Celebrate

Hey all!  Hope you are having a fabulous week thus far.  I am back this Tuesday to share a birthday card with you.

I used some more Teresa Collins papers for this and pulled out a few stamps.  Lots of stitching and distressing too.
Challenges for this card:
Card Patterns: # 79 sketch
Corrosive Challenge: #77 "Faux Technique"
Cute Card Thursday: #127 "Dieing for a Punch"
One Stop Crafts: #95 "How Sentimental"
Stamps R Us: #3 "Stitching"
Stampin' Insanity: #SISC24" "Lace it Up-Stitching"
Sweet Stampin' Challenge: #41 "Distressed Birthdays"


Thanks for stopping by!

As for my house

Hey! I'm back after a few days off. It was nice to get away with the family but packing for short trips is not so fun. I feel like we took a quarter of the house for 2 days.
Today I got right down to working because I officially start back to work tomorrow. Eeeeeeeekkk!
I stopped by 2 scrapbook stores on the way home. I drove my car for this exact reason. My car makes stops at crafty stores.:-) Simon's not so much. It has be on the way and a bookstore or music store  next door for him to consider the stop. I had never visited the one in Williamsburg, VA  and was  excited to see what they had. Lots of stamping supplies and loads of Hero Arts. I was very good and controlled my spending.   The whole family camped out at the back cropping table while I looked about. :-) Thankfully I stopped at the Sonic prior to so they couldn't complain about being thirsty.
It was the second store that always gets me.    I had to buy the new Teresa Collins papers.  I managed to refrain from buying every piece and  walked out with only 10 pieces. :-) I actually felt very good about that. I am like the crazy lady in the store talking to myself about which papers I must have and examining to see if some don't look so great mixed with other items. Please tell me someone else does this? I feel like my obsession with paper is beyond controllable. It literally incaptivates me on the drive home as I think of how I will use my new papers.   
My card for today uses two  new Cutting Cafe files. The houses are from  the Welcome Home file and the bible verse is Joshua 24:25 printable stamp set.  The Welcome Home set is huge and has some adorable images and fun sentiments.  Be sure to check it out!  I must ask, is this image blurry or do I need to get reading glasses?  I know everything is tilted slightly because I can't hold a steady hand to save my life.
 

I made this card for the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge: #9 "Anything Goes"

Etsy Inspired: #103 "The Caged Fairy"  I used this photo for inspiration how cool is that felt hat with orange feather?

Get Sketchy: #53 sketch

Other Lovelies: #24 "A" with focus on beginning of bible verse

Raise the Bar: #33 "The Hut" (houses)

Sentimental Sundays: #18 "Clean and Simple" this is as simple as I get :-)

Stampin' for the Weekend: #45 "Anything Goes"

Treehouse Thursday Challenge: #64 "Fall Colors"

and a big thank you to Stella and Monique for these awards!  Thank you ladies! :-)

Stella gave me this beautiful  award:

and

Melissa sent me this super sweet award:

Along with this award I have to say things I ♥ about myself:

1. being J's Mom

2. family

3. having my health, home, and freedom

and I have to share a  favorite picture  which currently is:

Now I get pass Stella's to 10 people and Melissa's to 5, but I  want to pass it on to everyone that visits my blog.  I feel so blessed to have your visit and kind words that uplift me each day.  It is you that deserves this award because you have brought me sheer joy and happiness.  Thank you for this! 

Brrr in the Summer?

Okay, maybe it's not for real but the image invokes a snowy day with the mittens, scarf, hat, and hot cocoa.  Hopefully we won't have one of these for a while.
This is my last card for Charisma Cardz as a guest designer.  :-( The term was for the month of August and sadly this is the last week.  Can you believe it? 
Things will probably be so crazy for me next month since 3 of us are adjusting to school schedules. 
My daughter had her high school orientation today.  What?  I am still in shock that she will be in 9th grade.  I know in some districts high school is 10-12.  Not here.  She will  have the wonderful 5:30 AM mornings since she has to catch the bus at 6:30 AM.  Ughhh!  That's torture for me too!  I have to get her up and some mornings it's a real battle.  Good times.  :-)  We are going to simulate a couple of days next week to prepare because I envision this is going to be a rough transition.  I took  her to the program at school today and I was as nervous as she was.  I had flash backs to those first days in high school.  I was literally scared.  Except I don't recall an orientation to walk us through the building and see where everything is beforehand.  I think we were given a map of the three levels and our schedule.  Thankfully hers is only two, but they do enforce a one way hall on the bottom level because there are so many students.  I guess it will prepare her for driving.  Eeekkkk!  No no no!  Let's not explore that path. 

