♥

Birthday Greetings For Her and Him

2012-02-16T19:29:00.000-06:00

Hi there! I am so elated because it's my first post for Vintage Street Market! I have two cards to share with you today using some fabulous VSM product of course! I never seem to have enough birthday cards on hand so I focused on this theme for today's post. Can you ever have too many birthday cards?

The first is this sweet birthday card for a girl.

I embossed Fancy Foil from Paper Sheets & Tags "Dimestore Vogue" to add texture. I love the shine on this and it was so easy to emboss! The sweet little doll journal tag and yellow/purple plaid pennant are from the Family Fun Paper Kit. I added Tinted Tape "Numbers" to the top and bottom of the card and let me say this tape is way fun and also quite addictive to work with! It leaves smooth edges! Finally I added a bow and a ticket using Brown Twirly Twine . The tickets are card stock weight and a cinch to trim! I love that they are thicker material and don't bend easily.

My next card is for a boy.

I used the Paper Sheets Tags & Tags "Party Games" yellow crepe paper which I sewed around and then carefully tore some edges for a distressed look. This is so simple to sew on and the crepe paper will tear to your seam. Trust me, I am a beginner sewer so you can do this! I trimmed the little boy on his bike journal tag from the Family Fun Paper Kit. Isn't that the cutest image of him carrying his school satchel with his dog running along side him! I punched four circles using the Captain Johnny print from Family Fun Paper Kit and sewed them together to create a banner. The red ticket is from Paper Sheets & Tags "Dimestore Vogue". I also added a tiny strip of the "Aged Soot" Tinted Tape. I told you it's addictive!

That's it for me today! Thank you for stopping by!

Hooray for you!

2012-02-15T20:51:00.000-06:00

Happy Wednesday people! With ♥ day over it's time for me to focus on future events like graduations. Thankfully I still have a few years left till mine graduate but I have lots of friends with seniors. I am already stressed about the possibility of SAT scores, colleges, and general anxiety of DD flying the coop. Her father said maybe we should convince her to commute to the same university I attended nearby? I said push that baby out of the nest and let her fly! Okay, not really. But I do want her to have the experience of living on her own as scary as it might be. We have spent countless hours in social groups, doctor's visits, individual educational progress reports, occupational therapy, physical therapy, sensory motor skills development, nutritional therapists, allergy specialists, a vision educator, and ABA specialists to help our daughter with Aspergers eventually need less assistance in everyday life. I want to so badly believe it was all worth it. I certainly will never give up on her and can envision myself being that same Mom in "Love You Forever" climbing through the window and rocking her sweet child to sleep each night saying,"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be." This book still gets me choked up.

Now onto my card.

A simple one! It's a few scraps paired with a Stitchy Bear Digital Stamp for Penny's challenge this week. I added a SRM Sticker for the sentiment, a brad to the hat, and stitched the pattern paper/black panel to the card base and it was done! Easy enough!

Thanks for stopping by!
Challenges I would like to enter my card in:
Allsorts: #141 Free and Easy
Crafter's Companion: #21 Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday: #147 Use Your stash
One Stitch at a Time: Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show: Anything Goes

Supplies used:
card base: The Paper Studio
cardstock: Recollections black
pattern paper: Lily Bee Designs Head Over Heels
digital image: Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps Grad Cap and Dipolma
sticker: SRM Stickers #51006 Thinking Of You sheet
brad: Making Memories

Sympathy Cards featured on SRM Blog today

2012-02-13T07:42:00.000-06:00

Hey there! I am back with two sympathy cards featuring SRM Stickers. Awhile back I shared a sympathy card I made for a friend's Mom here. Today I have a new card I made for my friend. Loss of a loved one is a difficult and delicate situation for anyone to endure and I strive to make cards for those in this unfortunate situation to show I care and I am thinking of them.

This is the card I made for my friend's Mom. She is a fellow paper crafter and is always making super cute things. I have only met her briefly once and yet she still thinks of me and is kind enough to send crafty goodies via her daughter to share with me! That is one incredibly sweet lady!

As I mentioned above you can see the paper supplies and full details about this card in this post here.

My next card was made for my dear friend. She is always upbeat and has a laugh that can turn any frown upside down. Did I mention she also has an incredible singing voice? Amazing to hear her sing! She also knits and get this... she spins her own yarn! These are just a few of her talents! When I say this lady is crafty, I mean in every aspect. She keeps encouraging me to come to her knitting night at her house but it scares me! I am sewing challenged after all. :-) Can you imagine me with two needles trying to work a ball of yarn into something worthy? Nope. Probably not going to happen. LOL! Anyhow...

This card has bright colors because quite frankly, when I see her, she reminds me of sunny days! I used some Authentique paired with Lily Bee for this. Lots of punches for the ovals and rounded corners.

The SRM Sticker sheet used for both of these cards is #51016 and can be found here. I cut the border sticker down which is a simple cut you can do to expand the use of your stickers.

Creating a sympathy card does not always have to be dreary colors with a lily. I wanted to share that you can celebrate the life of someone by also using butterflies, birds, and other aspects of nature. I hope you will find a little inspiration here and thank you for stopping by!

I can hear you!

2012-02-12T00:01:00.000-06:00

Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a blessed day and enjoying it with those you love or doing something you enjoy! I have a colorful card for today's post. It reminds me of a sunny day and hoping it will give a cheerful reminder that you can achieve it! Recently she had an audition for a chorus event and was a little nervous about singing in front of everyone. I told her she could practice with me as her audience which led her to say "so not happening!" I finally managed to coax the first verse of the song she chose in the car ride home one night. She sounded really great but she reversed a line. I encouraged her to practice more and her response was, "I will when I take a shower tonight." What makes teenagers think no one can hear them in the shower when they are singing? I snickered and thought to myself, everyone is hearing it tonight! The day before the audition, she was really nervous and kept asking me, "what if I mess up Mom?" I told her to envision herself in the shower with no one around to hear.
So my card was with her mind. Oh and she made it! I can't wait to see and hear her sing!

This lion is from Bugaboo stamps. I colored him with Copics and fussy cut him out to make him floating in thin air. Have I mentioned I am still working on backgrounds? Shadows and such? ;-) I made the shaped card base from yellow card stock. The new Sentimental Sundays challenge is for shaped cards. There are lots of scraps on here. That's a Sass Lass scallop border on top of a Imaginisce polka dot print. I punched a large white scallop and trimmed to mount the lion on. The tiny pennant is Pink Paislee and I used a Clear Dollar stamp for the sentiment.

You kinda need to see the inside to understand the front. Can you read this? It is rather small. It says,
"You'll do great!"

Which

Challeneges for my card:

Alphabet Challenge: A=Animals

Challenge Up Your Life: #62 Tone on Tone

CES Challenge: #72 Lots of Layers

Craft Us Crazy: #20 Anything Goes

Mark's Finest Papers: #94 Shaped Card

Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes

supplies used:
card stock: Recollections
pattern paper: Imaginisce, Pink Paislee, Sassafras Lass
digital image: Bugaboo Oz lion
sentiment stamp: Clear Dollar Stamps Kid's Encouragement
ink: Inkadinkado
rhinestones and large scallop punch: Recollections
other: Copics, foam dots, and sewing machine

Monday Love and giveaway winner announced!

2012-02-06T16:16:00.003-06:00

It's Monday everybody and I am ready for a new week! How about you? I am crossing items off my to do list like crazy because it was piling up on me. Ever have the sinking feeling like the list is bigger than you? I remember as a kid my Dad had a legal size paper list of items to do around the house. Most of them were biggies too like painting, electrical, wood work, etc. I also recollect that one Father's day I thought it would be nice if I could do one of the chores he had on his list. I scoured it multiple times trying to find something I knew how to do but never found one I knew I could complete successfully. If only he had simple things like cut the grass, trim edges, clean the pool. It was replace the plug on the pig (our vacuum cleaner which was a pink canister with a long hose) or strip and chaulk the bathrooms. Ughh! I sadly don't recall what I did for him on the special day. :-( I do appreciate his determination to fix everything himself and his ability to know how to do those tasks. Super Dad he was/is still!

Before I share my card, I want to announce the winner of my Valentine giveaway from last Sunday...

Kathy D!

Please email me Kathy so I can get your prize mailed right away! Click on email for hyperlink.

Today I was back to my vintage shabby feeling and created this Valentine card with lots of love.

I used Lily Bee Design papers for the base which I stitched around the edges with red thread and distressed with scissors and ink. I tied a pink grosgrain ribbon about the base and then started layering.

I sprayed a white Wilton doily with red pepper ink and layered it under this super sweet vintage image that a dear friend sent me. She also sent me the sweetie pie tag which I punched a small heart from.

I added a Recollections polka dot flower with a white button to the bow's center. I added three pearls to the vintage image and tucked a red feather in for fun to finish off my card.

I love feathers but keep forgetting to use them. They are fun to accent with.

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:

Card and Scrap: Shabby

Card Makin' Mama's: #38 Valentine

Come and Get It Challenges: Love is in the Air

Crafty Boots: Valentine's

Crafty Calendar Challenge: Love

Die Cut Dreams: Pink and Red and Heart

Dream Valley Challenges: Valentine

Fairy Tale: #34 Love, love, love

Hooked on Crafts: Hearts

Lexi's Creations: #58 Love

Lollipop Crafts: #66 Valentine's Card

My Craft Spot: #43 Valentine's Day

Oh La La Creations: #98 Be My Valentine

One Stop Craft: #168 For the one I love

Supplies Used:

cardstock: Paper Studio

pattern paper: Lily Bee Designs

flower: Recollections

doily: Wilton

ink: Ranger Red Pepper

ribbon: Michael's grosgrain pink

vintage image, tag, button, feather: craft supply

heart punch: Studio G

floss: DMC white

Thank you for stopping by!

Monster Love for you!

2012-02-01T20:37:00.003-06:00

Yeah it's Wednesday which means I only have a few days left of this week and then I can enjoy my weekend. I love short weeks. We had a day off school this week for teacher inservice. I am biting my nails for the results of my daughter's mid-terms. She reported back to me with much enthusiasm so far. It really scares me when I ask her if she studied. This is what happens: she opens a book, looks it over for 15 minutes and says she's done. Then I have to remember she has a photographic memory and once she visualizes the material, it's in there. A benefit of Autism? Hmmm. Some might argue, but I am proud of her ability to recall information when questioned. Of course this does not apply to every area. ;-) I know we have reviewed how to unload the dishwasher a dozen times visually and physically, yet it magically is forgotten. I love her so and wouldn't change a thing even if it meant I never had to put a away a dish again. This to me is typical teenage life which I prayed for and the good Lord has answered it so! What's the phrase? Be careful what you wish for? LOL!
On to my card for today! A little monster love for you for at Penny's this week. Our theme is Love is in the Air.

He reminds me of a muppet. A sweet muppet with those heart eyes and that big toothy grin! My fave muppet was Animal so you can probably see why I like this fellow! Wondering who Animal is?

↓

This guy just makes me smile! He's from Little Miss Muffet Stamps. One of of fabulous sponsors this week.

Okay but on to my card. I colored then cut my image out. I wanted him to be fun so I added Stickles glitter. His eyes are paper pieced and popped up with foam dots. I punched a small heart for his belly and added a little bling because he is dressed up to share his love.

The sentiment is trimmed from the WRMK's Love Struck pattern paper and attached with foam dots to the printed word paper. I did a lazy stitch around the edges because: 1. I don't know how to stitch a straight line and 2. I don't know how to adjust the tension on the machine. I just totally sold myself out didn't I? I guess, but I can say I tried and continue to try to sew when patience is high. My goal is to buy a nice machine and really learn this art. I distressed the lime green panel after sewing. And that's it! Sticking to this story and I hope you like!

Challenges I would like to enter this card in:

Craft Your Days Away: #37 Distressing

Crazy for Challenges: #121 Layer it On

Fab'n' Funky: #106 Use a Digi

Little Miss Muffet Stamps: #28 Valentine's and Love

Little Red Wagon: #118 Valentines

One Stop Craft: Stitching

Stamp -N -Doodle: Valentine's Day'

The Stamping Boutique: #125 Valentine

Truly Scrumptious: #73 Love and Hearts

Supplies used:
cardstock: The Paper Studio and Bazzill
pattern paper: WRMK Love Struck
rhinestones: Queen & Co.
heart punch: McGill
glitter: Stickles
other: foam dots, Copic markers

Paper Playtime Blog Hop

2012-01-30T07:49:00.000-06:00

Hey there! Today I want to share with you a fun blog hop that we are featuring at Paper Playtime. The design team has created some amazing projects to share with you a long the hop so if you arrived here from Lynn of Boots and Bling Time then you are right on track. Otherwise you can start from the beginning here so you will be sure not to miss a thing! ***I have a surprised for one lucky winner so keep reading if you want that to be you!***

CH #66 - ANYTHING GOES & A BLOG HOP!

Make any type of project with any theme as long as it's a new project.
Then be sure and HOP along to our Design Team's blogs leaving comments on each blog to be eligible to win our prize!

Our sponsor this challenge is CROP STOP! http://cropstop.com/

Crop Stop is sponsoring with a $15 Gift Certificate to their store! Check them out! http://cropstop.com/

All you have to do to be eligible to win:

1) Be a FOLLOWER of Paper Playtime

2) Submit a NEW Project within our theme (no back links)
3) Leave a comment on each Design Team member's blog on their Paper Playtime Ch# 66 Blog Hop post

Here is the order of the blog hop:

My project is an altered picture frame I created for Valentine's Day. I was excited to break the paint out and get a little messy. Try as I may, I always seem to get a little bit of paint on me. Sigh. I guess the kid in me always wins out.

I covered this in red paint and when it dried, I added a washed brown for aging purposes. It's fun aging something besides myself. LOL! Okay but seriously. Next I added a manilla tag with a black seam binding bow and added a handle. I covered a Maya Road bird with sheet music and aged the edges with distress ink. That's a vintage red label with a rub-on and a pearl flourish. The black journalling bracket is from Mike's and I used my date stamp and paired a crochet red flower with a white heart button. Easy right?

