Wednesday Thoughts

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! 

One last vacation for Paper Playtime August Stamping Monday Challenge

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!

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

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

Quit Your Whinin'

Hey there everyone.   The girls and I made it back home late yesterday after the earthquake struck in our area.  Such a rare occurrence here in the DC area and it shook up a lot of people.  Last night we had an aftershock of 3.8 which was considerably less than the original.  Is anyone else just as terrified of all these natural disasters happening?  Irene is picking up strength and is expected to be our in area by Sunday but thousands are  being evacuated along the coast.   I am saying a prayer that this hurricane turns out to sea and only brings us rain.  Please bring us something good.  I read a comment online from a man who asked what's next?  Locusts?  It certainly seems fitting. 
My Crafty Creations  card for today:

When I was growing up, my father used to say," Quit your whinin' or I'll give you something to whine about."  I am LOL thinking about this but at the time it was not appreciated at all.  Now, this little fella looks like he would cause you to have a bigger concern if you don't stop the whinin'  He's from Digis with Attitude.    I choose to keep him nice and orange.  I guess he's not a Maryland blue crab.  Since I just came from South Carolina, it seems more fitting.  I didn't eat one crab while there.  I used to love to pick crabs but now the work is too tedious.  I know, lazy huh? 

I used Sassafrass and Echo Park papers.  The bingo and grid is Sass.  The polka dots are EP.  I punched a black scallop border with my EK Success punch and embellished with a few buttons.  The rub-on is Wordsmith.  I love those and I can't find them anywhere now.  I bought them, are you ready? when Recollections was a store.  Yep.  They had a really great selection.  It was a sad day when they closed.  Please come and join us for the challenge!

Challenges for this card:

Card Patterns: #129  Sketch

Cards for Men: #17 Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion: #72 Snarky, Sarcastic, Funny Sentiments

Lollipop: #45 Make it Masculine

Top Tip Tuesday: Masculine Card

Thanks for looking!

*** My huge giveway is here!  ***

Pure Joy

Happy Monday to you!  This post comes to live from the beach!  The girls and I are having a little down time before we gear up for the new school year but don't want to neglect my responsibilities while away so I am here to share with you my card for Elizabeth  Mae's Designs this week. 

We have a "Cute as a Button" theme so interpret as you may and come join us!  I used the Baby Girl Sidney because I thought she was as cute as button.  I didn't get the stamp with this sentiment in time so I am using a few rub-on's with lots of buttons.  :-)

I bought a  new Copic that matches this SU mint green paper.  I know they retired it but I have so much!  I used to love this color when I first started crafting.  The Copic color that matches it nicely is BG34.  So now you know,either buy it if you like it or steer clear if you don't .  LOL! 

I am still plugging away at my scraps.  The large gingham print (The Girls' Paperie) was cut and angled with a large scallop die cut that had print on it but I covered with a large circle (Paper Trey Ink) I punched out and added the round rub-on by combing "pure" and the word "joy".  I like cutting my rub-ons to make my own.    A tiny remanent of lace with buttons was added and then Sidney was popped up with foam dots.  Lastly, a few rhinestones and little line about fingers and toes was applied.  I stitched around the panel and applied to a white cardstock base. 

*****There's still time to enter my giveaway!  Read all about it here!*****

 Challenges I would like to add this card to are:
CardMadFairy's Digi Days: Buttons
Creative Belli: #124 Gingham
Fab'n'Funky: #86 A Stitch in Time
Ruby's Rainbow: #10 Stitching
The Paper Variety: Thread
Truly Scrumptious: #63 Lace it Up!

Simple Sunday card

Happy Sunday to you!  I am here to share my card for Sentimental Sundays.  Easy challenge this week: Birthday.  Can you ever have too many birthday cards?  I am getting quite the pile lately.  I need to hand some out.  :-)

This is a super simple card.  Seriously easy.  Just a panel of October Afternoon for the top, a beige oval, a digital sentiment from Digi My World that I colored in with Paint, with a red bow and button.  I distressed the image, oval, and panel with my Heidi Swapp distressing tool.  I keep forgetting about that.  I pierced around the sentiment to for a little extra texture and voila!  I think I could give this to man?  What do you think?