As mentioned, this card was made with the Charisma Cardz Challenge of Hot Hot Hot! in  mind.  This week our sponsor  is Pink Cat Studio.  They sell super cute rubber and digital stamps.  They have a free digital image here and a  super tutorial on how to print if you need assistance. 

For my card, I printed on white card stock and colored in with watercolor pencils.  I kept the card simple because I wanted to keep the focus on the image since he is a cutie.  I added a little bit of Martha Stewart twine and a large button to embellish.  Sometimes simple is so nice.  :-)

My card is for the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz Challenge: "Hot Hot Hot!" Hot Cocoa

Just Scraps:#18 "Fussy Cutting" Image was cut out

Papertake Weekly:"3-2-1" 3 card stocks, 2 embellishments, and 1 pattern paper

Stampin' for the Weekend:#45 "Anything Goes"

Stamp Something:"Digi Day"

Thank you so very much for stopping by!  I appreciate your visits!

Remember this

It seems like every time I remind myself to never forget a moment I am experiencing, I can't recollect the exact details of said moment.  I think my memory is fading.  I guess it happens.  I can remember the sensory aspect usually but not the precise words.  My daughter has an eidetic memory and can recite things upon hearing once.  It's pretty amazing.  Many people with Autism have this ability.  It's outstanding to me but, I suppose it has it's downfalls.  Like if you see or hear something not so desirable.  Or when  I forget my exact words but she remembers them and can share  with me verbatim.  For instance, telling her that we are making three stops to A, B, and C, and then forgetting one place I need to go as well and trying to tack it on.  Not happening.  It's a rigorous schedule we uphold or else there is much back flap to endure.  She keeps me on track for sure. :-)  She's great for grocery store trips because she remembers what is needed.  Love that!  But on to my card.
I am back on this Wednesday to share this:

I used lots of scraps on this card. Bernie is hosting the Crafty Creations Challenge this week which is a 3 2 1 recipe.  3 pattern papers, 2 ribbons, and 1 charm.  I also added a burgundy punched circle to highlight the butterfly.  I used a teal brad to secure the charm on the  butterfly. The butterfly stamp is Autumn Leaves and the sentiment is Studio Calico.  I used Stampin Up's Old Olive and Bravo Burgundy inks.  A fun card to make.   I took into mind JUGS color challenge of lime green, hot pink, and teal which I found on the scrap of Daisy D's paper.  Love this paper and this is the last of it.  I added K & Co. for the bottom part and the border punch is October Afternoon paper.  The ribbons were scraps. as well and then I wrapped some twine around  and tied off with a button.  All done!
The challenges for this card:

Crafty Creations: #82  "3 2 1 Recipe"
Craft Your Days Away: #2 "With Wings"
JUGS: #47 "A Color Challenge
Paper Cutz: #55 "Anything Goes"
If the Shoe Fits: #44 "Metal on Your Project"

Happy Wednesday to you!  Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, Monday

Hey there! What a beautiful day! We have temps in the 80's. Yeah! I finally washed my car after weeks of it being covered in filth. I wanted to wash it sooner but the weather has been temperamental. Every time I wanted to wash it, the forecast threatened rain.  We did have storms  several days but  today I bit  the bullet  and washed it.  Now if we could have a few days without rain. Oh wait. I am house sitting for someone so maybe not. That means I have to go water the plants. :-(  

A big surprise for me yesterday when I saw my card was the winner of the COTW  at 2S4Y!  I am still reeling with delight.  :-)  This card today is based off of Laura's sketch for the week.  I also added TSTR's "a little metal" challenge.  Lots of eyelets and  a rhinestone brad.  I was happy to see this challenge because I needed to use those neglected metal pieces in my stash. 

I made this as a thank you for Amy Heller.  I won a HUGE box of yumminess from her blog recently and she sent me almost everything I used on this card.  Lots of cardstock, chipboard, stamps, lace, ribbon, etc.  It was 13 pounds of happiness!  I am still going through and ohhing and ahhing.  I see something I missed each time.  This card uses lots of Crate Paper.   A line my LSS doesn't seem to carry much of so I was thrilled to receive it. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate it! 