I hope you will join us for the challenge! ***As mentioned, I am offering a surprise give away for the hop. Just leave me a comment and I will choose a winner next Monday! Check back here to see if you are the lucky winner! ***

Now off to hop you go! Please visit Heather to see what she's created for you!

Love You Girl!

2012-01-29T11:07:00.001-06:00

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you are having a great weekend! I was fortunate to have Friday off and was hoping to accomplish so much more than I have thus far. I think I hit a wall earlier in the week when I caught another cold and now trying to rid my body of the aches, pains, sore throat, and running nose with various reliefs. Hopefully it will pass soon. :-)
Today's card uses lots of techniques and a sweet image from Heather Ellis. Our challenge at Sentimental Sunday's this week is dry embossing. I have to admit I don't do this very often. I have Big Red (old Sizzix) machine that I have to pull out for die cuts and I just don't like it. Hubby bought me a Cricut a few years back but I told him I didn't need it and he returned it. I know, what was I thinking? I was thinking I wanted to wait till the market had developed and then I would invest in one. Still waiting I guess. Actually, I don't know where in the world I would store it. I have limited space in my studio area. Moving on...

I kept the colors really soft for this card by using My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Madison papers. I dry embossed a piece of Coredinations whitewash card stock with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and then sanded it to allow the gorgeous pink to show through. I punched several hearts and stitched them together with my machine at the bottom. I die cut a Spellbinder's label to adhere the image on and then stamped a sentiment on a tiny strip of pattern paper and cut to make a pennant. It is embellished with two pearls (love the softness) from Queen and Co. I thought it needed a little something for the top of the card so I added two photo corners from
my stash.

I did paper piece her dress with a subtle print also from My Mind's Eye. The image is Pure Innocence 16 and can be found here. Thank you for stopping by! I hope you have a blessed Sunday!

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:

Allsorts: One or more Heart

Aud Sentiments: #46 Word Love

Card Cupids: Valentine's

Cupcake Craft: #126 All You Need is Love

Fussy & Fancy: #55 Polka Dots

One Stitch at a Time: #98 Collab Use a Digi

Paper Sundaes: #05 Valentine

Stampin' Sister's in Christ: #124 Show Us Your Style

Stamptacular Sunday: #149 Diamonds/Pearls

The Crafty Pad: #155 Show Some Love

Vintage Inspired Sympathy

2012-01-23T19:17:00.002-06:00

A sympathy card I made with SRM Stickers sheet Wishing You Well #51016 . I covered the card base with MME Lost & Found Madison Avenue pattern papers and added a ink distressed doily, punched circles, paper and crochet flower, with a small pink button tied with brown twine. The lace trim is from Making Memories.

Challenges I would like to enter this card in:

Card Caravan Challenge: #11 Dies/Punches

Card Makin' Mama's: Something Old (lace)a

Crop Stop: #54 Vintage

Hotshot Craft: #3 Flowers

One Stitch at a Time: #97 Round and Round

Raise the Bar: #88 Circles

supplies used:

card base: Paper Studio

pattern papers: MME Lost & Found Madison Avenue

sticker: SRM Wishing You Well #51016

flowers: Recollections and Prima

doily: Wilton

ink: Ranger Distress Ink Old Paper

twine: craft

button: Buttons Galore pink

Hugs and Kisses

2012-01-18T20:43:00.000-06:00

Hey there! Crazy busy here with lots going on but popping in real quick to share a fun Valentine card with you. It's my card for Penny's challenge this week which is buttons and ribbon. Two of my favorite items I use when making cards!

This little fellow is from Stampfairy and is called Toby's Love Notes. Toby was colored with Copics and I paper pieced his tie and heart. The heart is popped up with foam dots.

I used mostly scraps of my WRMK's Love Struck for this card with lots of fun patterns. I layered pink and white circles for Toby to sit. I paired it with a satin red ribbon and some light blue buttons to complete the challenge.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Cardpatterns: #148 Sketch
Crafter's Companion: #20 Love is in the Air
Crafty Creations: #153 Valentine
Creatalicious Challenges: #30 Love
Cupcake Craftroom: Anything Goes
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop: #6 Be My v\Valentine
Really Reasonable Ribbon: # 40 Valentine's Day
Scrapbook Sisters: #67 My Sweet Valentine

Supplies used:
cardstock/base" Paper Studio
pattern papers: WRMK Love Struck
digital image: Stampfairy
ribbon: Michael's
buttons: craft supply
floss: DMC white
other: circle punch, scallop border punch foam dots, Copics

Oh my! I have more exciting news!

2012-01-16T10:49:00.001-06:00

It's been really hard to not share this news. I have been holding in for a bit now. It is with great pleasure I can now tell you that I am a member of the SRM Sticker's design team!

Yes! Can you believe it? The announcement about the new design team can be found here and I will say you definitely want to pop over and check it out for a chance to win some cool product!
I created this card as a celebration for my new design team and hope you like!

I used SRM Sticker Happy New Year #52032 paired with Authentique's Free Bird series "Blush" papers. The ribbon is from American Crafts. Lots of vintage buttons used for this. A little bit of zig zag stitching with natural thread.
I am looking forward to working with the fabulous design team SRM Stickers has and can't wait to come back ans share loads more creations! Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges I would like to enter my card into:
Authentique Paper: January Sketch
Corrosive Challenge: #140 Ring in the New Year
Crafty Catz: #115 Something New (papers)
Crafty Creations: #152 Something New (papers plus my old stomping ground!)
Divas by Design: #18 New Beginnings
Paper Cutz: #120 New Year
Paper Play: Week 12 in Stitches
Poodles Parlour: Buttons Up

God's Love

2012-01-16T01:00:00.002-06:00

It's Monday and I get to share a new card for Paper Playtime with you today! Our challenge is use a tag on your project with a stamped image. I just bought this new set of stamps and was excited to use them!

I used WRMK's papers (again) for this card and included a tag of course with a heart punch from Martha Stewart. There are actually 5 different punches used for this card. Can you spot them? :-) I was a roll. The stamp set is from Clear Dollar Stamps. I added a decorative border using a Lush paper for a little paper shake up after the stripe pattern. I punched a scallop circle and tied a pink button to it with red baker's twine from Martha Stewart. The tag was attached with foam dots for more depth. The tiny butterfly is also a Martha Stewart punch that I added a few red rhinestones to. The rhinestone brad was from Recollections.

I hope you will join us in the latest challenge!

Challenges I would like to enter my card into:

Clearly Inspired: #43 Valentine's Day

Designed to Delight: Project with Heart

Fairy Tale: #32 Something New (stamp set)

Let's Ink It Up: #19 Use Stamp/Anything Goes

Moving Along with the Times: #130 Spots/Stripes

One Stitch at a Time: #96 Anything Goes

Simply Create Too: #4 More than 2 layers

Supplies for card:

cardstock/base: Paper Studio

pattern papers: WRMK Love Struck

stamp: Clear Dollar Stamps

ink: Inkadinkado

twine: Martha Stewart

button: Dress It Up

rhinestone brad: Recollections

punches: lace heart, butterfly and scallop: Martha Stewart, bracket border: Ek Success, corner rounder: Creative Memories

other: foam dots

Brrr! It's Cold!

2012-01-15T02:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Sunday to you! Loving that I have a three day weekend to enjoy. I hope you are doing something you love today!

No snow here in Virginia but it's cold enough for it. I actually hope it holds off for the next week because we have a special birthday party on Saturday and that could throw a wrench into the plan. MY card for this week's Sentimental Sundays challenge of ribbons is this little fellow who is making a huge snowball. The digi is from Digi My World and can be found here. I did paper piecing for his outfit and then colored his face and hair in with Copics. Next I added flocking to the hat brim and the pom pom at the end of his hat. The giant snowball was colored and then covered with glistening snow. The sentiments are SRM Stickers Winter 51009. I love how transparent they are and never have issues with them peeling up. The papers for this project were entirely from my scrap bucket/bag. I started the base by stamping with speckled dots in black and then added layers. The snowflake trim is my Making Memories which I picked up years ago. I tied silver Stampin' Up cord around that several times and tied a bow.

Hope you will join us at Sentimental Sundays for the challenge!

Challenges I would like to enter my card into:
Aud Sentiments: #45 Any sentiment plus use only scraps
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards: #4 Glitter Latte(snowball)
Creative Belli: #134 Snowflakes (trim is snowflakes)
DRS Designs: #7 Paper Piecing
Fussy & Fancy: Let It Snow
Scrapbook Sisters: Snow
Sisterhood of Scrappers: Let It Snow
Totally Papercrafts: #99 Spots & Stripes

Exciting News!

2012-01-11T16:09:00.000-06:00

Tickled to share I was selected to be a part of Vintage Street Market's new design team! I was completely overjoyed when I saw the email request inviting me to a part of this wonderful company! I am still pinching myself. :-) Check out the list of ladies on the the team here. Wow!
Thank you for letting me share my news and hope you come back to see my creations I shall be making very soon featuring their fabulous products!

See you soon!

A sweetheart of a snowman and winner from blog hop

2012-01-08T19:25:00.000-06:00

Happy Sunday! Almost forgot to get this post up today! Sorry about that, but sometimes the day gets away from me. :-)

For Sentimental Sundays the new challenge is to use blue/snow/glitter. It can be all or just one. You get to decide. I went with blue and glitter for this week's card. This little fella can be found here at Bugaboo. I colored him in with Copics, cut out with scissors, and used my craft knife for inside areas . Then he got a snow bath in glitter. He's glistening with glitter. Can snowmen be sassy? He looks it a little with his hands on his hips. But the red heart shows he's all love in my eyes so I paired him with WRMK's papers for a whimsical touch. That's a SRM sticker at the top of his hat with a few rhinestones for accent. At the bottom I did a little fussy cutting of a banner from the paper and popped it up a foam dot. I guess you can't really snug with a snowman but he sure seems like a cuddly buddy in my opinion. can you tell I like snowmen? I tied a little twine with a button to finish it off.

The winner from the blog hop is:

who is

Craftygirl!!!

Please email your address so I get this out to you!

I hope you will join us for the challenge! I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursdays: #198 Anything Goes (new stamp)

Let's Craft and Create: #35 Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time: Use Embellishments

Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes

Really Reasonable Ribbons: #39 Sparkle and Ribbon

The Paper Shelter: #45 Anything Goes

Supplies Used:

cardstock: Paper Studio

pattern paper: WRMK Love Struck

digi image: Bugaboo

sticker: SRM Stickers

glitter: Martha Stewart

rhinestones: Michael's

twine: Divine Twine in aqua

button:craft supply

other: corner rounder and circle punch

Joy Jar ♥

2012-01-07T21:18:00.001-06:00

Happy Saturday to you! I wanted to pop in and share an altered jar I re purposed today with lots of vintage items.. ***Warning- picture heavy!*** I sat down to work on this and was determined to complete it in under an hour but not even close. I guess some days you have the creative flow and others not. I tried many different items because I am trying to destash as much as possible. This jar will be filled to the brim with lots of goodies for the recipient. :-)

I began this jar by cutting a strip of canvas that I stamped with various images from Pink Paislee and then sprayed with Delphinium Glimmer Mist. (See picture below for better detail) I added the fabric strip to a vintage piece of lace that I dyed orange but it never seemed to take the deep orange color I had hoped for. I am glad now because it worked perfectly with this project. :-) I used a vintage button card layered with a tiny piece of purple vinyl(also vintage) and a fish image that was highlighted with a brass library bracket. I tied a piece of Martha Stewart purple seam binding with brown twine and a white button.

The thin flora and fauna strip of paper is from Making Memories. It's wrapped around the middle of the canvas to create more dimension and add some printed texture. I created the rosette from a vintage account ledger I picked up in Paris this summer.

I added a small gummed tab with the word "joy" cut out that was stapled to the vintage button card. The velvet leaf is Making Memories and the printed flower is from Prima.

The velvet leaf is Prima paired with a Recollections purple rose and two cream flowers.

For the jar top, I added a green ruffle trim around the edges and a punched a large scallop from a piece of Daisy d's paper I have long cherished. I added a label that I stamped on the canvas. I kept this simple to not take away from the jar front.

I really love creating altered art pieces and especially love it when I can use vintage goodies! Thank you for stopping by and having a great weekend!

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:

Artistic Stampers: Vintage

Berry 71 bleu: january altered something

Challenge Up Your Life: #60 BINGO flowers, lace, and purple

One Stop Craft: #164 Distressing and lace/ribbon/flowers

Simon Says Stamps and Show: Something Old and Something New (vintage supplies-ledger, purple vinyl, gummed tabs, and button card, something new: flowers, leaves, label, and canvas)

Penguin's are cool for national bird day

2012-01-04T10:11:00.003-06:00

It's national bird day and I am sharing a cute little bird for our latest challenge at Penny's. My penguin is decked out with his party hat and banner to wish a happy birthday.

I used the shaped penguin card and large sentiment from The Cutting Cafe. Don't you love Regina's designs? I sure do! I did add the banner by hand cutting the flags and attaching them to a piece of floss. Easy to recreate. The sentiment is backed on a black piece of cardstock and then popped up with foam dots. The papers are Authentique's from the Halloween line. Just a few scraps I had laying around.

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:

Crafty Boots: Celebrations

Crafty Cardmakers: Use it 3 times (banner)

Cupcake Craftroom: Anything Goes

Partytime Tuesdays: #49 Something new (new digi file)

Ribbon Carousel Challenge: #34 Anything Goes

Stamp n Doodle: Anything Goes

The Cutie Pie Challenge: #7 Use a Sentiment

Top Tip Tuesday: #67 Anything Goes

Sentimental Sundays Blog Hop with a giveaway!

2012-01-01T06:00:00.003-06:00

We are back at Sentimental Sundays and are ready to start this new year with a big blog party that involves lots of amazing cards and prizes to be won! You should have arrived here from Rachelle. If you didn't arrive from her blog and would like to join in the hop, please start at the Sentimental Sundays challenge blog.

My card for this week is clean and simple to create, otherwise referred to as CAS. Need to make a card in a jiffy? This card has simple cuts, basic supplies, and just 15 minutes of your time.

