, where the Torah is kept in the synagogue… in days of old, it required consecrated oil…if you read the story in the links below, you will understand more. In short, the holiday is celebrating the miracle of a small amount of holy oil lasting for 8 days, rather than the expected one day period, until more oil could be procured for keeping that sacred light lit at the Temple.
Due to the “miracle of the oil” Traditional foods are ones that are cooked in oil — fried potato pancakes are called latkes (did not make them last night — we were cramming it all in after ballet rehearsals for the Nutcracker ;^)* and jelly donuts!
If you are curious about the holiday and want to know the whole story, you can click here for LOTS of links:
http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Religion_and_Spirituality/Faiths_and_Practices/Judaism/Holidays_and_Observances/Hanukkah/
or here, for the quick story…
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holiday7.html
And of course, Wikipedia has an exhaustive set of information, including photos of menorahs…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah
As the holiday progresses, the lights become more rich and full. In our home we tend to sit by the lights and watch them burn down, saying farewell to each one… guessing which will burn down first, what one will be the last to go.
My eldest (who is 5) is lighting the menorah I used as a child… it is one of the few things I asked for from my home…
While it is not a major holiday (like Christmas) it is coming at that time of year and tends to compete for attention and has been marketed for kids as a Christmas alternative — WHICH I HATE. Small kids get gifts each night – others keep it more simple… because I believe Santa loves all children, I have even allowed him to come to our home and leave stockings on Christmas (we’ll abandon that in a few years, I am sure… but I am not going to have my kids hung up that Santa didn’t love them — please no “heat” from other Jews, thanks ;^)*
The Holy nature of Christmas is KEY and so often our culture focuses on the beauty of holidays — so yes, Hannukah is beautiful, and I play that up a lot with my beauty-obsessed little princess, girly-girl… she keeps begging for a Christmas tree, they are soooooooo pretty, but I just can’t do that, and it breaks my heart.
Hannukah is almost a pagan thing, in my mind, as it is celebrating LIGHT in the darkest of times…
Oh, and the Dreidel is a spinning top with letters on it (Hebrew) and it is used in a little gambling game, often played with coins made of chocolate. The legend is that when it was illegal to gather to study Torah, groups of men would still do so. If soldiers rushed in, they would have these dreidels and pretend to be gathered to gamble…
Thanks for taking the time to read this, if you have, and Happy Winter Holidays to all of you!
Now — anyone want to educate me/us on Kwanza???!
Hugs!
[…] Happy Hanukkah-and the MFT December Release info!By mytimeI so LOVE this pack of paper! Anyway. I hope you like! I hope you share. I hope to see you in the MFT thread tonight! As ALWAYS, any questions, let me know!! I think I may feel my mojo, so I may just TRY to stamp something! LOL! …My Time, My Creations, My Stampendence – http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com […]
These are so cute!!!
Lauren,
What a great post! 🙂 I, too, have many Jewish friends and sadly I don’t much about the religion nor traditions. I’ll be reading the comments along with you to learn more.
Julie (Joypup)… I really enjoyed your comments. I’ll check out the links in a bit too! Thank you for sharing them!
Lauren, your cards are gorgeous. Love the Cuttlebug folder – textile. Very pretty.
I know you weren’t talking about me regarding the Cuttlebug (wink). I know you ♥ {heart} me! It’s on my list for Christmas, really! I’ll make sure the textile folder is on the list too.
Have fun at Alexa’s concert. What fun. It’s always the concerts that get me in the spirit! Hope everyone is back to normal.
Hugs, my friend!
Renee
Lauren, your hopelessly devoted readers (thats me) know you did not mean to hurt anyones feelings or call them a loser. I love to read what you have to say about all of the products out there. Its almost like I use you b/c you buy it first and give me the low down so then I know if I should spend my hard earned buckos. All the same I love your blog, your cards and your advice. TFS always. Stacy
Hi Lauren
Beautiful cards. I love your Hannukah card… My sister in law is Jewish and I make her one every year. I usually do mine in traditional colors of dark blue and silver. We are going to see them this weekend so will give her a card and gift then.
They celebrate with her large family with lots of food and fun…
Janine
Hi Lauren… I just wanted to leave a comment to say how much I love reading your blog every day… it is nice to hear about “real” life things happening… plus – your cards are great!!
Hi Lauren, these cards are so cute….as always! I cant wait for the releases tonight, I have an MFT gift certificate burning a big hole in my pocket!
I hope there are some pictures or something to share from Alexa’s concert tonight, I bet you all will have a great time!
I have an awesome recipe for matzo ball soup. Im not Jewish but I love to eat it, yummy broth and fluffy dumplings!
Hugs~
OMG Lauren,,,you crack me up…literally..can you believe I DON”T have a cuttlebug yet???But hey I have tons of stamps, paper, glitter, accessories, and yes cuttlebug folders,,,but not the machine yet..this is about to change as I just bought 2 sets of nestabilites..This blogging is putting a damper on my budget lol..all you wonderful enablers…ha..and the new MFT stamp sets BICO and this new Rain or Shine will be bought too!! I think most of my rubber stamp days are behind me…just a little..Woo Hoo and my first order of copics too.