I hope you will join us in the challenge!  :-)

Designed 2 Delight: Anything Goes
One Stop Craft Challenge: #144 Bold and Bright
Paper Creator's Crafts: #5 Red & Blue

Live Fully Today: A project for Lessology

Today's venture is about upcycling.  I got the idea after seeing the Lessology post for a new DT member (read all about it here) with a focus on recycling. You can join in for a chance to become a member of this new design team.  This is so up my alley!  I am a hoarder  recycler of 95%  of the stuff that enters my home. Today, I am venturing into a new area: soap box canvases.  Have you seen this or tried it? Alma Stroller has a fabulous tutorial on her blog about these.  It's super easy and I love little things so it was right up my alley.  I took this

                                                                      and made this

I had so much fun creating this!  I think kids would enjoy it.  They can make a masterpiece to cherish. 

I followed Alma's directions except changed a few things up.  I covered my box completely and painted more.  I was having fun with the different colors.  I stamped my images on the original paper and then cut out and modge podged to the front.  I added some glitter to it before it dried. 

I stamped lightly with my House of Three stamps to add a few details.  I cut a small quote out to fit in my bracket which wraps around the corner.  I couldn't stop there though.  I needed some more stuff on it so I added lace, a big bling piece and a tiny button strung through a watch gear with hemp thread.  I added a few pearls and a large decorative bauble.

and of course a little something for the back!

and a close up of the top with the gear, button, hemp,and lace.

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed viewing and reading about this latest project of mine! Fingers crossed that I might have a chance to be on the new Lessology DT!  I love creating with recycled things and finding new purposes for them.  I think I would fit right in with the ladies.  Let's hope they think so.  :-)

 

When life gives you lemons and happy birthday

Happy Thursday to you and want to wish my sweetie a Happy Birthday!  I won't say his age but he's older than me.  :-)   I have my Aud Sentiments card for today.   Also wanted to let you know, we are having a design team call so if you are interested please check out the details here. 

For my card, I used more scraps.  This is Scribble Scrabble with a little Crate.  Whimsy Doodles is our sponsor this week.  I would say this is a simple card.  I covered a cardbase with the lemon and lime paper and then punched a small strip of the aqua paper. After coloring in the images with Copics, I cut out and added a little gold twine and button to complete the look.  Done!  :-)

This is short post because off to see what he would like to do!  Have a great day! and
   *****Please read about  my giveaway here!*****
Challenges for this card:
AI Factory: Anything Goes
Art Impressions Stamps: #28 Anything Goes
Craft Us Crazy: #15 Anything Goes
My Mum's Craft Shop: #19 Summer Time
PaperCrafting Journey: #17 Anything Goes
Simon Says: Food and Drink
Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central: Dog Days of Summer (used Copics)
Totally Papercrafts Challenge: #79 Food and Drinks

Wednesday Madness with a little faith

Wow!  I thought the last few weeks before school starts were going to be pretty relaxing but things are heating up!  I am going at full speed it seems and I am ready for a nap!  The best thing happened to me yesterday.  I had a doctor's appointment that was not the best because I have to go get some more tests completed before I elect to have the minor surgery I have put off for years.  So I decided to head to a nearby shopping center and take a gander at some new items to take my mind off the impeding doom I will face next week.  As I was walking up to the store, I saw a former student of mine with her mother.  It was  the greatest relief to see them and discover how things were going for them the last few months since school ended.  While talking with them, another student and his mother came out of the store so it was like a mini reunion!  What a blessing it was to me as I was feeling a bit sad.  I walked away thinking how quickly life changes and tickled that I was able to be a part off these people's lives.  What a glorious honor and the memories I have will always stay with me and keep me smiling.  It changed my whole outlook from doom and gloom to pure happiness.  As I type this, I am smiling because I do believe it was God's way of showing me everything will be alright.
Now let's head full speed into today's card! 
This week, DD's friend is turning 15.  She loves animals so I made this cute little card for her to celebrate her special day. 

My daughter really enjoys hanging out with her which is saying a lot since she is Autistic.  Her friend is also on the spectrum and she enjoys getting together with Jacquelynn to see plays, musicals, movies, eat dinner, etc.  I was so worried she would never reach this level of friendship.  In fact, next week I am taking both girls to the beach for a few days!  It's going to be such a hoot to see them together!  Another shining light I am so grateful for. 