My card uses the adorable Pink Cat Studio image which I colored with Copics and then cut out. The new Authentique Free Bird 6x6 series papers are so fun to use with cards since you don't need as much paper to create. I cut a hounds tooth panel and rounded the two top corners. Next I cut a strip of the mustard paper and then paired with another strip in navy which I punched with the scallop border. ***don't have a border punch? use decorative scissors to create your border*** A piece of grey twine was wrapped around the navy and a large button was tied on. Add your colored image with pop dots to the right side and then sentiment. Done!

Also, I have a little prize for one lucky commenter. Just leave me a comment on this post for a chance to win this:

I will pick a winner next Sunday and announce here so be sure to check back!

We hope you will join in our “Anything Goes” (plus a sentiment) challenge this week. We have amazing sponsors and to make things a little more exciting, there are hidden prizes being offered by some of our design team members.

So make sure you make sure to visit each stop along the way and enter your comments.

Your next stop on the hop is Archana. If you should happen to get lost along the way, you can find the blog hop list over at the Sentimental Sundays challenge blog. The hop ends on Saturday, January 7^th at midnight EST. The winners will be announced on the Sentimental Sundays challenge blog on Tuesday, January 10^th. So, hop on over to the next stop and good luck!

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Cheers to a New Year!

2011-12-28T20:52:00.000-06:00

Cheers to you! I am starting the New Year celebration a tad early on my blog. I am so excited because hubby and I are heading to a lovely inn for the event. I plan to enjoy my evening by ringing in a brand new year full of health, happiness, and prosperity. How about you? Any plans for the evening?

This card combines lots of texture and patterns with a focus on the sentiment. I used a SRM sticker which always delights because they lay so incredibly smooth and I never have issues with bubbles or finger prints. I used a mustard yellow trim with orange twine wrapped around it for a little extra something-something. I don't know why I am using that word but there it is. I stapled a strip of corrugated cardboard on the larger navy blue strip and then added the orange buttons because embellishing is good and I have so many dang buttons.

I hope you have a wonderful New Year's eve and wishing you the best in 2012!

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:

Little Red Wagon: #113 Something New (SRM Stickers and yellow trim)

Paper Pretties: #186 Ring in the New Year

Scrapbook Sisters: #66 Anything Goes

Top Tip Tuesday: #66 Anything Goes

Whimsical Wednesdays: Happy New Year

Supplies used:

cardstock: The Paper Co.

pattern paper: My Mind's Eye Lime Twist Out of the Blue Family

sticker: SRM Stickers

trim and buttons: craft supply

twine: Divine Twine orange

other: corrugated cardboard recycled :-)

Be Merry!

2011-12-21T19:21:00.001-06:00

Happy Wednesday to you! Today's card was fun to create because I used Valentine papers. I get tired of the traditional colors so decided to use something a little different.

At Penny's we have a "Holiday Gifts" theme and I used SRM Stickers with this Digi Darla image. Lots of bling because it's Christmas after all and a little stitching because it's me.

***We are having a DT call on the blog so come on by and enter to be a part of a really fun team!***

Challenges I would to enter this card in:

Digi Design Challenge: Show us Christmas

Papertake Weekly: Last Christmas card of the year

Pile It On: #49 Bling it up!

Raise the Bar: #86 Christmas

Top Tip Tuesday: #65 Anything Christmas

Supplies used:

cardstock: Paper Studio

pattern paper: My Mind's Eye "Love Me" and Lily Bee

image: Digi Darla

stickers; SRM Stickers

ribbon and button: American Crafts

rhinestones: Queen & Co.

Altered Snowflakes

2011-12-19T12:53:00.001-06:00

I made a special snowflake ornament for a friend that I would like to share with you today. It's one of my favorite things to do is transform a dollar store item into something that exudes style and looks costly.
I started with a plastic snowflake that I glued to a scallop die cut for the background. Next I started layering more scallop pieces with stamped images. I paired a silver tinsel trim in there for extra shine. I added a button at the top to finish it off and then strung a thin silver cord to hang it. I would love to make these for my tree but I don't have the time to make 50 currently. Perhaps after the holiday is over, I can stock up on the snowflakes and create away. I think they make beautiful ornaments and can be personalized with initials, words, images, etc. I envision charms dangling. Oh so many ideas.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamps: Snowflakes
Crafty Boots: Christmas
DYSU: #50 Winter
Gingerloft: #30Winter/Christmas
My Sheri Crafts: #75 Let It Snow
Oh La La Creations: #95 Anything but a card
One Stop Craft: #162 Christmas Sparkle
Paper Creations Ink: #15 Something old, something new (old papers new stamp)
The Ribbon Reel: #17 Shabby Holiday Winter

Supplies used:
snowflake: Dollar Store
pattern paper: My Mind's Eye Holly Jolly
stamp: PSA Snowflake
fiber: Webster's Pages, DMC floss, and Stampin Up silver cord
button: craft supply
other: Recollections extra large scallop punch, Stampin Up 2 inch scallop punch, Marvy circle punch

DOUBLE Valentine

2011-12-19T00:21:00.000-06:00

I am going there today! I broke free from the Christmas holiday to make a cute Valentine card because I was itching to use these fun new Love Me papers from My Mind's Eye. I am such a sucker for all their collections. I seem unable to say no.
I created this card for today's Paper Playtime challenge #63 which is anything with a stamped sentiment. Easy peasy huh? So get your cards in everyone because we want to see them and one lucky winner is going to receive A MYSTERY PACKAGE from THE SCRAPBOOKING QUEEN. I know she is going to give out something unbelievable!

Onto my card:

I am calling this my DOUBLE Valentine because it has two chipboard hearts on it as the focal point. I added a little rick rack felt trim with clear rhinestones for a little something. The stickpin is tied with a vintage trim from my France antiquing trip this summer and a red rhinestone for color. I stamped the word Valentine with a Sepia pad using a CTMH stamp. Rounded corners were added for a little softness.

It was easy to pull it together and I hope you enjoy! Come and join us in the challenge and see what the other designers are creating!

Supplies used:

cardstock/base: The Paper Studio white and Bazzill blue

pattern paper: MME Love Me Hearts Paper, Banners Paper

trim: vintage cream, red felt rick rack from craft supply

rhinestones: Queen & Co. clear and red

chipboard: large glittered heart Melissa France, small red heart

pin: craft supply

ink: Sepia

stamp: Close to My Heart "Say It In Style"

other: Creative Memories corner rounder

Winner of Thankful Giveaway!

2011-12-15T19:28:00.000-06:00

Wow! I am completely humbled by the amount of kind comments and people that joined via Mr. Linky. Thank you very much for taking the time. I will say I totally made this more work for myself than I imagined because I had two ways to enter: Mr. Linky and the comments section. I wanted to be sure everyone got the amount of entries they deserved so the easiest way to do it was writing names from both areas on a piece of paper which I then cut and folded to draw a name from a big old basket. Whew. But without further adieu. The winner is....

Margie Visnick

Please email me your mailing address so I can get your prize right out to you!

Thank you to everyone that entered!

Your Phone's Ringing!

2011-12-14T12:12:00.001-06:00

Does your phone ring too much or too little? Funny how you wish for it to ring less and then when it does it makes you a little sad. I currently have 7 messages waiting to be heard so I am posting this card really quick to take care of them.

I have to be honest and say I was getting tired of holiday cards. Honestly, I have made so many and also mailed out a bunch so I needed to move on and try a typical everyday scenario. I will be back with some altered projects I made for Christmas to share soon. I had to break up the consistency because I am like that.

Today's retro phone card is filled with some new papers I purchased recently. The shame! I was pretty determined to use most of the of the bag but at this rate, not going to happen until 2013. In fact, I think I am going to give my scrap bag away because I can't remember what collection the papers are from any longer.

So this card uses the new Head Over Heels paper from lily bee design. What a cute line! It was created Julia Stainton. I have long admired her work and love that she is creating beautiful paper lines. I used lots of punches on this card. I was also happy to use my new Copic in warm grey. I bought the W7. I used stone grey twine that I curled to make the cord on the phone. It needed a little more so I added the black pearl for the center of the phone dial. I remember using these types of phones very well. My ex MIL was using her dial phone into this decade because she did not like the push button. She would get frustrated when the answering machine came on and would instruct her to press one to leave a message because she couldn't. Bless her soul! Funny how things have changed. :-)

Challenges I would like to enter my card into:

Card Patterns: # 145 Card Sketch

Crafty Catz: #112 Anything Goes

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge: #50 Bingo (Buttons, Die cuts/punches, Pearls)

Ribbon Carousel Challenge: #33 Tangled Twine

The Crafty Pad: #151 Send Someone a Smile

The Cutie Pie Challenge: #7 Use a Sentiment

Totally Papercrafts Friday Challenge: #96 Anything but Christmas

Supplies used:

cardstock/base: The Paper Studio

pattern paper: lily bee design Head Over Heels Smitten

image: Bow's and Berries retro phone

stamp: CTMH Say It In Style

iink: Hero Arts black

twine: The Twinery stone grey

pearl: Kaiser Craft black

button: Making Memories

craft: ribbon

punches: Marvy, EK Success, and Fiskars

markers: Copics

Thank you for stopping by!

Me again! With a big wish!

2011-12-07T14:49:00.000-06:00

Two posts in one day means I have been productive! I am back really quick to share a card I created with A Day For Daisies image. I love this mermaid freebie Tammy is offering this week. Quick! Run and grab it before it's gone!

I used the color challenge found here. I wanted to be able to mail my card using a standard postage stamp so I kept the embellishments down. I used lots of paper scraps for this card which always makes me happy because I need that bag to be smaller so I can buy more paper. :-)

Supplies for card:

cardstock/base: The Paper Studio

pattern paper: Fancy Pants Designs and Basic Grey

image: A Day For Daisies freebie

sentiment: SP & Company Bold Sentiments

ink: Hero Arts black

twine: Martha Stewart

rhinestones: Michael's

Thanks for stopping by!

Warm Wishes Elf Kaylee for Penny's

2011-12-07T12:40:00.001-06:00

It's Wednesday everybody! Yeah! I am excited because tonight is my daughter's winter chorus concert. I am ready to listen to some holiday music! I have a super large gift tag to share today because there was a slight printing error.
Ever had one of those days when you are in a rush to get things done and you are not giving your full attention to every detail? I had one of those with this image. I hit print and when I turned to get it off the printer tray I realized it was a full page instead of asking for a smaller size. I did not want to waste it so I decided to make a huge tag with it. I think it will work nicely on a gift for Christmas.
This little lady is Elf Kaylee from Some Odd Girl as the are sponsoring us at Penny's for our Merry Christmas challenge. Come on by and join us because we have two prizes up for grabs!

I started with a piece of new leaf cardstock that I layered with a recycled piece of corrugated cardboard and a light blue textured pattern paper. I added a strip of lace that has a hint of blue along the top. Before adhering my image, I checked for placement on the journal bracket. I stamped the sentiment on it and then put glue on the top of my image and placed as desired. Then I slid the journal bracket under and went back and glued the rest of the image down. I hope this makes sense. :-)

Challenges I would like to enter:
CCH: #96Anything Goes
Christmas Card All Year: Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew: Tis the Season
DYSU: #48 Ribbon
Die Cuttin' Divas: #44 Tags, tags,and more tags!
Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes

Supplies:
cardstock: Papertry Ink New Leaf
pattern paper: SEI Winter Song Ice
image: Some Odd Girl Elf Kaylee
stamp: CTMH Say It In Style
ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip
die cut: Elle's Studio journal bracket
lace/trim: American Crafts (blue strip ribbon) Divine Twine pink, craft supply (lace)
button:American Crafts pink
meal/eyelet: craft supply
other: recycled cardboard

Thank you for stopping by!

Rudolph's here!

2011-12-05T09:27:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday to you! It's Monday and I get share a card I made using a cut out from a Cricut for the Paper Playtime challenge. I think I am one of the few that don't own an electronic die cutting machine. I have Bid Red (Ellison) which I can't even pick up right now per doctor's orders so it's stored in the closet. Fortunately, I was very lucky that a dear friend (Boots & Bling Time) of mine sent me a bunch of designs to use. Isn't that the sweetest? She really is!
I picked the reindeer because I love the felt texture on him! I added a red nose and a button collar because our challenge today is any holiday project with buttons.

And why yes, I did use the My Mind's Eye Holly Jolly papers for this. ;-) I am a woman on a mission. LOL! I stamped the merry repeatedly and added a little bling because it is a Christmas card. I made the slim tag and stamped it with the rest of the sentiment. I attached with some twine and a button. I hope you will join us for our new challenge! Check out the prize to be won! Think of how many Christmas cards you could make with this set!

Challenges for my card:

Addicted to Stamps: #18 Christmas Card Must

Bah Humbug: #47 Cute Critters

Come and Get it Challenges: Anything Christmas

Creative Inspirations Paint: Felt (reindeer is felt)|

Paper Sundaes: Sundae Bar red and die cut

Stamptacular Sunday: #141 Use this color palette

Sugar Creek Hollow: Non tradtional Christmas colors

Supplies:

cardstock: The Paper Studio

pattern paper: My Mind's Eye Holly Jolly

die cut: Cricut

stamp: KI Memories

ink: Hero Arts black

rhinestones: Queen & Co.

glitter: Stickles red

buttons: Dress It Up tiny and brown Foof-fa-la

twine: Martha Stewart

Santa Claus is coming!

2011-12-02T20:31:00.000-06:00

and he's merry and certainly full of jolly! I am back to share the man we parents rely on to evoke good behavior in our children throughout the year. Here's where I shamefully admit I have played this card with my daughter when she was much younger. She quickly added that God forgives and he created everyone so Santa must forgive too. Ding ding! Round over and win goes to daughter. At least she gets it.
The jolly man ceased to exist after 6th grade. She overheard a conversation at school amongst two students that Santa was not real. It was taken much better than I anticipated. She asked me calmly and I verified it. No tears or cries of woe. After a few seconds of letting it sink it, she then asked me, "will you still get me presents if I know?" Oh joy! I completely lost it and had to laugh out loud.

Now for my card.