There's a Spider

on  my couch and I won't sit on it till I know it's gone.  Last night, I was catching up on blogs while sitting on said couch when I saw a shadow of something creepy and fast  go by out of the corner of my eye.  I jumped off the couch and turned on the overhead lights to see it scurry to the right arm of  the sofa.  Eeekkkkkk!  My DF (darling fiance)  thinks it's ridiculous that I am frightened of a spider.  I reminded him that I was bit less than two months ago by a spider and the scar is there to prove.  It was not a joyous event.  I was achy and the bite swelled up to the size of an egg.  It was itchy.  Shudder.  Pure disgusting!  Anyone else think spiders are not cool inside your house?  I am freaked out.  I happened to have the slipcover to the sofa in the washer so it was not tainted with it's ickiness.  I know it's a tad extreme but I prefer to know the tenants in my household.  Needless to say, I have NOT sat on that couch today because I am petrified it will come out.  It probably is long gone.  I am checking every place I sit or  sleep in the mean time. 
I want to thank everyone for the well wishes and thoughts on Thursday.  As mentioned, funeral or memorial services are never a "fun" event to attend.  I went to support my daughter and my ex husband.  His father was very ill and although he had a medical directive requesting to be taken off of life support, it's not easy to let a loved one go. My prayers and thoughts continue for them during this difficult time. 
As mentioned to me, life continues on even when others may not be by our side.  We must be comforted in the thought that they are watching us and we will one day be reacquainted. 
Now for my card because I don't want to be a downer.

This card is for the following challenges:

Card Patterns: #78 sketch

City Crafter Challenges: #18 "Isn't She Lovely"

Creatalicious Challenges: #18 vintage

Supplies used:

cardstock: Recollections

pattern paper and ribbon: Fancy Pants

sticker: SRM

button: Foofala

twine: Martha Stewart  green baker's

ink: Stampin' Up So Saffron

image:craft supply

Thank you for stopping by!

Friends

Hey! Not going to be the cheeriest of days for me since I have a memorial service to attend. I know that these are never a good thing for anyone. :-(
This card was made  using Fancy Pants papers.  I am digging the vintage appeal of it .  I trimmed a die-cut paper piece and  matted on the vanilla cream cardstock.  The red piece is a die cut label that is kinda hard to see now with all the embellishments.  I added a American Crafts chipboard butterfly and then a punched a small butterfly from a Martha Stewart punch for the top.  I pulled out a past favorite punch for the decorative border on the Bazzill pink.  The stamped sentiment is from Unity and I used Stampin' Up's Old Olive ink pad.  I accented with some buttons, flowers, lace, and a rhinestone. 

The weekly challenge at Charisma Cardz is to use die-cuts.  You should see what  others created for the challenge!  Lots of inspiration.  Plus there's 2 prizes to be won! 

I used Kazan's 2S4Y sketch.

The Shabby Tea Room challenge is a gorgeous picture with floral, roses, pinks, fuchsias and I based my card off this. 

The Cupcake Craft Challenge is 2 papers, 2 ribbons, and 2 flowers.  I used 2 pieces of pattern paper and cardstock, 2 ribbons/lace, 2 flowers, 2 buttons, 2 butterflies.  I got a little 2 crazy.  :-) 

If the Shoe Fits...Scrap It! challenge  is die-cuts.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hello!

Hey there!  I am sharing a card that started out very CAS and then turned into a little more.  I truly don't think my style is CAS as much as I try.  I keep adding things.  It's just impossible to have a flat card.  The more lumps and bumps, the better.  :-) 
I used some new Sassafras  Lass papers, Indie Girl which I adore!  This line is soft and subtle.  Very shabby so I just had to buy it. 
I mixed in some Fancy Pants lace, American Crafts buttons, and punched pink butterflies with a Martha Stewart punch .  The  sentiment is a stamp by Amy Butler  stamped on Bazzill vanilla cream cardstock.  I placed Kaiser Craft pearls on the butterfly bodies to accent. Finally, I did a little bit of stitching in the top right corner. 
The theme for this week at  Crafty Creations:#81 butterfly challenge.  Jeanet   is hosting this week's challenge and  Simon Says is giving the winner  a $20 gift certificate to their shop!  They sell stamping and paper supplies so there are lots of great items.  Pop on over to the Crafty Creations blog to get your "butterfly" project in for the win! 
Also couldn't forget to mention that I used the fabulous sketch from Card Patterns to make this.   You know how I love their sketches so!  :-) 

Back to School

Hey! The days are passing us by in August. Half way through already. Where did it go? I blinked in July and August was here.
This is a Cutting Cafe file Regina made recently entitled, Rain Boots.  I copied the wellie boot onto Junkitz pattern paper and added a little ink to the edges.

