Happy Birthday Friend!

Good morning Christmas Eve eve to all of you!  I have off today and as you can see from this blog I haven't posted in awhile!  I have been super busy with work and preparing for the Christmas season that I haven't had the time to post- not to mention I was working feverishly on a box of cards to send out to OWH- safe to say they are out of here and I have started another box- whoo whoo!

The card I am posting today was sent to my neighbor on her birthday (she has two gorgeous horses that I watch from my living room window and they have even gotten out of their corral to walk over to my house and eat the apples off the trees in my apple orchard!  Such personality those two have!)  Needless to say she loves those two horses and I love that she takes such good care of them!  When I saw this stamp from LOTV I instantly thought of her!  The sentiment stamp is also LOTV, but I cannot for the life of me remember what paper I used...The imagewas colored with Copics and Prismacolor Pencils.

Anyhoo, thought I would enter this into a few challenges:
The Pink Elephant Challenge- TPE231: Anything Goes
Simon SaysWednesday Challenge- Bling It On!
Diva's By Design Challenge- Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 300: Celebrations
Brown Sugar Challenge- #73: Anything Goes

Have a very blessed Christmas!

I Ruff You!

My oh my!  How long it has been since I have posted- how did October get here!  As you can well see I am back at work and that is taking up most of my time, but I was determined to get my craft on this morning!

It is my niece's birthday (she is turning 8) and got a pug for her birthday!  How lucky was it that I found this super adorable digital image from Mo Manning called "Pug Love"?!?!  I was a little nervous about the coloring, but with determination and focus I think it really does look like a fawn pug!  The thing about Copic markers and coloring is knowing when to stop layering your colors- had I not stopped this could have been a HOT MESS!!!  The ears and black face I did with Prismacolor pencil and Gamasol- sometimes I don't have good control over my Copics when it comes to shading and showing which direction my light source is coming from- I find colored pencils work best, especially when I am in a hurry to get an image on a card!

That heart was done with red Stickles and the sentiment was from a sentiment sheet of stickers from Hobby Lobby (check out there clearance section ASAP!).  The other paper was from a stack from a stack called "Snap @ Life" from Simple Stories (you gotta check that clearance rack at Hobby Lobby!!!).  The dog paper in the background is a scrap I had left over- couldn't even begin to tell you where that came from, but I do know I used it on another project I did 3 years ago- sick isn't it? Scrap paper hangs out in my craft room for years and years...

Alrighty then, I think I will enter this into a few contests this week:
Papertake Weekly Challenge- Two by Two- I used four hearts which divided by two is TWO!!! LOL!!
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 290- Neutral Zone- used Kraft cardstock as my base followed by black to make the layers pop on this card.
Brown Sugar Challenge- Challenge # 63- Anything Goes

Happy 104th Birthday!

This just in... I am a winner over at the Papertake Weekly Challenge!!!  Wooo Whoooo! Thank you Papertake Weekly and LOTV for the gift certificate!

104 Years Old?!  How on earth can that be?  That's how old my husband's great grandmother is!!!  I know- 104!!!  Incredible! So again going through things I already have... this stamp is an oldie but a goodie- haven't colored it in awhile- it is a House Mouse stamp and the reason I love this stamp soooo much is the frosting on the cupcake!  It begs for Glossy Accents and glitter!!!  I don't use much glitter- it is messy and not used on Operation Write Home cards, but for this lucky lady she gets glitter!!!  Mmmmm... think I'll have me a cupcake now, but not before I enter it into the following challenges...

Brown Sugar Challenge- Challenge #58- Animals
Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge- Challenge #68- Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge- Anything Goes
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Animal Antics
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #285- Pretty In Pink

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to my sister in law and brother in law!  Why not say "Happy Anniversary" with this super cute House Mouse stamp?  I've had it for a while and have used it for so many anniversary/ love cards!  Papers are Bo Bunny and I've added Kraft cardstock (step out of the brown box -breath in, breath out- and try something new- that's soooo hard!).  I am also excited because nothing on this card was purchased new- NOT ONE BIT!  Remember I am trying to use things I have!

I would like to enter this card into the following contests:
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge- Challenge 68- Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge- Anything Goes
Simon Says- Wednesday Challenge- Animal Antics
Brown Sugar Challenge- Challenge #58- Animals

Occasion-ally

Can you you guess where I am headed next weekend?  A childhood friend of mine is set to get married and this is the card I created for the event!  I was stumped when it came to creating a card for the event- I had the image (Mo's Digital Images- bride and groom), but the layout was just not coming together in my mind- what better way to get the mojo flowin' then a trip to my local scrapbook store!

I found this fantastic paper by SEI from their Moonrise collection called "Lumnious".  I would have never thought cream and black for a wedding, but this piece of paper stole my heart (yeah I know... not buying paper until after December... well I didn't have any wedding paper so THERE!)  I colored the image as vintagey as I knew how and with a bit of lace and flowers the card came together!  I actually like the simplicity of it- not really room for a sentiment.  Oh and that die is from Memory Box- they have a whole bunch of windows to choose from- this one is Grand Gothic Stained Glass.

This wedding should be tons of fun- my family is going too soooooo we've been known to be a good time!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly- Occaion-ally

Scrappers Challenge!