A fun card with vintage inspiration. I used a little ink to distress the edges and all My Mind's Eye papers for this card. I am trying to use this entire pack for this season. I am almost there. I am thinking of showcasing everything I made at once the last piece is used. I cut a Wilton doily in half for a little texture and color. I also stitched to attach the red banner to the green panel. I used a CTMH stamp (Noel) with a brown ink in the lower right corner. The large button finishes it off. Thanks for peeking at my Santa card! Supplies listed below.

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:

City Crafter Challenge: #85 Santa Claus

Christmas Crafting: #6 Santa Claus is coming to town!

Colour Create: #85 red, white, and green

Everybody Art Challenge: #170 Santa Claus

Cleary Inspired: #41 Christmas

Fairy Tale: #29 Christmas

Jingle belles: Link up any Christmas project

Raise the Bar: #86 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Simply Create Too: #1 All about Christmas

Supplies Used:

cardstock/base: The Paper Studio

pattern paper: My Mind's Eye Holly Jolly

stamp: CTMH Say It In Style

ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip

button: Foof-fa-la Autumn Leaves bag

other: Wilton doily

Simple Thank You's

2011-12-01T16:54:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I featured a simple Christmas card and today I am back with a simple thank you. Again, my intention is for this to mail with a first class stamp.

I am obsessed with using my 6x6 MME Lost & Found paper pack so I created a set of four thank you cards today for using this line, I did switch the paper panel slightly since a 6x6 piece is fairly small.

For this one I used a fave print of polka dots.

Both cards use a tree stamp from Martha Stewart in Chocolate Chip ink. I cut the trees out and attached a scallop punch on a large circle punch. The sentiment is a rub-on from American Crafts mini marks. A single row of stitching adds a little texture to the card.

These are simple

to create! I even stamped the envies but forgot to take a picture. :-( Sorry

I would like to enter these cards into the following challenges:

Cooking It Up Katie: #86 Anything Goes

Crafty Creations: #146 Photo Inspiration (browns)

Divas by Design: #16 Anything Goes

Fab-n-Funky: Anything Goes

Gingersnap Creations: Thank You

Little Darlings Challenge: #12 Thank You

Paper Pretties: #182 Thank You

Sisterhood of Crafters: Polka dots

supplies:

cardstock/cardbase: The Paper Studio

pattern paper: My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Madison Avenue

stamp: Martha Stewart Clear Gift Tag

rub-on: American Crafts mini marks

ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate chip

other: Stampin' Up 2 inch scallop punch and Marvy extra large circle punch

Simple Joy Ornament

2011-11-30T16:39:00.000-06:00

Happy Wednesday! I am happy to report I am able to drive again! It's a joyous day indeed! It's been two weeks since I have been behind the wheel. While some may prefer being chauffeured around, I was finding it down right agonizing to rely on someone else. Today I had the privilege of picking my DD up from an after school activity. Her jaw completely dropped open when I pulled up to the school. Of course the first words out of her mouth were, "you're not supposed to be driving!" I assured her I was cleared by the doctor so she was a little relieved I think. Hmmm. I am hoping tomorrow to venture out further but we will see how I am doing. It's the little things. :-)

Today's card is a simple Christmas card I am sending out this year. I wanted something relatively flat for mailing purposes. I am used completely non traditional colors and papers. I am so partial to My Mind's Eye. Especially the Lost & Found collection which is the panel of decorated paper on this card. I used a free Berries n Bow image colored with Copics. Then I stamped Martha Stewart sentiment and colored in with Copics to accent. The image is popped up with foam dots. Easy huh?

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

2 Sisters: #67 Holiday

Bows 'n Berries: #15 Use freebie

Craft Your Passion: #86 Christmas

Crafty Boots: Anything Goes and blog hop

Gingerloft: #30 Christmas

Going Grey with Scrap-Creations: Christmas

Karen's Doodles: #91 Non Traditional Christmas

Oldie But A Goodie: Christmas but no red or green (stamp is year old)

Paper Creations Ink: #13 Christmas Theme

Pollycraft: #120 Christmas Fun

Sketchy Colors: #95 White and Pink

Stamptacular Sunday: #140 Christmas and use a stamp

The Cutie Pie Challenge: #6 Pastel Colors

There's Magic in the Air: Shabby Chic Christmas

Thank you for stopping by!

Peace snowflake

2011-11-25T20:26:00.007-06:00

It's black Friday and while most are out shopping, I am sitting at home with my slippered feet and pajamas on. I really don't mind that I am house bound. Except when I get strange cravings for food not in the house. Hopefully I will get cleared for driving in a few days. It really makes me stop and think about all those who will never be permitted to drive again. That makes me weepy and if I cry anymore my husband will surely award me the drama queen crown. I am aiming for a day without it. ;-)
Today I wanted to share my Paper Playtime card I created using PSA Essentials. Have you used these? Oh my they are the coolest invention! Anyone can stamp a perfect image with this clever tool.

I wanted a beautiful wintery scene on my card because I am hoping for a white Christmas. The stamp set I used is TreeO. I used some glitter paper stacked with a polka dot banner layered with a doily and a circle reindeer print. The sentiment is stamped on a die cut scallop which I popped up with foam dots. I stamped a snowflake and cut out which I added to the lower left corner. A few rhinestones and my card is complete!

Challenges I would like to enter my card into:

Charisma Cardz: #46 Snowflakes

Totally Papercrafts: Christmas

4 Crafty Chicks: Snowflake

Simply Create Too: #1 All About Christmas

The House That Stamps Built: Christmas Challenge with Snowflake

                                                        Little Red Wagon: Christmas Theme
                                                    Scrapbook Sisters: #61 Christmas Theme
                                        Shopping Our Stash: #27 Christmas or Winter Theme

Supplies:

stamps: PSA Essentials TreeO

glitter cardstock: American Crafts

pattern paper: MME Holly Jolly

doily: Wilton

rhinestones: Queen & Co.

other: foam dots

A very thankful giveaway!

2011-11-25T11:39:00.001-06:00

Hey there everyone! I know I have been MIA and wanted to drop in and say, I am doing fine. I needed the last week off for some personal reasons. I don't want to focus on the past, just the future because it is filled with lots of scrapping goodies for one lucky winner! Maybe you? I sure hope so! I am offering this fabulous giveaway as a way to so say thank you for all those that have supported me in my crafting endeavors. Check it out below!

This giveaway is for:

15 decorated papers

5 die cut papers

4 printed vellum papers

1 yard of silver tinsel trim

1 yard of red twill ribbon

1 yard of turquoise velvet ribbon

2 red and white chenille pipe cleaners

1 package of rub-on's

4 chipboard shapes and frames

1 metal key

1 bottle cap

4 tree charms

10 assorted clear/white buttons

10 assorted green buttons

3 felt stars

3 beaded flowers

1 light blue crochet flower

3 paper flowers in cream

3 paper flowers in brown

3 asssorted sized dark grey leaves

3 assorted sized light grey leaves

2 candy brads

2 gingerbread man brads

1 Christmas brad

5 sparkling rhinestones

Does this look something you would like to win?

All you have to do is enter your name in Mr. Linky below. Want extra chances? Post my giveaway on your blog (leave me a comment below telling me you did so!) and you will be entered again! I hope you are a follower, if not sign on because you never know when I am going to give something away ;-)
***My giveaways are always open to everyone!***
A name will be drawn randomly on Dec. 15th and winner be announced on my blog.

Thank you for stopping by!

A Season of Thanks

2011-11-14T15:46:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you are having a fabulous start to your week. :-) As I start my week, my head is trying to prepare for it with a huge list of to do's. I am certain it will not be completed but all I can do is keep plugging away at the items on the list. Most of all, I am thankful that I have a 'to do" list because it means there is hope, expectancy, and people that rely on me to do those things. Some of those people are close to me and others I have never met. Interesting to me. I dream in my sleep of these things I need to do and I awake to think I have sometimes completed them. Sadly, once I discover they are still in need of attention, I am quickly reminded that it's time to get busy. Like right now! :-)

My card for Elizabeth Mae's this Monday is an autumn thanks. I am addicted to dress forms I tell you! I kept this one as is in it's white state because I liked the starkness against the creams, browns, and blues. To give a Fall appeal, I added silk leaves and a few berries.

Lots of supplies are

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:

Corrosive Challenges: #137 Give Thanks

Craft Your Days Away: #33 Embellishment Bingo gems, buttons, and ribbon

Heart Songs Inspirations: #25 Gold or Glitter

Hooked on Crafts: #12 die cuts

Incy Wincy Designs: #120 Tic Tac Toe (3 pp, pop it up, ribbon)

My Sheri Crafts: #73 Be Thankful

Paper Pretties: Giving Thanks

Victorine Originals Challenge: #21 Thanks

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Turkey Day!

2011-11-13T21:17:00.003-06:00

Almost time for the big turkey day here in the US. I actually don't eat turkey so the little fellow on my card is ever so thankful for this! This is my card for Sentimental Sundays featuring a Pink Cat Studio digi. I like his big ole eyes. They look like they are pleading to be saved. No fears little buddy, you are safe.

Supplies for this card:

cardstock: Paper Company

pattern paper: Daisy D's

image: Pink Cat Studio

markers: Copics

punch: EK Success

floss: DMC

other: foam dots

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:

2 Sisters: #65 Anything Goes

Crafty Catz: #108 Use a Digi

Dream Valley Challenges: #20 Stitching

Hiding in My Craft Room: #20 Super Scraps (lots of scraps pieced to make this card happen)

Paper Sundaes: #95 Digi Images

Pattie's Creations: #33Thanksgiving

Thank you for stopping by!

Peanut butter and jelly for me!

2011-11-09T09:39:00.001-06:00

It's peanut butter and jelly day! Okay, not officially but our challenge at Crafty Creation's is to create this tasty sandwich using kraft or white and choice of jelly. I love wheat bread so my card base was naturally going to be kraft. I have to say, I have not had one of these sandwiches in forever it seems.
I have some sad news to share as well. This is my last challenge card for Crafty Creations. I am stepping down because I have a lot going on right now. I will miss this fabulous team of ladies! They have been so unbelievably supportive and extremely helpful! I wish them the best and will be following in blog land. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the team! I loved every minute of it!
My last card uses one of Claire's designs, a fellow design team member. I ♥ her work! She is sponsoring this week's challenge so enter your card for a chance to win some of her incredible digis from Doodles by Hope Jacare.

My card uses kraft cardstock as the base and then I started layering. I added a SU perfect plum strip and then punched a scallop music sheet from MME. I then cut the banner from the MME sheet and added it but it does not show as well as I had hoped. I colored the image with grapes (okay not really grapes but going with the theme here) and gave a little sparkle with lace Stickles. That's Martha Stewart seam binding tied around the stems wit a wood button. I stamped a K Andrew designs stamp in SU Chocolate Chip ink. I love the verse because it reminds me to continue ahead in my life even when I feel like I can't at times.
Thank you for stopping by!

Challenges I would to enter my card in:
Craft Your Passion: Anything Goes plus brown
Crafty Ann's: #53 Floral frenzy
Create Me Pink: #3 Flowery
Digital Tuesday: #136 Anything Goes
Gingerloft Challenges: #28 Bingo- ribbon, glitter (on banner and flowers), flowers

Pilgrim Thanks

2011-11-09T00:00:00.003-06:00

Per wiki : a pilgrim (from the Latin peregrinus) is a traveller (literally one who has come from afar) who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying (often on foot) to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system. In the spiritual literature of Christianity the concept of pilgrim and pilgrimage may refer to the experience of life in the world (considered as a period of exile) or to the inner path of the spiritual aspirant from a state of wretchedness to a state of beatitude.
We are talking about pilgrims this week in class and each year I seem to discover a new found fact. For instance, a baby boy was born on the voyage and his name was Oceanus Hopkins. I like learning tidbits like this. It only seems fitting that I make a little boy pilgrim for this week's challenge at Penny's.

This is a Digi My World image that I colored in with grey (do you remember my post about coloring the kitten? enough said if you do!) with a monochromatic theme. I pulled this gcd Studios paper out and thought, why not? I then used a strip of DMC (?) dictionary print for the banner. The circle grid is Pink Paislee. I tied a little brown jute around to finish off. I used Making Memories glitter alphas paired with a Foo fa la rub-on. I love this sheet I bought years ago and will be so sad when it is completely gone.

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:

Bearly Mine: #23 One for the Boyz

Creative Card Crew: Thankful

Digi My World: #6 Giving Thanks

Lollipop Crafts: #56 Thanksgiving/Fall

Mark's Finest Papers: #80 Fall

One Stitch at a Time: #87 Use a digi

Pile it On: #45 Thanksgiving

Shopping our Stash: #25 Stickers (over a year old)

Whimsical Wednesdays: Thanksgiving

Cameo santa

2011-11-08T16:01:00.002-06:00

Happy day to you! Another week getting started and lots to do here. I hope you are finding your day to be a beautiful as mine has started. I love waking to see DD ready to go and today she is fine form. She has a chorus audition that she has been preparing for the last several weeks. Probably longer than that. Best of all, she never got my icky upper respiratory infection. That would not have been good at all. I tried to battle it with over the counter meds but gave in yesterday and visited the doctor. I am now gulping 2 medications to clear my airways and kick this infection out of my system. I say kick because I am ready for it be gone. Nasty dry hacking cough has kept me up too many nights. Anyhow, where ever you are, whatever you may be doing, I hope you are well and happy! :-)
This week at Elizabeth Mae's we are using leaves on our projects. Any type, so don't restrict yourself! I love what the designers came up with. I used Santa Cameo for my project because if you look real close you can see the holly leaves.

I used lighter colors on this because I was attempting a more vintage vibe. Not sure I achieved this. I used a MME Lost and Found paper which I stitched minus the thread around the edges. Next I added two silver Prima holly leaves with grey baker's twine and a red button for the berry of course. :-) I stamped a KI Memories sentiment with Hero Arts ink to finish. I did add white flocking to his hat and white gel pen streaks to his beard.

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges for I would like to enter my card in:

Cards for Men: Christmas

Crafty Cratz Weekly Challenge: #107 Anything Goes

Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges: #46 Anything Goes

Heart Song Inspirations: #23 Anything Goes

I Did It Creations: #80 Christmas

Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge: #27 Christmas

Sweetness!