And your criss card card is nice too. It will be good to ready about the traditions, I like you am a Christian and don’t know much about the other traditions. great question! Hugs, Chris
Forgot to say…no really I will stop…lol
Have fun at Alexa;s concert. I know about the height thingy…I am 5’10” and my son is 6’4″….Happy Holidays!!! Can’t wait to see the pics tomorrow..
Hi, Lauren! I love that Hannukah card! I’m not Jewish either (I am a Christian like you), but I love the turquoise and white together. Happy Hannukah to those who do celebrate it…
Sometimes I wish I lived nearby my favorite bloggers so I could test out their merchandise before buying!!! hee hee, just kidding – I’m not a stalker or anything – I’d just like to test out the copics before buying especially since everyone says there’s a learning curve to them. I like all of your recommendations and I second your opinion on the cuttlebug – people need this item and with the 40% coupons at Michael’s and HL and Joann’s – you just need to treat yourself to one!!!
Although I’m a Christian, I have several Jewish friends and so I have bought Hanukkah stamps from Archiver’s $1.99 spot to make them cards. Last time I looked, there were two different ones in their hot spot (if you would ever want one for cheap).
Hey Lauren, Thanks for thinking about Hanukkah!♥ and giving people a chance to know more about it. I’m glad Julie did all the explaining though, so I don’t have too, LOL!
I kind of see things differently from her, but my story is different. I was born and raised catholic and converted to judaism after meeting my husband. (In judaism the religion is “transmitted” by the mother, that means for example that even if Julie wasn’t raising her kids in jewish faith, they would still be considered jewish (by other jews).)…. But I’m straying from the subject!!….
Having grown with Christmas I do miss it a little sometimes (loved the tree…some (not very religious) jews actually get a tree and pretend it’s a “Hanukkah bush”!!!) I have all those wonderful memories about Christmas, but it really was a religious holiday for us and nowadays I think it has become more of a commercial holiday which makes me a little sick anyway… As a kid my parents told us right away that Santa didn’t exist, and I would have done the same thing with my kids if I was still catholic, so no issue there! 🙂
Personally I do like that Hanukkah falls at about the same time Christmas does, I like being able to enjoy the holiday spirit with family just like everyone else, and since I love light and the symbol of it (to me light is the presence of God among us and a symbol of hope always) I love putting lights up everywhere and in my garden (around the palm tree trunks 😉 )
Now to another subject, 5’11!!!!! O_o I didn’t know you were this tall ! I am only 5’7 and feel like I am already above the average, LOL.
If you want to know how big your kids will be as adults you double their height when they were 2 years old. (was accurate for me). According to this my kids are gonna be giants but they already are way taller than their age!! 😛
Your cards are beautiful as always! I would never have been attracted to the textile folder but now that I see what it looks like on paper I like it!
Now that was a long comment!!! 😉
Hey,
Ok I know you were trying to tell me I’m the loser but that’s ok! (LOLOL) I was at Michaels today and got 2 more embossing plates, YES I LOVE THE CUTTLEBUG. Next up are the nestablities. Trying to decide large cirlces and large squares, or small? I haven’t seen them in person yet so I’m not sure what to expect.
My DH is Jewish so we light the candles for Hanukkah. Don’t feel bad you don’t know much about it, I never did either. I never really knew anyone who celebrated it really. But I did have a few Jewish friends growing up, go figure no one told me about it. Anyhow, I love Christmas and the whole tree thing was weird for DH at first but he got used to it, I think. It works out well now.
Your cards are great. I haven’t yet gotten into MFT, key word here is yet! LOL I think they have a really cool style. I will def try and pop in on the party. There used to be a Stamp Store called My Favorite Things in NY. I used to go there but it closed. I remember wondering if there was a relation. I don’t think so though.
Gorgeous cards Lauren!!! You are going to smiley box Alexa’s concert…right?
Lauren, I love that you tell us about all of these great products. My husband (and his wallet) on the otherhand…. Anywho, thanks for the great blog, the wonderful info, and great cards. -Molly B
I promise I wasn’t implying that you were calling ANYONE a loser. I was simply calling myself one because I keep putting it off getting one, thinking I don’t really need one, but love everything you can do with it!!! 🙂 🙂
No Cris! I knew you didn’t mean it. But I wanted to make sure people knew my comments were light hearted, and just in fun 😀 No worries girl!!
No question is a stupid on either 😀 Now go buy the CB
Great cards! I love the strong color on the criss-cross card. I really like the MFT cards too! I just bought a few — my first. Can’t wait to get them now so that I can join the “In” crowd. Thanks for the Hanukkah information. Who would have thought these stamping blogs would become so educational (in stuff other than stamping of course!)
Love the cards and your product opinions. The mats are sold out already on Alll that Scraps. 😀
Wonderful cards Lauren! Those new sets look FAB!
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