This week Crafty Creations has a red, orange, and green theme.  Our sponsor, 2 Cute Rubber Stamps gave us images to create with I went for the rabbit because her friend loves to accessorize and she has a bow, flower, and heart.  I started by coloring her in with orange shades of copics and then hitting the bow, heart, and flower with reds.  I used warm greys to shade in the image, then cut out and placed on orange polka dot scrap paper with foam dots.  The papers are Imaginesce (red polka dot and floral), Sass Lass(green stripe), and October Afternoon (orange polka dot). I tied some orange twine around and tied with a button.  The sentiment is a SRM Sticker.  I keep forgetting I have these so when I pull them out, I go a little crazy using them.  It seems like my cards have all had a SRM Sticker on them lately.  More to come too!  :-) Hope you will join us for the challenge!

****Don't forget about my giveaway! You can read about it and enter here! ****

I would like to enter this card into these challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks: #50 Twine

Anything Goes: #47 Happy Birthday

Card Makin' Mama's: #26 Birthday Cards

CYDA: #26 Birthdays

Fabulous Friday: Animals

Try it on Tuesday: Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown: Non Stamped Sentiment (used sticker)

Thank you for stopping by!

Notes on the go

It's me again! Back for my second post of the day!  I have an envelope that I converted into a notebook.  I found these envies in Germany and bought a package because I like the material.  The color of the lopes is so light and then it has pieces of fiber you can see with a naked eye.  Or if you are like me, an eye covered with film so I can see properly.  ;-) 

This is the back of the envelope.  I am sharing so you can see the flap cause I used it for a secret compartment.  The challenge at Elizabeth Mae's this week is anything but a card.  Remember you don't have to use our images to play along!  Last week's contributors all got to choose 2 images each!  You never know how generous Ms. DeNetra will be, so join in to see!

I used the Naked Dress Form digi for my project today.  I seem to be using that word a lot today.  No worries, I am not a nudist.  So far from it you would probably laugh at me.  Anywho, my project began with a single envie that I folded in half.   I cut plain copy paper a little smaller than the envie and folded in half to make the pages  I stamped a ruler image on each page in various corners to add a little decor.  It was bound with hemp cord by punching two holes on the folded edge through the paper and threaded to make a bow.  Next, I covered the book with some Girl's Paperie and My Mind's Eye papers and punched a scallop border which I added brads to the center.  I colored the dress form, cut out, and then added a small flower and ribbon.  The lace was a scrap I had that I stitched down the middle for a little more contrast.  A few misc. rub-ons were added and then the word "notes" using Fancy Pants stickers. 

Here's the inside.

If you look carefully you can see the Top Secret flap which can store those little notes, receipts, etc. you may have.  That's an older 7 Gypsie stamp I have and always try to find uses for. 

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

****Don't forget about my giveaway! You can read about it and enter here! ****

Challenges I would like to enter my notebook in to are:

CES Challenges: #49 Mix n Match

Craft Your Passion: Anything but a Card

JUGS: #97 Alter a Notebook (hope making your own qualifies?)

Sew Many Challenges: #64 Use 3 or more brads

Back to school we shall go

but not today :-)  We still have a few more weeks of freedom.  I am sad it's coming to an end.  I love getting ready to go back to school and meet my new students but that means I am going to be unable to craft as much as I want .  I guess that's reality. 
I have a tag to share with you this Monday morning.  A sweet little tag that I plan on tying to my daughter's lunchbox to completely humiliate her.  What a great Mom huh?  Yeah.  I'm like that.  I believe it's a sweet gesture but a high school student thinks it's rather "uncool".  I think the days of me giving her a kiss good bye with a big hug in public are over.  I am just glad it lasted this long.  I will admit that in 8th grade, I begged my parents to drop me off around the corner for any event so no one saw that they drove me.  Looking back, that seems silly since no 13 year old can drive legally.  Can you tell I might have recaptured my mind?  LOL!