2011-11-03T16:44:00.001-05:00

Typically I post on Wednesday however, it was not possible to yesterday so here I am today to share a winter inspired card. No, I am not encouraging the white stuff to fall from the heavens upon us here in Virginia but I certainly can recollect the moments from the past to create this fun little lady's environment. BTW- I love to run sentences together. I pretty much talk the same way as I type. Kinda scary huh? Anyhow, sweetness is surrounding me currently. I love it when this happens. I can't share all the details but a happy email from Paper Crafts added to my joy. :-)

This little lady is not a grey haired granny. She's a glorious silver beauty (kinda like the person who colored her) showing off her skin in it's refreshed state. She's in love with her giant glittered snowball you see behind her. It is larger than her after all. ;-) Quite a feat! Our challenge at Crafty Creations is green, purple, silver, and snow. I love it! This is a fun Stretch n Bubbles image. Join us for a chance to win 5 digi's of your choice!

Challenges I would like to enter my card into:

Crafting For All Seasons: #13 Texture

Digi Doodle's Shop: Anything Goes

Digital Tuesday: Cute & Cuddly

Fresh Brewed Designs: Anything Goes

Paper Crafting Journey: Use a digi

Paper Take Weekly: Anything Goes

Pollycraft: Anything Goes

Scrapbook Sisters: Anything Goes

Whimsical Wednesday: Animal

Thanks for stopping by!

Double header Monday

2011-10-31T09:59:00.000-05:00

It's Monday and while we prepare for a hoedown at school, it's Christmas on my blog for the moment. I am ready to share two completely different styles for Elizabeth Mae's this week. Last week, there were several new holiday images added to the site. Have you seen them yet? Click here to view. ****Also when you stop by check out the call for the design team!***** Come join us!
I decided to use the Emma with present for my card. I loved the Santa hat and ornament jammies.

Totally non traditional with this one. I wanted to make a fun card. Lots of older supplies used for this cutie. I had to pull the fun flock out for her trim on the hat and pajamas.

Supplies used:

cardstock: Paper Studio

pattern paper: Rusty Pickle and Crate Doll Collection

image: Elizabeth Mae's

stamp: KI Memories

ink: Hero Arts black

rhinestones: craft

flock: Stampin' Up white

floss: Stampin' Up Sage Shadow

other: foam dots

After I made this card, I wanted something a little more shabby and chic so I decided to use the spotted dress form image for my next card.

This card uses more current items. I paired some Authentique with older Making Memories and like it. I can't image how on earth someone uses an entire collection for one season. Am I really that much of a hoarder? I have items I can't part with or just never did use when I bought.

Supplies for card:

cardstock: Paper Studio

pattern paper and sticker words: Authentique

image: Elizabeth Mae's

ribbon, flower, stick pin,word die cut: Making Memories

trim: craft (sprayed with mists)

doily: Wilton

ink: PTI Vintage Distressing

rhinestones: Queen & Co.

other: foam dots

Challenges I would like to enter my card into are:

OSAT: #86 Christmas

The Ribbon Girls: Jingle All The Way to Christmas

Trick or Treat for Paper Playtime!

2011-10-31T02:00:00.001-05:00

Yeah we made it to free candy day! Anyone rushing out to buy candy for tonight? I am proud to say I am prepared. I am hoping for lots of trick or treaters. Plus, I recently replaced my door bell so it'll be safe to use that button again. I had the original one that came when I bought my house. It was decayed in the middle and people were literally frightened to push it because the light was exposed on it. Let me just note that being married to an electrical engineer does not mean he willing fixes electrical items around the house. That was a squabble. I bought the new fixture and tried to get the old one off with much sweat. It didn't want to come off. I guess he knew he was headed to the big green bin. Noticed I made it a "he" ;-) anyhow, DH was forced to fix because it was not secured and we were looking rather ghetto like with the broken door bell. It was kinda embarrassing. Not really a kinda-it was for sure embarrassing. Don't even get me started on the dead fir tree in the planters. Ugh!
Onto my card. This week is an anything goes new or old at Paper Playtime. The prize is a $15 gift certificate to the Crop Stop. Maybe it will be a re purposed door bell fixture even? I wish I saved it to haunt my DH with this evening. Hee hee!
I used a super cute rat that's well disguised with a mask and some glitter for my card. A really cool friend sent me a package of these Cricut designs. I just covered a cardbase with some Authentique and started layering.

I would seriously give this fellow some candy if he rang my doorbell. I mean he is dressed up and the sparkles would dazzle me. Winner!

I hope you will join us for the challenge! You can link up below.

Speedy Recovery

2011-10-30T11:41:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday to you! This week at Sentimental Sundays we are using Heart Songs birth flower's for a new challenge. I was excited to use daffodils for my card because they are said to promote good fortune plus the little cups are so exquisite! The colors are so vibrant and we tend to see these popping out of the ground in early Spring as a sign that hopefully our winter has ended. Yesterday was an icky day filled with snow and sleet so this seems like the perfect timing for someone not enthralled with Winter weather. I paired my card with a wish for a quick recovery.

I hope you like! Off to get a huge list of items completed.
Supplies used:
cardstock: white
pattern paper: EP Summer Days, The Girls' Paperie Cabbage Rose, Sassafras Lass;
doily; Wilton
image: Heart Songs
stamp: SP& Company
ink: Hero Arts black
ribbon: craft
tools: stapler
Copics

Challenges for my card:
Come & Get It Challenges: Anything Goes
Lily Pad: Texture
Mark's Finest Papers: #79 Use Your Scraps
Sweet Stampin: Anything Goes

Kitty Cat Halloween

2011-10-26T19:25:00.002-05:00

Me again! Two posts in one day is my way! It's almost time for free treat night and I prepared a super cute card for Penny's in honor of this fun night.

Okay, I must first say I was a little worried about how this kitty from Digi Darla would turn out with my coloring. I wanted to do black but truthfully, you have to master blending with that and I am still working on this. I even watched a video on how to color black hair on a digi image and still not even close to what I would consider worthy of showing. Next idea was to use grey. Here it is. I paired this image with Authentique's Orange ledger paper and Terresa Collins Halloween print. The stripe is from The Paper Studio which I punched with the Martha Stewart doily punch. I added a polka ribbon which I attached with staples cause that's how everything seems to get attached these days in my household. Yeah, I admit I have stapled hems in a bind. Anyhow, I thought the card was showcase worthy and even better that I can mail it without extra postage! Woot woot!

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:

Allsorts: #126 Halloween

Crafting for All Seasons: #12 Halloween

Craft Your Days Away: #31 Halloween Colors

Di's Digi Designs: Halloween

Dream Valley Challenges: #18 Halloween

I Brake for Challenges: #12 Halloween

The Crafty Pad: #144 Halloween

The Sisterhood of Crafters: Halloween

Top Tip Tuesday: 57 Trick or Treat

Thank you for stopping by!

Autumn Blessings

2011-10-26T19:18:00.000-05:00

Just heard on the weather today that we might get white flakes Saturday. What!?! No way! I am not prepared in the slightest and to top it off, it's homecoming for DD. Well, I guess I better get prepared because it's not up to me if it happens. I am going to dig in the chests for winter attire and go shopping for a wrap to keep DD warm in the chilly evening. She is so excited for this event and I am too!
I am here today to share my card for Crafty Creations. It's a "leaf" with a fall palette this week so I decided to use this pattern paper.

I used this scrap of paper paired with a polka dot October Afternoon circle. The stamp is K. Andrew. Are you tired of me using these yet? I am only just getting started! This weekend I used an entire set to make an altered mini book that I will share soon. The rust ribbon was used for my wedding invite last month and matched nicely with the paper so I tied a big bow with a button for embellishing. I bought the felt leaf several years ago at Target in the Dollar Spot. I added a few rhinestones for sparkle to finish it off.

Challenges I am entering this card in:

Fashionita Fridays: #94 Autumn

Lexi's Creations: #51 Just a sentiment

Paper Pretties: #177 Embellish (bling, felt leaf, ribbon, floss, and button)

Scrapbook Sisters: #58 Anything Goes

The Paper Shelter: #37 Anything Goes

There She Goes: #127 Autumn

Thanks for stopping by!

Holiday Birthday

2011-10-19T20:41:00.001-05:00

I am going there today. Yep, I am bypassing two months worth of holidays to get right to the big gun holiday-Christmas. I am so going to be prepared this season. :-) Yeah right! LOL! My amazing SIL celebrates her birthday in December and I want to be sure to have a proper handmade card for her. I always feel guilty buying a card off the rack. I really hope I didn't just ruin your image of me. It happens though.
The card I share today is for Crafty Creation's newest challenge: Holiday Birthday cards.

I think I might type this for every card I do but I seriously like this card because it has jingle bells! How can one not like the sound these tiny pieces of metal make upon shaking? Well, unless it's 16 preschoolers shaking them violently before they are supposed to in our Christmas program. :-)

A super simple card and easy to make with one single sheet of pattern paper (Authentique) and quite a few embellies. I layered the red velvet trim and added those large Making Memories sheet music poinsettia's with a button and two bells using some silver twine I found in my garage. Next I stamped the sentiment (Lil Inker's) with black ink and then attached the library bracket with brads. Two photo corners were placed on the left edges and then I added some Platinum Stickles to the birds nestled on the branch. Done!

Challenges for this card:

ABC Christmas: "U" for unused stash (bells, flowers, library bracket, brads, and photo corners)

Clear It Out: Trims (velvet and silver twine)

ICSketches: #136 Sketch

Sisterhood of Crafters: Birthday

Use It Tuesdays: #17 Metal (brads, library pocket, and bells)

Thanks for hopping by!

Buttons and Bows

2011-10-17T09:57:00.002-05:00

It's Monday and work is calling! I guess most people are heading back in to start this new week. At Paper Playtime we welcome a new challenge. For this challenge you can create any type of project you would like as long as you include a SENTIMENT and our theme for this challenge is to use BUTTONS & BOWS!

Onto my card for this challenge. I made two but am showing one here. The Paper Playtime site shows both. :-)

I used lots of products on this card. It began with white card stock and then the layering began! 7 gypsies papers paired with MME and Bazzill deep chocolate cardstock with a bracket edge border. Next came some lace, and a thick red velvet trim. I punched a circle and scallop to which I added a 3-d butterfly for the focal point. The sentiment is K Andrew. For my button and bow I added hand dyed seam binding with a brown button.

Our Sponsor this week is LYNN of BOOTS AND BLING TIME. She has a new blog, so please stop by and tell her hello and FOLLOW her if you like what you see. She is offering for a prize the CRATE PAPER NORTH POLE COLLECTION KIT shown below.

Hope you will join us!

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:
Corrosive Challenges: #135 Flying Things
Cupcake Craft: Buttons and Bows

It's a Heavenly Day!

2011-10-16T18:52:00.000-05:00

It sure is! Feeling blessed and excited to be able to sit down and share my latest card for Sentimental Sundays this week. Yesterday, I was completely grouchy and down right tired. My daughter had a birthday party to attend that required me to drive her to so I dragged myself upstairs and changed. I applied a bit of makeup to attempt to make me feel better but I still felt pretty yucky. But DD asked me to take her so I had to go through. We arrived to her friend's house and I told her I loved her with a hug for a goodbye as I departed. I decided to run a few errands that consisted mostly of returns. Not fun. I had 9 things to return to 9 different stores. Ugh! I returned 3 items in 2 1/2 hours and then headed back to get DD. As I rang the doorbell to the friend's house, I knew I needed to put my smile on and a thought crossed my mind. I realized sooner than later this won't be an option and sadness engulfed me. The door creaked open and there stood my beautiful daughter all smiles. She reached out to hug me and then she said, "I tried to call you and check on you Mom but you didn't answer your phone." BAM! It hit me that I needed to move that yuckiness to the side and step up to a better place. It was obvious that my mood was affecting her.
With that, a new day starts and it's heavenly! Much love to my daughter for always showing me what life is all about and even more to our Heavenly Father for blessing me so.

This is my fancy fold. Pretty creative huh? Did I mention I have been feeling rather blah? LOL! Okay, so this gate folded card started with a deep purple cardbase which I layered with Webster's Pages. ***When I make my gate fold cards, I like to make the left panel slightly larger so it overlaps on the right because the card will close better. *** I like the contrast of two different papers on the front to break up the card and show the fold. I have made these type of cards with pattern paper and cut the middle to have a seamless and perfectly matched pattern in the past. It looks pretty cool if you are not planning on adding more layers or embellishing. Now I added a lace and fiber trim along with a doily purple border for a trio of yumminess on the left. The sentiment is K Andrew Stamps which I stamped on a Webster's Pages journal label. I then added a blossom in navy blue with two small Prima roses in purple, a twine ribbon, and a green leaf.
I was very pleased with the end result and have a decided to send this to a new friend I met recently. I hope she likes!
Thank you for stopping by! Have a blessed day!
Challenges for this card:
Allsorts: Lavender and Lace
Crafty Ribbons: #4 Ribbon & Lace
Fairy Fun Friday: #63 Sugar n Spice
Frosted Designs: Fabulous Friday Challenge: Trim
Polkadoodle: #44 Ribbons & Bows
Top Tip Tuesday: #55 Use Designer Papers (also added a tip above)

Thanks to good hearts like you!

2011-10-12T18:09:00.000-05:00

Today I want to say a special thank you for those whom frequent my blog because I really do appreciate it. Because of you, I find a reason to create and share my love for crafting. Much thanks and ♥ for helping me to do this. Tonight I am dedicating some time to catch up on my blurfing. I think I have a thousand posts to review so I am plan on making a hot beverage and catching up.
For now, I want to share two cards. The first is for Penny's and features Karen's Doodle's Bigsby, the cutest little mouse! He's cute because he's on paper. IRL, not a fave creature for me. I can handle one anywhere but in my house. :-)

I started with a white cardbase and then layered with a Fancy Pant's print paper for the top and then the bottom is a Terresa Collin's Christmas paper ledger. I love using themed papers for everyday use. I have been hoarding this scrap for some time. I added a large rick rack trim stapled with my tiny attacher. The sentiment is from SP & Co's Bold Sentiments stamped with black ink and a little red button for embellishing. I did add two craft colored photo corners for the image because I wanted it to look finished.