All the pattern papers are Junkitz, who are sadly not in business any more.  I used Recollections black for the card base and red for the bottom of the wellie.  I added a ribbon scrap with a button  at the top of the boot and then a few green stitches to accent the handmade frame I cut from the ruler print paper.  I punched a  blue star print circle and mounted a chipboard piece to it a long with a pinch of ribbon and itty bitty yellow button.   

Challenges for this card:

OCC: Back to School

Paper Cutz Challenge: #54 Back to School

Paper Playtime: #11 School Days

The Sisterhood of Crafters: Back to School

Thanks for stopping by!

We have a winner!!!

As promised I am back with the winner of the Cutting Cafe All About School file.
True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 46

Result:

34

                                                          Powered by RANDOM.ORG
                                                    
                                                                       and that is:

Lillian Child!

I still haven't figured out how to copy and paste the entire box but hope this will suffice. Thanks for all the lovely comments!  They truly made my week. 
                                         Please email me Lillian so I can send you the file! 

Hi!

Hey there!  Hope you are having a wonderful Saturday!  It's overcast here but thinking it would be a great day for the pool.  After all, not many weekends left before Labor Day.  Eek! 
My card today features lots of Lush papers.  Lush they are indeed!  I received a huge stack a while back from North Ridge Media for a card that was published and I rediscovered the pile after cleaning up.  I think it would be cool to wallpaper a room with all the papers I have.  Okay maybe not.  But seriously I could probably wallpaper a room- make that an entire floor of my house easily with the paper collection I have.  It's ever growing despite my wants to try and dwindle it down.  I am gearing up to donate a boatload of cards to a  nursing home.  If anyone knows of another charity that takes cards (with glitter and bling) please let me know.  I want to donate to a good cause and sitting in a drawer at my home is useless.  I hope to create a smile on some one's face with the creations I have made. 

Challenges for this card:

2S4Y: # 58 sketch

CPS: #179 sketch

Etsy Inspired: #101 Inspired by Lovers Dovers apron seen here

Fab -n- Funky: use favorite colors

Thanks for stopping by!

Thinking of You using a label as inspiration

I am a bit somber today but wanted to share a card I made a good friend of mine.  I "upcycled" this label from a bottle of pinot noir because I loved the image.  I managed to get it off the bottle pretty nicely considering it was stuck on with adhesive remover.  I placed it on a piece of cardstock for well keeping and then I forgot about it for a couple of weeks.  Oops.  I have a habit of putting things away in drawers and "forgetting" them.  I looked for it but was unable to locate it and finally gave up.  Then last night I opened the  drawer, there it  lay on top and I could practically hear the "ahhhhhhh" singing from a full gospel choir when I spotted it.  So I went to work.

I used Card Pattern's #76 sketch and TSTR's "Reflections" challenge.  TSTR's theme is highlighted with this photo:

A gorgeous scape to glaze upon.  I like the mixture of silver, wrought iron, and distressed candle sticks.  Also the light shimmers from vanilla candles.  So much inspiration I found and tried to recapture in my card.  I went with a monochromatic color palette, a few metal highlights, soft flowers to represent the branches shown, glittered chipboard heart for the mirror, and a soft organdy ribbon for the candle flickers.  I used an older polka dot stamp with white Staz-On for the bottom of the card.  The sentiment is by Amy Butler.  I hope you like!

Oh and the wine was rather tasty!  :-)

Travel

Hey there! I'm back with an easel fold card.

This week's Charisma Cardz Challenge was to create an easel card. My first time making one. I see them everywhere on the net and have wanted to try myself. I loaded up the top part of my card with lots of ephemera which I love! My favorite things are flowers, pieces of fabric, and bling! I also finally used a PSX stamp set that has never been inked. I am talking like years it's been waiting. The horror. I know, bad hoarder I am.

Challenges for this card:
Charisma Cardz Challenge: #32 Easel Card
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge: #35 "Anything Goes"
A Crafty Little Place:#51 "Tags"
CYDA:#1 "Favorite Things"

Thanks for stopping by!