At Paper Playtime, we have an anything goes challenge for this Monday.  Our sponsor is Whimsie Doodles.  I chose the apple from School Goodies for my image and went to work.  After coloring it in with my Copics (seriously addicted to these!) I trimmed it up and layered on a white circle.  It needed a little something, so I stitched around it with green floss to add the pop of color.  I love my polka dots and thought it was a fun print to use with this.  The bottom border is a gcd Studios paper strip.  It's all mounted on a bright red cardstock tag that I made myself.  I found one of my daughter's old colored pencils and decided to attach it this tag with floss and a tiny star button.  The little first day sticker is from Junkitz. Yeah a blast from the past huh?   I added the '11 SRM sticker  so we could remember the year.  I plan on scribbling a little note on the back for DD. 

I hope you like and here's hoping you will come join us at Paper Playtime!

****Don't forget about my giveaway! You can read about it and enter here! ****

Challenges I would like to enter this card in:
Amber's Craft & Stuff: #22 Back to School **so sad to read this challenge blog is closing :-(**
Celebrate the Occasion: #25 Back to School
Creative Inspirations: #66 Back to School
Cupcake Inspirations: #123  Photo inspiration
Dutch Dare Card Challenge: #125 Back to School
Incy Wincy Designs: #106 Something old(pencil and tiny first day sticker)something new(image and floss)
Little Darlings Challenge: #5 Back to School

Thanks for stopping by!

Words

I just returned from Williamsburg and I am seriously having problems getting my thoughts together.  So please excuse me if I seem a tad incoherent.  It's nothing that a good night's rest can't cure.  :-)  Or maybe I just need to go back and stay a full week?  Nope, don't want to drive again. 

My card for this week's Sentimental Sunday's is..well... it's a scallop.  I did warn you!  I printed the sentiment (On Thoughts)directly to the die cut and then built around it.  I added a few strips of paper to start with and then just started layering!  I love being able to utilize those teeny pieces of paper and ribbon.  The large swirl at the top was a ripped piece for the large KI lace die cut paper.  I couldn't bare to throw it out because I knew it would be useful on a card or project.  Thankfully the color worked perfectly for this card.  I layered some Recollections flowers with a button center and colored the small flower on the sentiment in with my Copics and a little Stickles for sparkle.  A tiny pearl finishes the center.  The gummed tabs at the top have been hanging on in my draw begging to be utilized. I think these are a new fave of mine! I applied a small floral rub-on and more tiny pearls as a accent.  I then stitched them on because my tiny attacher was not thrilled to be cutting through the fabric and then layers of paper. 
****Don't forget about my giveaway! You can read about it and enter here! ****
Challenges I would like to enter my card in:
Crafty Ann's: Scallops or fancy borders
Crafty Pad: #134 Cute n' Girly
Digi Doodle Shop Challenges: #71 shaped card
Fussy & Fancy: #43 Use a lot of your favorite embellishment (pearls, rub-on's, tabs, and flowers)
I Did It Creations: #68 Different Shaped Cards
Poodles Parlor: Anything in the garden (flowers)
One Stitch at a Time: Anything Goes
Totally Gorjuss: #93 Round and round
 Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday is golf day

Hey there!  Are you excited it's already Wednesday?  I sure am!  We are heading out of town for a short get away to Williamsburg which will be so nice.  I didn't want to go at first but now, I am ready to get there.  I love walking through the cobblestone streets and admiring  all the colonials.  I hope the heat will let up  but what will happen is not in my hands.  :-) What about you?  Any plans for the weekend?

I have a golf birthday card for today. My FIL plays golf every Wednesday.  This card is for his upcoming birthday.  I won't give away the age but I can say it's only a number to him.  Gotta love that!    Our theme at Crafty Creations is male birthday along with this sketch.  Our sponsor is Delicious Doodles. 
I think it's widely know my ability to create masculine cards is not the greatest.  In fact, it's down right pathetic.  I try and stick with muted earth tones, basic embellishments like brads, buttons, twine, and eyelets and little layering.  For this card, I knew I needed to keep it flat for mailing purposes. I added stitching which I think is fine for a masculine card.

I used more scraps :-) and then the golf ball & tee image which I cut out and added to the card.  I wanted to show you what I did to give the golf ball some dimension.

First I added white dots with my white Unibal pen.  Then I applied grey ink with an eyeshadow brush to give slight definition.  The last step was to add glossy accents for the dimples you would see on a golf ball.  I thought this turned out rather well  Better than I projected when I started.   That's a SRM sticker for the sentiment. 