Challenges I would like to enter this card in:

Crafty Boots Challenge: Zoo or Animal

Lollipop Crafts: #52 Critters

Ruby's Rainbow: #14 Cute and Cuddly

Paper Shelter: #35 We Love Animals

My next card is for Crafty Creations. Another scrap paper feature.

I used Sass Lass (sad to read they are closing their doors), American Crafts, and Crate Paper (read about it being bought by American Crafts here) for this. The image is a Stretch n Bubbles I won and decided fit perfectly with this K Andrew sentiment. That's a Westrim pom pom fiber stapled again with my tiny attacher. Can you tell I love it? :-)

Challenge I would like to enter this card in:

Crafty Cardmakers: #53 Anything Goes

Stampin Sisters in Christ: #110 Anything Goes

Woodware USA: #47 Anything Goes

Okay, the vegan chili is burning! Off to check again. Have a great evening and thank you again!

Celebrate Fall

2011-10-11T10:24:00.000-05:00

I was walking fluffy dog (my name for him) this morning and it was so amazing to see the tips of leaves starting to change colors. A few have fallen and the gentle rustling is so sweet to my ears. Although, it frightens the fluffy dog sometimes. After said walks, this is where he goes.

It's a mute point to get him off the furniture. He's allowed to at his home so it's useless trying here. He looks up at you with these huge puppy eyes and it makes me want to squeeze him next to me. I don't know if he will ever give up that stare if it gets him so much attention. Previous pets I have owned have never been allowed on the furniture. This dog is lucky but also a great companion. Plus he's super soft with that angel like hair.

My fall card today was completely inspired with the weather and a little Patty Griffin. I am revisiting her Downtown Church album with much happiness. A little dancing in my chair while sewing, cutting, and coloring. Pure joy to me! Fluffy dog sitting across from me looks up every now and again to see my movements and then closes his eyes again. :-)

This card uses Elizabeth Mae's "Candy" image. I added a Webster's Pages pattern paper that I stitched to the yellow cardbase and then layered a leaf doily. The image is popped up on a Creative Imaginations ledger paper that's been wrapped with a polka dot orange ribbon tied with a yellow button in white floss. I cut a SRM sticker to make the sentiment. I sometimes get crazy like that. I wanted it be a little different than the usual.

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:

Creative Stamp Friends: #35 Autumn Colors

Fairy Fun Fridays: #63 Girly

I Did It Creations: #76 Anything Goes

Kaboodle Doodle: #88 Leaves

Moving Along with the Times: #119 Autumn Leaves

One Stitch At a Time: #83 Anything Goes

One Stop Craft: #152 Anything Goes

Paper Play: week 40 Autumn Colors

The Hybrid Chick Card Caravan: #3 Autumn

Thank you for stopping by!

Halloween Projects Galore

2011-10-09T20:14:00.001-05:00

Officially Fall but it feels more like Spring here. It's beautiful out. This weekend we have a guest (dog)staying with us. He's 15 pounds of white fluff and love . I took the furry boy for a walk and he was sniffing everything he could. He's pretty tired right now. It's been awhile since I have owned a pet so trying to get back into the habit of remembering when I last took him out, he ate, etc. A joy to have around.

I joined a Halloween swap on flickr and wanted to share the items I made for my partner. I think this is the first elective post I have made in a while. Usually they are for DT work. I feel super honored to be a part of the design teams but I must say I am starting to feel a little robotic like with the motions. I got behind prior to my wedding and thought it would be fine afterwards. Not. I am still struggling for time but I was determined to make it a great swap and really enjoy it! Our objective was to make an altered matchbox with three handmade items.
I made a Poe inspired box. The glittered crow clips on so it can be removed to place as a decoration somewhere else.

When I joined this group, found a cool new way to alter matchboxes. Instead of sliding the box inside out, I cut the slide to open and close with brads.

This picture shows how it opens and closes better. I covered the box with distressed stripe paper, distressed in black ink, and then began embellishing. I used a gauze material draped around the harlequin print paper along with orange glitter ribbon with a popped up label.

To go in the box, I made some stick pins and a necklace. The stick pins have various beads and I colored some of the tops. I used tags for my decorative packaging with more harlequin paper and a paper word cut out. The necklace is a glass pendant with a large harlequin bat label.

I also made this altered slide holder using matching papers from above

I stamped the crow on the front and layered with some punches, lace doily, and glittered ribbon. It's all distressed with black ink and tied with a fun ribbon. I covered the inside with spider stamps to match the web paper. The slides are covered with a specimen sticker and mini postage die cut image. I think they would be cute with a little photo or attaching a ribbon to make an ornament.

Here's the inside:

Finally my treat bag for her which is orange muslin with a crow stamp and trick or treat sentiment. I added the boa trim.

I miss altering like I used to. I did a few more things for her but in case she looks here, want her to be a tad surprised. :-)

Thank you for stopping by!

Challenges I would like to enter in:

2 Sisters: #60 Halloween

Challenge Up Your Life: #54 Halloween

Crafty Ribbons: #3 Boo-tiful Halloween Projects

Drunken Stampers: #76 Halloween

Forever Night Challenges: Trick or Treat

Fussy and Fancy: Fall/Halloween

Our Craft Lounge: #86 Trick or Treat

Secret Stamper: #155 As Long As It Sparkles

So Artful Challenge: As the Crow Flies

Stamptacular Sunday: #133 Distressing

A little love goes a long way

2011-10-03T21:26:00.000-05:00

A quick post from me with my Elizabeth Mae card. I am excited to share this one because I pulled some ancient papers out to use on it. I have four sheets of this crossword puzzle paper eagerly awaiting to be used and it finally happened after 6 years! Wow! That's a long time. It's by DMD. Do they still exist? Not even sure. When I bought this paper I was sure I would use multiple sheets hence the quantity I bought. There it sat, lonely in my paper bins. It was buried under newer styles but I saved it to create this whimsical card. I picked the Angel Girl for the heart challenge because I originally intended to place a heart in her hand but that didn't work out so... I went with the next idea which was to add the heart to the sentiment sticker from SRM on the velvet pink ribbon. That's tiny Maya Road heart in purple. I punched a pink print with my Martha Stewart doily punch and then layered with some eyelet trim and then a layer of the velvet ribbon. Love my layers! :-)

I hope you will come join us! Check out what the rest of the designers did here.

Places I would like to share my card:

Crafty Cardmakers: #53 Anything Goes
Crafty Catz: #102 Things with Wings

Crafty Purple Frog Challenges: Lots of Layers

CES Challenge: #56 Pretty Girls

Craft Your Passion: #78 Anything Goes with a twist on Ribbons

Creatalicious: #26 Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time: Digi and use favorite (ribbon)

Paper Sundaes: #89 Lots of Layers

Pile it On: #40 Do It For Fun
Sew Many Cards: Anything Goes

Paper Playtime #57 Challenge and Guessing Game

2011-10-03T00:01:00.021-05:00

Halloween is drawing near and we are starting to see black, orange, and purple in the stores, so at Paper Playtime our newest challenge is to use these colors on your Cricut project. Our sponsor, The Scrapbook Queen provided Action Wobbles for the design team to use on their creations. What are Action Wobbles you ask? Click here to read more!
The Cricut Creations design team have designed some super spooky and cute projects to share with you. Click here to see them in the action!
But there's more! Get those Halloween socks out and share with us! We want to see your tootsies in style. The design team has a little game for you. Can you match the designer's feet and name correctly?

There are 3 ways to win great prizes! (You must be a follower at Paper Playtime)
1. Enter a Cricut project using the colors black, orange, and purple and you could win 6 Action Wobbles.

2. Take a picture of yourself wearing your Halloween socks and you win Cricut color markers

3. Leave a comment guessing whose Halloween feet belong to which Paper Playtime Designer and you could win Cricut color markers.

Sew Special

2011-10-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hello and hope you are well on this Sunday! I am happy to be back in a normal routine. Well, as normal as I can be. ;-) I have a sewing themed card to share with you today for Sentimental Sunday's newest challenge. We sadly are saying goodbye to Ann Vento, the founder of the blog. She has been such a huge inspiration but she has lots of new ventures beginning so she needs to devote her time to these. I wish her the best! Our new founders have arranged for some great new challenges, sentiments, and always prizes from very popular companies that you won't want to miss.

This cute little mouse is Cocoa and you can find him at Sweet n Sassy Stamps, our wonderful sponsor this week. I kept a simple color palette today. Just one piece of pattern paper too! Amazing for me! I am trying to use up all the doilies I have can you tell with all my cards featuring them lately? I am kidding but I promise to step away from them for next week's cards. I made myself put them away from my eye sight because I found myself clinging to them. I did a few simple stitches because it is a sewing theme after all and then stamped a SP & Co. sentiment with black ink. Not too much here.

I hope you will join us for our latest challenge. Many blessings to you!

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:

4 Crafty Chicks: #57 Anything Goes

Crafts 4 Eternity: #39 Anything Goes

Digi Stamps 4 Joy: #28 Anything Goes

Druken Stampers: #75 Get Well/ Thinking of You
Little Miss Muffet Challenges: #19 Animals and Monsters

Sew Many Cards: Anything Goes

The House That Stamps Built: Animals

Enjoy Today!

2011-09-28T17:09:00.000-05:00

Hey there! Me again with another card to share. This one is definitely Fall related and I am happy to see the leaves are turning here in Virginia. It's been really wet but the sun came through today for a beautiful day of 80 degrees!

My card for Penny's this week has a Some Odd Girl girl image which I think is really sweet. This is Windy Mae and she conjures up memories of a cool fall day when the leaves are blowing around you and you smell autumn settling in. I used Sass Lass paper for the card mat which has that wonderful wood grain texture. Next was a MME damask print followed by a Crate paper piece punched with a scallop circle. The pleated ribbon was added for a little contrast against the darker papers and then I popped Mae up with foam dots. That's my Bold Sentiment set from SP & Co again with a SU Chocolate Chip ink. Finally a few rhinestones from Queen & Company to embellish.

Challenges I would like to enter my card into:
Crafts 4 Eternity: #38 Autumn Days
Crafting for all Seasons: #10 Fall Colors
Crazy 4 Challenges: #106 Fall
Digi Stamps 4 Joy: #28 Anything Goes
Freshly Brewed: #66 Autumn
I Brake for Challenges: #10 Fall
Inky Impressions: #26 Punches/Dies used oval and scallop punches
Just Some Lines: Fall
Little Darlings: #8 Fall
Paper Shelter: #33 For Girls
Scrapbook Sisters;:#54 Leaves
The Stamping Boutique: #16 Change in Seasons
Woodware USA: #54 Happy Fall Ya'll

Birthday Time

2011-09-28T09:46:00.001-05:00

Hey there! We had a large storm this morning but the sun wants to pop out. It was thundering. lightening, and raining at 6:30 AM which does not happen so much. I say this because the kids catch their bus at that time so I did not want them standing outside in the lightening. They were huddled in the covered patio trying to avoid the rain and lightening. I tried to convince them to come inside because we could see and hear the bus when it got close but teenagers are sure they have it under control and after my plea's of worry the bus pulled up and they ran off to catch it 200 feet away. I seriously don't remember ever having to worry about the lightening during a storm while waiting for the bus. I guess I did at some point but it escapes me now.
Anyhow, I am here to post my card for Crafty Creations today and so tickled to say that Elizabeth Mae is our sponsor! Yeah!

My niece is getting ready to have a birthday and I made this card for her. I hope she likes it. Super simple and very classy. I used some My Mind's Eye script paper and punched a scallop top. I attached it to a Papertrey Ink bottom with rounded corners. The velvet ribbon and lace were added to hide where they met. The dress form was colored with Copics and a Stickles Platinum added to the spots. I used a Jo-Ann's rub-on with tiny rhinestones.

Challenges I would to enter my card in:
Everybody-Art -Challenge: Pink and Brown
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations: It's a Girl Thing
Jen's Digi Stamps: Let's Hear It For The Girl's
Paper and Such: 3 items from recipe (designer paper, ribbon, and lace)
Party Time Tuesday's: #35 Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday: #53 2 or More

Thanks for stopping by!

2 more from me!

2011-09-26T21:13:00.000-05:00

Me again on this Monday evening, back to share two more cards with you! I was a little busy getting married this weekend so my posts, comments, and more are kinda behind. For that I apologize. The hubby and I returned today ready to jump back into our lives. I must admit it was nice to be pampered and even better to share the wonderful event with our families. My sister captured this photo and was kind of enough to share with me. I know the cleavage is a little much. I don't even want to get into it about the dress because the cleaners ruined my dress Friday evening so I had one day to find a new one. The stress! All I can say is I love the second dress and much thanks to my parents for accompanying me to find it Saturday morning. Whew! It was a couple of crazy days around here.

Thankfully my blue eyed Brit was supportive throughout the debacle. Here you would never know we ever endured this or many other little challenges. :-) Now I get to take the tiara off and be the usual me with unpolished nails, little make up, and hair pulled back in a clip. Whew!

Now onto my cards.

First is my card for Elizabeth Mae's featuring a number. I used a K & Co. paper pack I bought from Michael's ages ago. I think it is secretly multiply in the paper cabinet because it never seems to disappear which is actually a good thing because I love the papers in it! I used the large bingo paper paired with a small doily wrapped in a sheer silver ribbon. I stamped the sentiment from SP & Co and added a few rhinestones to accent. The dress figure is one you see me use often. I ♥ the entire collection.

Look here to see what you could win this week! Plus a digi of your choice!

Challenges for this card:

Creatalicious: #26 Anything Goes

Our Creative Corner: Numbers

Paper Sundaes: #88 Anything Goes

Next up is my card for Craft Your Passion. My very last challenge with them as guest designer. I want to say thank you to them for allowing me to join them this month. It's been a great time and lots of fun getting to join in with the team!

The challenge is green, yellow, black, and white. I used a Cocodingo image which I cut out and did a little paper piecing to give some extra depth. Same pattern paper pack as above . Told you I love it! That's Martha Stewart's doily border punch paired with a little ric rac. I added the glitter frame with a rhinestone brad and stamped the SP & Co. sentiment at the bottom. Pretty easy!

Thanks for joining me if you read this far! Wishing you a great evening!