Little Ducky

Happy Wednesday! This card is a "Z" fold card I made for the Crafty Creations Challenge #72 with a cute little duck image from Robyn's Fetish digital stamps who is sponsoring this week. I printed the duck on October Afternoon papers and filled in his beak and legs as well as highlighted his feathers to accent. The entire time I was working on this card I was singing, "Rubber Ducky" from Sesame Street. I think I listened to that 1,000 times when my daughter was younger. The lyrics are forever etched in my memory. A very sweet memory for me. :-) I used Creatively-Green recycled cardstock for the base. The "little ducky" sentiment is from The Cutting Cafe set, Rain Rain Go Away. By the way, don't forget to enter my give a way here for a Cutting Cafe file.

Card created for the following challenges:
Crafty Creations: #79 "Winged Things and "Z" fold card
Daring Cardmakers: "Peridot"
My Time to Craft: # 102 "Farm Fever"
KAH-Wink-E-Dink: "Digital Image"
Clearly Inspired: #16"Cute and Fuzzy"
Rosie-D's Challenge: #77 "More Than One Fold"

Hello

Hey there! I'm back with a cute and girlie card today. My dear friend Pam sent me a box of goodies last month that I wanted to dive into. I love that pink wood grain paper she sent me. Must find more because I love it! The floral print is by Sass Lass, rub-on is American Crafts, ribbon is a scrap and rhinestones are Darice. I used my embossed scallop border punch by EK Sucess.


Challenges for this card:
Get Sketchy: sketch #50
Creative Card Crew: cute and girlie
Cute Card Thursday: whatever

That's it for me today.

A little news and a giveaway!

Happy Sunday to you! I am excited because today I get to share some news. I was asked to join the design team of Crafty Creations Challenge. So excited! Check it out here!

My card tonight was so fun create! I used two Cutting Cafe files to make it. The pencil shaped card template which I copied onto October Afternoon papers and white cardstock. I colored in the lead tip and the metal band that goes around the base of pencil. I also added a pink bubblegum eraser. The blackboard, apple, and sentiment are from the All About School set.

On to the giveaway! Regina from The Cutting Cafe has generously allowed me to give one lucky winner a digital file of my choice! The set I chose is All About School since it was one I used to make my card. Here's a snippet of the file:





A brand spanking new file with 38 digital images and sentiments. Can't you envision all the adorable cards/scrapbook pages you could make using this file?

How can you win?

Simply leave me a comment on this post by August 13th 11:59 PM EST. I will select a random winner and announce the winner's name on my blog August 14th.

Thank you for coming by!

Adore You

Happy Saturday to you! I truly hope you are having a fabulous day! I am going to do a quick post because I have DD waiting on me. I used a lot of MME's So Sophie papers for this. I love the patterns and thickness of their paper. The new lines look like a must have for me as well. I can't resist Halloween papers and the Blackbird line is amazing! Did anyone else notice that they pictured both Blackbird and Haunted as the same? Not that will deter me one iota. :-)
Okay ,so this card has a green flocked bird from the Lush line which is also MME. I told you I like their paper. ;-)
I used the Kazan's sketch from 2S4Y this week. Just squeaking by with my entry. Also, a big thanks for selecting this card for the fab 5 last week! I was grinning ear to ear!

Thinking of You

Hey there! Back to share a little GCD Studios goodness. This card uses several Lydia papers.

I used Card Patterns sketch # 75. Can you tell I am addicted to their challenges? It's the first thing I check on Saturday's. The unique sketches draw me in.

I made the flower myself which is the Craftalicious #5 challenge.
I fussy cut the flower out and then added some depth by creating a center using more pattern paper that I curled up and distressed. I added a yellow button for the center and some Lace Stickles to jazz it up.

At Crafts and Me the purple and green challenge was too tempting to pass up. :-)

and that's it for me. I promise for the night!

Charimsa Cardz Challenge

My first post as a guest designer for Charisma Cardz ! This week's card challenge is all about "Teddy Bears" and the design team has incredible examples to share with you using this classic toy. Hard to not love a teddy bear. Click here to see the fabulous designs and enter your card to win a Simons Says Stamps gift voucher or 4 digis from Sassy Studio Designs. Notice there are 2 companies listed? That's because there are 2 prizes!

Here's my card:

Supplies: cardstock: Recollections; pattern paper: October Afternoon; digital image: Wendy; clear stamp: Hero Arts; ink: black;ribbon: Crafty Creations; button: craft supply; floss: DMC white

Hope to see your card there!