****Don't forget about my giveaway! You can read about it and enter here! ****

Challenges I would like to enter my card into:
A Spoonful of Sugar: #162 Happy Birthday
Anything Goes: #47 Birthday
Birthday Sundaes: #21 Birthday
Card Makin' Mama's: #26 Birthday
Craft Your Days Away: #26 Birthday Celebrations
One Stitch at a Time: #64 Use digi
Tuesday Throwdown: #61 Birthday

Thank you for stopping by!

For You

Hey there!  Did you have a good weekend?  I sure did!  I got down time which is always good!  My daughter was hibernating  err camped out in her room mostly. What are you going to do?  Teenagers.  I did get her to watch a movie with me.  Success!  It's been wacky weather.  One minute it's raining and then the next it's a  sunny moment.   Not complaining.  Love when it rains and waters the  crispy grass naturally.
Another Monday which means another Elizabeth Mae card for me to share with you!  This week I turned to vintage for a shabby chic approach to creating.  The challenge is to use only 2 colors! 

That was hard for me.  I know there is an extra little splash of green but the flower looked silly without a little leaf tucked in.  Neutrals don't count thankfully!  ;-) 

I pulled out a scrap of doily and was wondering how I could incorporate it into this design.  Truthfully, it was sitting on my desk and I was too lazy to put it way.  So it's been sitting here a bit begging for a home.  I did some fussy cutting on the banner and border which was easier than I expected.   In fact, once I did that I decided the image needed to be cut out as well.  I layered the card with my last bit of Creative Imaginations paper.  I am freaking because the Copics I used to color this image match that paper nicely and I am out!   I have to go on a search to find it.  The scallop was sent to me by a friend.  The ribbon also.  I have some awesome friends.  :-)  Well, I just remembered the flower too was sent to me!  I added a Making Memories paper flower under the beaded flower by cutting it down a bit.  The stamp is from CTMH.  I think pulled my dark ink Stickles out to add a few dabs of sparkle. 

****Don't forget about my giveaway!  You can read about it and enter here! ****

Challenges I would like to enter this card into are:

Digital Tuesday: #122 Doilies
Fabulous Friday: Coloring and  I used my Copics!
Gingerloft: #22 Make it Sparkle
Little Darlings Challenge: #4 Girly
Make It Colourful: #22 Colour with Pink
Our Daily Bread Designs: #71 Notions/Seamstress
Raise the Bar: #69 Anything Goes
Stamp, Scrap, & Doodle: Friendship

Thanks for stopping by!



Christmas in August

Hey and welcome to Christmas!  Okay, not really but I am pretending for today that's it Christmas because my card I have to share is themed after this holiday. 

At Aud Sentiments this week our challenge is a "Merry Christmas: card.  Our sponsor, The Stamping Boutique, graciously offered the design team images to work and I chose this cardinal.  It's Virginia's state  bird.   They are such a joy to see in the winter months.  I love spotting the bright red amidst bare trees or snow covered grounds.  The males are completely red.  Often they have a tad bit of orange mixed in.  I colored my cardinal in reds and  oranges then highlighted with some glitter.  I have to get my sparkle in somehow.  :-)

I used scraps again.  That pile is growing!  Not dimensioning as I had hoped!  I used a Bazzill swiss dot border under the American Crafts brown ribbon.  I punched an oval and then added some lace trim to give a Victorian touch.  The sentiment stamp is from SEI.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Card Patterns: #126 Sketch
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long: Gimme the bird
Clearly Inspired: #33 Things with Wings
Crafty Sentiments: Christmas
Do It with Digis: #16 Christmas in August
Fussy & Fancy: Christmas In July
Let's Craft and Create: #25 Go Digi
Paper Play: Christmas in August
Lil Red Wagon: #92 Put a critter on it
Stamp Something: Use a Digi
Totally Gorjuss: #91 Christmas in July!
Totally Papercrafts: #78 Hoidays

*****My 500 post giveaway can be found here!  I hope you will join in for a chance to win!  You have until Sept. 4th to enter.*****

Thanks for stopping by! 

You're invited to a picnic!