Paper Playtime's Halloween Challenge

2011-09-26T16:46:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you are having a great start to this new week. :-)I would like to share a Halloween card for Paper Playtime's #56 Challenge which is Halloween. Are you getting ready for this night of tricks and treats? I love seeing my neighbors decorate their yards with pumpkins, gourds, scarecrows, and more. Just need to get mine decorated. I have been so busy with other things, my yard home is in need of a seasonal change.
On to my card!

This card was part of an order for a sweet friend I met through a swap a while back. She always flatters me with her kind words. Thank you Pam for supporting me! :-) I started with a white base and added layers as I love to do. Several different pattern papers on this. The orange, black , and stripe are all from The Paper Studio. The harlequin is Authentique's "Lustrous". I hand cut the white harelqinn from a Paper Studio print and added the black pearls (Queen & Co.) to accent. The cat is an Inkadinkado stamp. I punched an orange oval and then punched the center to make a frame which is backed with the black stripe paper. I love the sparkle in the orange ribbon by The Paper Studio. I cut the phrase from an Echo Park paper. I think that covers all the items used.

Thank you for stopping by!

Challenges for this card:

Gingerloft: #25 Vintage

Lollipop Crafts: #50 Anything Goes

The Squirrel & the Fox: #1 Anything Goes

Stamps & Fun: #66 Anything Goes

Wednesday blah!

2011-09-21T17:03:00.005-05:00

No catchy title today. It's Wednesday and I am either suffering from allergies or a cold that is really bothersome! I have super big plans this weekend so I tried the Ziacam for a cold, antihistamine for allergies, breath right strips to help with sleeping, nasal decongestant to help with stuffy nose, and lots of soft tissues to prevent a chaffed nose. I thinking the dripping is the worst part while at work, I am sniffling, sneezing, coughing, and generally tired. Hoping it passes soon.

Today's projects feature LOTV digi stamps who is sponsoring Crafty Creations this week.

First up is my card made with Teresa Collins papers. It's the front and back of the papers combined to make the panel and then I matted the image on a dark grey cardstock with the apron punch border. I added a sheer black ribbon and button to embellish. The sentiment is SP & Co. Bold Sentiments I in black ink.

with the left over pieces I created this tag:

I did add a polka dot ribbon and small piece of lace for embellishing.

I wanted to try and get in the Halloween spirit, hence the colors. I don't use orange too often so it was fun to play with Copics on these.

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges I would like to enter these into:

Crafty Boots: #2 Things with Wings

Creative Stamp Friends: #34 Anything but a card (tag)

Creatalicous Challenge: #26 Anything Goes

Digital Tuesday: #129 People

Flutterby Wednesdays: #172 Anything with wings

Going Grey with Scrap-Creations: Anything Goes

Lexi's Creations: #49 Card for Child

Lollipop Crafts: #49 Anything but a card (tag)

Quirky Crafts: #19 Anything but a card (tag)

Sketchy Colors: #85 white, black, and orange

Just be happy

2011-09-19T00:01:00.006-05:00

Yep, that's the quote for the day. Just be happy. Not so hard right? ;-) It's Monday after all, a new week with lots of new opportunities to make it your day or maybe someone else?
My card is a simple one with another Elizabeth Mae design. Her little Morgan is turning 4 and she is celebrating with a BOGO offer! Get on over there and get your free stamp with the purchse of one. :-) This little cutie is Ballerina Emma and she is on point in her tutu with hair in a bun ready to spin or perhaps do a pirouette? That makes me smile. I was never a ballerina. Also a tapper. My sister took dance well into high school so I had basic knowledge about it but never felt interested enough to pursue. Even when I had my precious daughter, I swayed her to tap. She was not having anything to do dance/tap either way and by the time we were offered an official diagnosis of Asperger's she was already in Occupational Therapy which was several times a week. Now that I rambled on. Let me share my card.

Fairly simple I believe. I used a little MME (Gertie Girly) with stitched edges minus the thread matted on a white cardbase. I added a cream tag with some distressed edges using my PTI Vintage Touch system and stamped a House of Three border stamp with the Chamomile ink at the top and wrapped some hemp cord around to make a bow. Next I punched a blue tag and distressed again with PTI ink then layered on my stamped sentiment (SP & Co.) which is matted on white for a little extra WOW! A few embellishments for details then my Emma image was added with foam dots.

Challenges I would to enter my card into:

2 Sisters: #59 Let's Get Sentimental

Craft Your Days Away: #29 Pink, Brown, and Blue

One Stop Craft: #149 Girly

Pattie's Creations: #30 Girlie

Stampin' for the Weekend: Tickled Pink

Thanks for stopping by!

Craft Your Passion's First Blog Hop!

2011-09-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Craft Your Passion Challenges VERY FIRST "Anything Goes" Blog Hop!!

We are very excited about all the changes our blog has gone through in the last couple of months and wanted to throw a party. What better way to do that, than to have a BLOG HOP!!!

If you have hopped over from Joleen's, then you are in the right place. If you just happened to stop by and would like to join our hop from the beginning, please go to Craft Your Passion Challengesand follow along for a chance to win some AMAZING blog candy along the way and PRIZES at the end.

All Craft Your Passion DT members are going to be playing along in the hop with some very special guest designers.

Each designer along the way is featuring a project that showcases a digital image from at least one of our amazing Blog Hop Sponsors.

What’s more exciting is you can participate too by creating a project and linking it up over at Craft Your Passion Challenges for a chance to win one of several prizes.

But, there’s a twist. Be sure to visit all the stops and leave a comment. Once you have finished the hop we would like you to create a project using at least one digital stamp and enter it with our Linky tool.

While you are hopping, be sure to check out the blog candy the designer's have to offer you. You don't want to miss out on any of it.

My card for the challenge features A Day for Daisies image.

I used mostly cardstock on this because I wanted to keep the focus on the incredibly sweet image. I layered the brown and floral print papers with ripped edges to soften the sharp edges at the top. The black stitching added some depth to the piece along with texture. I trimmed a pink strip with a border punch to layer on a punched olive green circle which was my contrasting piece and a great background for the white rub-on sentiment. I finished with a burgundy seam binding bow and a few buttons.

Next stop by Craft Your Passion blog, to finish your blog hop and see all the designers pieces!

Remember, once you have hopped to all the stops and left your comments (we will be checking), it's your turn to show us your "Anything Goes" project.

Make sure to include a digital stamp somewhere on your project, and link up your project over at Craft Your Passion Challenges by Midnight CST September 21 to be eligible for the prizes. Winners will be announced on our Monday, September 26th Challenge post.

Thank you all for hopping with us today and don't forget to "like" Craft Your Passion Challenges on Facebook and join in our September Facebook Fan of the Month Challenge under the "discussions" tab!!

Thank you for hopping by!

Shabby Get Well Soon

2011-09-15T17:13:00.001-05:00

Can it be that it's mid September and the colds are starting so early into the school year? I don't like that one bit. I hope it's not a sign of the year to come. We usually begin in mid October with a few out but it appears little ones are already not feeling well.
Today's card is for all those not feeling so well. Here's wishing you a speedy recovery!

Our challenge at Aud Sentiments is a "get well" card and the sponsor, is Di's Digi's. I used a floral frame that I colored with my Copics and then fussy cut. My background papers are The Girls' Paperie (check) and My Mind's Eye (flourish) which I stitched to my card. I cut my doily in half and then added a crushed velvet trim which I attached my tiny attacher. The sentiment is from PTI. I embellished with a simple twine bow, pink button, and a cream pearl.

Challenges I would like to enter this card:

Anything Goes Challenge: #49 Shabby Chic

Crafty Ribbons: #2 Anything Goes

Di's Digi Challenge: Anything Goes

Little Red Wagon: #98 Twine

Paper & Such Designs: Tic, Tac, Toe flower, Designer Paper, and Twine

Shopping Our Stash: #17 Shabby Chic

Sweet Stamps: #32 Stitches

A Pumpkin For You!

2011-09-14T20:32:00.002-05:00

Hey there! Hope you are having a great Wednesday! Not much chatter from me these days. Here's my card for Penny's challenge. We have a Fall theme so hope you will join in! Our sponsor, Stretch-n-Bubbles provided a cute pumpkin image that I was delighted to use.

Today's card all started on craft cardstock. I added a scrap remnant (Fancy Pants), Jillibean journal block, and a printed tag from deep in my stash. A little bit of twine, a few buttons, and pearls to embellish. The sentiment is SP & Company's Bold Sentiments I. I used Stampin' Up's Chocolate Chip.

Challenges for this card:

Bearly Mine: #19 Button It Up

Creative Belli: #126 String

Digis Stamps 4 Joy: #27 Photo Inspiration

Digi Tuesday: #128 Celebrate the Season! (Autumn)

Hand Stamped Sentiment: #84 Happy Fall Theme

Little Red Wagon: #98 Twine

Paper Cutz: #108 Pumpkins

Papercraft Star: #62 Anything Goes

The Crafty Pad: #138 Goodbye Summer!

Another post from me today!

2011-09-12T05:00:00.001-05:00

Hey! I am back to share a card that I have really come to adore. Every week when I sit down to work with Elizabeth Mae's digi's I have the greatest time! I love working with the super cute to super chic digi's DeNetra and her brother create. This week she really threw a dozy of a challenge. No pattern paper! What? Say it isn't so! I love my pattern papers. After I had recovered from the shock of it, I took a deep breath and dug through my stash and found something hidden deep in the bottom of my drawer. I hope you like what I came up with!

I used the Polka Dot Dress form which I colored in with Copics in dark and light purples and then cut out and popped up with foam dots on a journaling bracket. Not sure where I got this decorative one. I like that this card is monochromatic and actually really CAS for me. The cardstock is Stampin' Up and Coredinations. I did add a bow with black dyed seam binding and a tied a button on with tiny silver trim. The rub-on is from Basic Grey.

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:

Crafty Ann's: #49 Make Yourself Uncomfortable (no pattern paper)

Ellephantastic: Here Come the Girls

Make It Colorful: #34 Purple

Sketches by Carly: #39

Stamp Insanity: #39 Black and Purple

Thanks for stopping by!

Awesome

2011-09-11T23:00:00.000-05:00

Hey there! Hope you are doing well! Back this Monday to share my second card as guest designer for Craft Your Passion. The challenge is use "f" things. Hmm. Got your mind thinking? Hope so and our sponsor, Kenny K offered up some fun digi's to create with. :-) Come on over and see what the rest of the design team came did! I tried a completely different coloring attempt and kinda like that it's wild looking.

So this is my wild teen card. I thought the purple hair was kinda cool. I seem to be using lots of purple lately. So odd for me but I am glad to try it! Here's my "f" items. I did five layers, five stitches, five rhinestones, and five colors (pink, purple, white, black, and blue).

I had a tiny scrap of Cosmo Cricket paper I used for the background. The pink check is a mystery one? I punched the edge to add a little more to it. The rest is cardstock layered and matted.

Challenges I would like to enter this card into are:
Cooking It Up With Katie: #74 Purple, bow, sentiment
Crafting When We Can: #1 Anything Goes
I Did It Creations: #72 Anything Goes
My Mum's Craft Shop: Lots of Layers
One Stitch at a Time: #79 Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Blog Giveaway Winner!!!

2011-09-05T21:03:00.000-05:00

Hey and thanks for coming back to check on my blog giveaway winner. I have to say I was mighty humbled at the all comments and followers. Never expected as much! Thank you thank you for making this lady smile! I also wanted to say, I wish I could give something away to everyone because you are all fabulous! The good news is I am hosting another giveaway soon so be sure to check back!
So who is the winner of all this:

I used True Random Number Generator and the winner is......

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 223

Result:

which is Leah Ann

Wahoo Leah Ann!

Again, thank you everyone for joining in!

A birthday for Emma Mermaid

2011-09-05T10:04:00.000-05:00

I am back with another card to share this time featuring Ms. Emma from Elizabeth Mae's. No rants today as I am super busy. But I promise to come back later and share my winner of the fabulous giveaway. :-)

Our challenge this week is to bling it up! I tried my best ;-) This card uses some natural grass weaved paper I bought a long time ago. Really long time ago. Like not even in this house of 5 five years. I liked the texture and thought it would be cool to use. ***Warning-it's difficult to secure to paper. I have used glue dots, liquid glue, tape runners, and don't really see any of these as better than the others. I have also tried to just secure with brads which did work but sometimes you don't want those elements. Anyhow, that's a strip of Sass Lass along with a punched floral circle. I punched a blue glitter center for the lovely water she is surrounded in.
What you probably won't see too well is the creme paper has been sprayed with Delphinium (can't find on site)and Gold mists from Tattered Angels. Love the sprays but they warp the papers too much for me to use effectively on cards. I have tried wafting in the air. Spraying several inches above to let it fall gently on and it's no the effect I want.
You can't have a bling challenge without bling. So I used large and small rhinestones and a gold thread with metallic strands.
For my sentiment, I punched a bracket from cream cardstock and attached part of a SRM Sticker. Done!

Challenges I would like to enter my card into:
Birthday Sundaes:#25 Birthday
By the Cute and Girly: All things bright and beautiful
Cute Card Thursday: #180 A pinch and a punch
Crafting When We Can: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Craft Your Passion

2011-09-05T08:58:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone! I am delighted to share my card with you today because it is my first as a guest designer for Craft Your Passion. Our theme is anything goes with a twist. The twist being flowers. Our sponsors are AI Factory and Phooka. My card uses Ella at Peace by AI Factory.

I used My Mind's Eye (polka dot), Pink Paislee (ledger) and GCD Studios (plaid) papers with my image. I paired it with Recollections flowers that I colored with my Copics to match and a few green pearls from Kaiser Craft. The little sticker sentiment was sent to me by a friend. That fabulous glitter green ribbon is from Michael's.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you will join in! Also please drop by and see what the other designers did for great inspiration. :-)

I will announce my winner later today after I get some much overdo chores done. :-)

Challenges I would to enter this in:

Card Makin Mama's: #28 Go Digi

Charisma Cardz: #35 Anything Goes

I Did It Creations: #71 Girly Girl

One Stitch at a Time:#78 Anything Goes

The Classy vs. the Classless

2011-09-04T12:53:00.000-05:00

It's a long weekend here in the states and many Americans are enjoying their last days with a picnic, a parade, spending time at the pool before it closes for the season, and most importantly wearing as much white as possible since it's considered "classless" to wear after this day. That was sarcastic for those you not familiar with my witty remarks. Labor Day is a day of remembrance for those laborers who lost their lives after the Pullman strike. This holiday has an unwritten fashion tradition that your white clothes, accessories, shoes, etc. are to be stored away for Fall. My theory is Fall does not officially start until Sept. 23rd so this gives me almost two weeks to continue wearing white proudly. That's my stance and sticking to it. My question to you is, will you wear white after Labor Day? I guess I am not classy. :(
But enough of this.

A bright and cheery card for Sentimental Sundays this week. I used a Doodle Pantry sentiment paired with Echo Park Happy Day's papers.

I like the bold floral from Retro and the chain link from Little Flowers. I sprayed a bracket tag with Pepper Red and then layered a small doily on top. The yellow seam binding was tied to hide where the papers edges meet. I used orange baker's twine and a fabric orange floral for a little more pizazz. I made the stick pin with red and gold beads and a pearl stick. Those are so easy to make!

Thanks for coming by!

Challenges for my card:

Bearly Mine: #18 Flowers

Clearly iStamp: #35 Pattern paper

Creative Card Crew: Anything Goes

Dutch Dare: #128 Photo Inspiration

Paper Shelter: #29 Anything Goes

***Also wanted to note, my giveaway will be ending shortly so enter if you haven't! ***

Click on hyperlink to take you there.

Note! I am a generous with Halloween candy!

2011-09-01T21:12:00.000-05:00

I admit for Halloween I love seeing all the cuties dressed up for the annual night of free candy from strangers. I can't help myself from wanting to answer the door. I tried to give the job to my teens with little success. My daughter literally answered the bell three times, hemmed and hawed ( a southern term I believe) over the trick or treaters, told them to choose what they wanted, and then tried (unsuccessfully) to pass the duty on to her step brother. He was not having it. In his defense, he was in the basement and might as well had blinders and earphones on as he was at the computer. This left me to answer and I immediately feel into that trap again of squealing with delight at the sweetest costume dressed kiddies that echoed "trick or treat" in unison as I opened the door widely. Love it when they get excited to see your "stash" of goodies. I always try and offer a wide variety. Now, if you come late at night this offer is null and void as pickings get slimmer as the night progresses and I turn the light off after 9 PM. Most kids would rather bypass my house because I have 15 steps that require your effort to obtain that sweet treat so your chances of having five choices of chocolate or sugar coated candies is pretty good. :-) Once you have walked those 15 steps, I assure you I will reward your effort with lots of candy! I generally try and give 3-4 items. I have had parents tell me that their child only needs 1 piece. Say what? Not happening on my watch. I will tell you that it is better to give it out than see me sitting on my love seat eating said candy from the gigantic pumpkin basket it sits in at 10 PM as I channel surf for any mind numbing tv sitcom. Trust me on this people. The point of my rant is, I am generous with Halloween candy.
Moving on, it's Thursday and am I ever happy to share my first Halloween card for this year. I cut into my Authentique papers to create my card for Aud Sentiment's challenge, " Card for a Girl". Our sponsor is Di's Digi's Download's and I used the little rock chic.

I think she is the sweetest! Love her little skeleton ribbons.

For this card, I did some sewing which of course meant I had to distress because I can't sew a straight line to save my life. Another embarrassing thing I admitted. I layered the music notes paper on a white card base and then sewed around the edges. A strip of the harlequin with the "Noteables Front" die cut was stapled with my tiny attacher and then purple pearls from Queen & Co were added to accent. The tiny sticker at the bottom is also from the "Glowing" paper line.

BTW, I want some of those awesome stockings she is wearing in my size. :-)

Thanks for stopping by my little blog and making me so lucky to have a reader!

Challenges I would like to enter my card into:

Aly' Sunday Challenges: #45 Halloween

Charisma Cardz: #35 Anything Goes

The Crafty Pad: #136 Distressing & Tearing

Forever Night Challenge: #6 Too Cute To Spook

My Craft Spot: #23 Stitching

Wednesday Thoughts

2011-08-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hey there! It's Wednesday and I have a few items to share today. We are experiencing absolutely beautiful weather here in Virginia. I would say well deserved after an earthquake and tropical storm in one week. My favorite part of the week thus far has been driving to work while listening to Cowboy Mouth as loud as I want with the windows down. Instant dryer for my hair! :-)

Here's a card made for Penny's latest challenge which is based on this photo. That's Glitterbabe's, Cloumbian Daisy digi image you see floating atop the bright papers. I used more of that great Cooredination's cardstock I mentioned earlier this week. I distressed the edges to give a softer appeal with a nail file. The pattern papers are Lush(polka dot) and TPC (Boho Blooms). I adore my SP& Company bold sentiment set as you can tell because I used it again for this card today. :-)

Challenges I would like to enter this card into:
Bearly Mine: #18 Flowers, flowers, flowers
Creative Card Crew: Anything Goes
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges: #41 Anything Goes
Heart Song Inspirations: #13 Anything Goes
Paper Creations Ink:#7 Show Us Your flowers

I was in a envelope swap recently hosted by Teresa and my partner, Shawn, sent me these items:

For this swap you send 1 partner a regular size (3 5/8 x 6 1/2 white) mailing envelope filled with mystery items!

And with the contents of the envelope you receive from your swap partner, you must incorporate that into making a project!
Think ATC-Tag-Bookmark-Postcard,Alter a Mini Book,Journal Page etc.

Thank you Shawn for a great variety of items! Here's a card I made for this week's Crafty Creations using three or ore punches/die cuts:

and a tag:

This swap was a lot of fun!

Challenges I would like to enter my tag in:
Creative Craft Challenges: Just Charming
Crop Stop: #34 Anything Goes

Okay, off to work I go! Have a great day!

Hello Friend for Elizabeth Mae

2011-08-29T06:36:00.000-05:00

I want to share with you another card today. It turned out much better than I ever expected. Anyone have this when creating? I was really unsure about the colors because not my fave but I was determined to try them and I managed to create a really lovely card. I might add this to my top ten cards.

It's a new Elizabeth Mae design. I recently rediscovered my Coordinations cardstock. I was avoiding the whitewash stack because not sure about using. Silly me. I guess sometimes you have to sit on things to think it through and I will say this was in my collection for a bit. I almost gave it away but then something made me stop. I colored the fairy in with my Copics and cut her out. She is popped up on with foam dimensions on a mat of gold corrugated cardstock and a glitter punched border. I stamped the sentiment with my SP & Co Bold Sentiment Set I on SU's sage shadow using chocolate chip ink. I hand stitched the top and bottom of the corrogated piece with sage shadow thread. I stamped on a few flourishes on the whitewash cardstock using an Autumn Leaves stamp and SU's sage shadow ink. Lots of that color! The tiny postcard strip if from Making Memories. I couldn't throw a bit of that paper away. Glad I kept it. The soft colors went perfectly with this. Finally I added a few buttons.

Challenges I would like to enter this card into:

Cardmad Fairy: #15 Digi and buttons

Case Study: #54 Your style

Creations by Gill M: #14 Anything that Flies

***Enter my giveaway! Read all about it here!***

One last vacation for Paper Playtime August Stamping Monday Challenge

2011-08-29T02:01:00.000-05:00

It's the last vacation card I am squeezing in for the season. Sadly, I am back to work so my Summer is officially over. I guess I shouldn't type sadly, I have a job and I do like what I do.
At Paper Playtime we are asking for you to share your vacation card/project for our August Stamping Monday challenge. We changed things up a bit so want to give you the new details of how to play along.
Make a project with the theme of VACATION using a Stamped or Digi Image/Sentiment. Easy Peasy! So for all you Cricut Lovers out there – you can still play along by adding a STAMPED sentiment. And for all you DIGI Lovers out there – use any Digi image or sentiment on your project.
You can enter as many times as you'd like as long as all your entries are NEW projects and NO backlinks to previous blog posts.
My card:

I used this adorable Bugaboo image, Isabella, for my card. The base is kraft cardstock and then I matted a piece of Bazzill with rounded corners on the top. I cut a yellow sunflower doily because it was sitting in drawer unused and unloved. It was screaming to be free. I know you may be thinking, why a sunflower? Well, why not? LOL! I colored Isabella in with Copics and then did a water color background. I added real sand at her feet. That's a natural twine that I love and have used on so many cards as you may have noticed. :-) The sentiment is from a Anna Griffin journaling tag, I cut it down.

I hope you will join us for the challenge! Thanks for stopping by!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Craft Us Crazy: #15 Anything Goes
My Sheri Crafts: #67 Vacation
Papercrafting Journey: #17 Anything Goes
The Paper Variety: #48 Vacation
Totally Gorjuss: #95 As You Like It
Wags n Whisker's: #61 Outdoor Fun

***There's still time to enter my giveaway! You can read all the details about it here! ***

Eeek! 500 Posts Giveaway!

2011-08-24T20:00:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I have stuck with this! Over 500 posts about my card/altered art obsession mixed with stories of my daughter, autism, and general life situations. Many of you have been there to see me my progression from the start and I thank you so very much! Boy, my blog has transformed tremendously. I must admit it's still not what I want completely, but sometimes I find myself getting too carried away with details here which takes away from my creative time.
As many of you know, I have just returned from my vacation in Europe and I want to share a few of my amazing finds with you! I scoured flea markets in Nice, Paris, and Marsielle to discover hidden treasures in boxes set up on the streets. I must admit, Paris had the most diversity.
Upon returning to the states, I worked on some kits to complete. This kit I am offering one lucky winner is a mostly vintage with a splash of new. If you love vintage then this giveaway is for you!

This everything in the kit!

This shows the papers, various empherma, muslin, lace, and seam binding.

This includes the stamp set, 5 pack of pigment inks, Paris book board covers, a package of Queen & Co pearls, a Jelly Roll glitter pen, Martha Stewart glitter alphabet stickers, a Tombow tape dispenser, 2 rolls of decorate tape, and a small vial of vintage glitter.

A photo of what's inside the bowl. Includes: vintage floss, thread, Paris picks, blue and white flags, vintage buttons, clock faces, charms, heart shaped clips, brass handle, Prima flowers, binder rings, and more!

So how can you win this? Easy! This giveaway is open to everyone in any country!

1. Leave a comment on this blog post.

2. Post about my giveaway on your blog with a link back to mine

You can use the blinkie on the right if you like!

3. Become a follower if you aren't already.

You have until Sept. 4th to enter. I will draw a winner on Sept. 5th and announce the winner on my blog!

Thank you for joining in!

New Release Day at Elizabeth Mae

2011-08-24T16:03:00.000-05:00

Hey! It's me again! I am excited to share with you the newest releases for Elizabeth Mae Designs. If you leave a comment, you are entered to win a free digi of your choice! So hop on over there and comment away! :-)

Now most of you will know that this is so not my usual style. I am trying to shake it up and use different images because I tend to stick to the familiar. When DeNetra sent this to me, I was determined to use it in a unique way. I hope you like. This is Surprised Fairy Too and I colored her with Copics. Then I matted it on black for a little extra pop. Next I added some pattern papers (Creative Paper, EP, and Sass Lass), did a touch of stitching, tied a ribbon to form a bow and then adhered the image. The journaling tab was added with a glittered chipboard oval and some brads in baby blue for color. The sentiment is actually two different stickers I added. Then lots of Prima sprinkle flowers with Stickle Platinum centers for more sparkle appeal. I did add a touch of glitter to her wings as well.

I hope you like!

Challenges I would like to enter this in:

Corrosive Challenges:#130 Girlie

Designed 2 Delight: Anything Goes

Fussy & Fancy: 3 or more favorite embellishments (ribbon, buttons,chipboard, brads, floss, and flowers)

Hooked on Crafts: #6 Wings

Papercrafting Journey: #17 Anything Goes

Pixie Dust Studios: #88 A tween teen's dream

♥

Birthday Greetings For Her and Him

Hooray for you!

Sympathy Cards featured on SRM Blog today

I can hear you!

Monday Love and giveaway winner announced!

Monster Love for you!

Paper Playtime Blog Hop

Love You Girl!

Vintage Inspired Sympathy

Hugs and Kisses

Oh my! I have more exciting news!

God's Love

Brrr! It's Cold!

Exciting News!

A sweetheart of a snowman and winner from blog hop

Joy Jar ♥

Penguin's are cool for national bird day

Sentimental Sundays Blog Hop with a giveaway!

Cheers to a New Year!

Be Merry!

Altered Snowflakes

DOUBLE Valentine

Winner of Thankful Giveaway!

Your Phone's Ringing!

Me again! With a big wish!

Warm Wishes Elf Kaylee for Penny's

Rudolph's here!

Santa Claus is coming!

Simple Thank You's

Simple Joy Ornament

Peace snowflake

A very thankful giveaway!

A Season of Thanks

Happy Turkey Day!

Peanut butter and jelly for me!

Pilgrim Thanks

Cameo santa

Sweetness!

Double header Monday

Trick or Treat for Paper Playtime!

Speedy Recovery

Kitty Cat Halloween

Autumn Blessings

Holiday Birthday

Buttons and Bows

It's a Heavenly Day!

Thanks to good hearts like you!

Celebrate Fall

Halloween Projects Galore

A little love goes a long way

Paper Playtime #57 Challenge and Guessing Game

Sew Special

Enjoy Today!

Birthday Time

2 more from me!

Paper Playtime's Halloween Challenge

Wednesday blah!

Just be happy

Craft Your Passion's First Blog Hop!

Shabby Get Well Soon

A Pumpkin For You!

Another post from me today!

Awesome

Blog Giveaway Winner!!!

A birthday for Emma Mermaid

Craft Your Passion

The Classy vs. the Classless

**Note! I am a generous with Halloween candy!**

Wednesday Thoughts

Hello Friend for Elizabeth Mae

One last vacation for Paper Playtime August Stamping Monday Challenge

Eeek! 500 Posts Giveaway!

New Release Day at Elizabeth Mae

Note! I am a generous with Halloween candy!