Happy Wednesday!  I am back to share two cards today with you.  It's quite the pair. 
My first card is for Penny's newest challenge: watermelons in honor of national watermelon day. 

I used some MME papers(So Sophie) and g.c.d (Melody Ross) paired with this super adorable image from Digi My World. This is "Watermelon  Day Brittney" and she's ready to share some watermelon with you!  That's a SRM sticker I used with some rhinestones.  I brought this green seam binding back from Paris.  I love this color!  It makes perfect bows!  Sadly, it's already half gone.  :-( 

Challenges I would like to enter my card into:

Clear It Out: Use Old supplies and  Summer (button, sticker, and papers)

Crafts and Me: #46 Anything Goes

Creative Crafts Challenge: Summertime

Creative Inspirations: Summer

Divas by Design: #7 Summer

Going Grey with Scrap-creations: Buttons or  Bows

Tuesday Throwdown: #60 Summertime

My next card is for Crafty Creations Challenge this week which is by  invitation.  I made this card with Digi's with Attitude "Viagra Simon".  Ironically, my SO is named Simon.  Also his birthday is coming up and because he is older than me I like to tease him about being the oldest.  I know, it's not very nice of me.  I do it in a loving way.  Life's too short to be upset and uptight so I'd rather make a joke and smile about it.  Inside reads, "to old age!"

I made a pennant card for this.  Then lined with some older paper scraps from Sassafras Lass.  I cut a small piece of twill, stapled it down and then tied a button with brown baker's twine around it. That's a journaling spot from Elle's Studio.  A friend sent me the blue ticket and I just added another button.    I hope he smiles.  That's what I really want  for him to do when he sees it.  I think he will since he's clearly no where near this man's age and has all of his teeth.  Thankfully!  Also not a prune fan.   Challenges I would like to enter this card in:

Corrosive Challenge: #127 Manly

Crazy Amigos Challenge: Anything Goes

Digis with Attitude: #32 Anything Goes

Dutch Dare: #123 Birthday

For Fun Challenges: Anything Goes

Lexi's Creations: #45 Shaped card

Papertake Weekly: Anything goes with optional metal (used staples)

By the way!  This is my 500 post!  Yahoo!  I am going to take pictures of a give away I will post tomorrow! 

Take time to celebrate

It's going to be a great week!  I can feel it!  I am starting out with a birthday card that I made for the new design team I was asked to be a part of: Elizabeth Mae's.  Yeah!  DeNetra has the cutest images and some fabulous ideas of how to use them and it's her birthday tomorrow!  Happy Birthday DeNetra! ***Read below for special discount she is offering in honor of her birthday!*** The second challenge for this brand new company is birthday themed and you can join in with a card, scrap page, altered item, etc. for a chance to win two digital images of your choice. 

My card uses Birthday Emma from the "Hello Darlings" collection.  A confession: I may have added "wings" instead of hair but any chance I can glitter up something I am taking.  :-) Or  maybe  I have been watching too much "True Blood" and have become en captivated with faeries.  I also made her a blonde to match.  ;-)  Go Sookie! 

***But wait!  I have not told you the best part!  Tomorrow all digi images will be on sale for DeNetra's birthday for $1.50!   If you are like me, I love great deals and this is one of those!  Pop on over to Elizabeth Mae's and get your images on sale!  Just scroll down and look for the collections on the right side.  When you click on a collection, it will take you to a new window to see all the adorable images available for that line. *** 

Challenges I would like to enter my card in:
4 Crafty Chicks: Bling (rhinestones and glitter)
Card Cupids: Birthday (please consider donating your card or two for this organization)
Craft Your Passion: #69 Anything Goes no twist this month
Dutch Dare Card Challenges: #123 Birthday
Ellephantastic: Celebrations
Fabulous Fridays: Circles
Gingerloft: #22 Make it sparkle
Ooh La La Creations: #85 Circles


Supplies for my card:
cardstock: Recollections
pattern paper: MME Lush, Melody Ross
image: Elizabeth Mae's Birthday Emma
stamp: SP & Company
ink: SU Going Grey
punches: Marvy circle and EK bracket
ribbon and button: craft supply
rhinestones: Queen & Co and Glitz
glitter: Stickles lace
other: foam dots white floss