I luves me a scrappers challenge!  This was a fun one- a 4 x 9 card!  I have never done one of these, but over at the Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog they set out a challenge!  It just so happens I need a retirement card for a friend and this is what I came up with.

Could I stop there? Nope!  I visited the Papertake Weekly Blog and realized it was a Sketchie Free For All- soooooo, I adapted sketch #55, elongated it and wha la- a retirement card!

There are so many fun things on this card to see (a 4x9 card is a little difficult to photograph) so here it goes:  I put some glossy accents on the water in the tub- made it look 3D and the glass of champagne has some Stickles on it!  Love the way the pinks pop off the black background.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog-  Challenge #63 Skinny Cards 4x9
Papertake Weekly Blog- Sketchie Free For All- Used sketch #55
Simon Says Stamp Blog- Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes

Bowtastic!

Isn't she a cutie?  You'd never know that the paper I used is from the Bo Bunny Camp-a-lot Collection would you?  Remember I am not buying anymore paper- use what I have... (breath in, breath out).  This card just seemed to work with her coordinating outfit- that was just a scrappers fluke!

I would like to enter her into the following challenge:
Besties Challenge: Bow Crazy
Simon Says Stamp Blog-Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Black, White and One Other Color Bestie Challenge

7/22/13 UPDATE:  I AM A RUNNER UP WINNER IN THIS BESTIE CHALLENGE!  This is so cool- thank you to the design team for recognizing my work!  I look forward to the next challenge!

Hey Bestie Fans!  Coming to you with another super cute Bestie image!  I colored her a while ago knowing that this challenge was coming (love that you know what is up and coming!) and this is the end product! Hopefully this makes it into the challenge on time!  Would love to write more, but I am on a time crunch here with this post and entering this card!

Entering this in the Besties Challenge- July 15-21- Black White and One Other Color
Thanks for stopping by!

A little bird told me...

7/25/13 UPDATE:  I WAS VOTED TOP 3 BY THE DESIGN TEAM FOR THIS CHALLENGE! Thank you to the design team for recognizing my work- what an honor!  Looking forward to the next challenge!

Hello and welcome back!  I just bought this brand new stamp by Penny Black at my local scrap book store and had to have her!  I have been holding on to the sentiment stamp for ages and actually have never used it- thought it would be perfect with the card!  I totally tricked out this card and popped the image of the little girl coming out of the window as well as the birdie:)  The flowers at the top were on a whim- remember I am trying to use up things that I own  and the two little heart stick pins were added for a bit of whimsy!  The paper is from a This & That pack that I have had for a while and the border going up the side is something that's been around- I want to say it is K & Company, but don't hold me to it!  The sentiment is by Inkadinkado.  What a fun and I can't wait to see who gets this lovely creation for their birthday...

I am entering it into the following challenges:
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #163: You've Been Framed (the windowsill she is leaning on looks like a frame to me!)
Papertake Weekly Challenge: Old, New, Borrowed, Blue (Old- Sentiment, New- Stamp, Blue- Flowers)
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog: Challenge 60: Use a Hoarded Item (Awww geez, the paper, the flowers, the stick pins...)
Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog: Pin It (Heart stick pins found in the flowers)

MOJO 300!

Mmmmm- summer, sweet summer and MOJO 300!  Wow!  Thought I would post this card before my 4th of July festivities get started!  Love this sketch- forces you to use lots o' paper- I am using up stuff that I have and some day- hoping by Christmas (egads!), I will be able to purchase some new stuff!  That means I really have got to get my card making fingers a workin'!

Think I'll take a break today and celebrate my freedom with some family.  Thank you to all those who fight for our freedom and for those families that have someone serving abroad or have lost someone fighting for our freedom- my prayers go out to you that you find peace in today and know that an angel is out there watching over you and your loved one. Happy 4th of July!

Entering in the MOJO 300 contest!

The Sweet Stop

Happy Anniversary to my parents!  This card was made with love using a Lili of the Valley image and a sketch from The Sweet Stop. If you look real close you can see I tried using a little kraft cardstock- see I told you I would give it a try!

The Sweet Stop: Challenge SSS217

Have you ever...?

Have you ever read such a good book that you have actually stalled to get to the end and then when you got there you wish you could read it all over again? Yeah, that's how I feel about the Bestie digis by Sherri Baldy!  I ABSOLUTELY luv the images she has created and I loved every second of coloring this digi- in fact, I colored her twice (exactly the same way) because I think she is sooo stinkin' cute.  The image does have a lot of detail, but that's OK... worth all the painstaking time it took to color her!  I even stalled by doing housework in between the coloring!  Now I have 2 nice images and the house looks great!)
I know total DORK!

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Besties Challenge: Challenge #23- Shabby Chic- I think she is country, but chic!
Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays:  All things digital

Stars and Stamps- Sketch #179 and Midweek Throwdown

Happy July all!  I am on vacation so I am able to have some crafty fun for myself!  Thought I would do a two in one post for the Stars and Stamps blog over at Operation Write Home- daring isn't it considering I haven't posted since MARCH?! It's not that I haven't created cards- goodness knows mother's day, father's day and birthdays have all been busy card making times, it is just that I haven't had the time to post.

Soooo, here it goes...

The sketch is #179- pretty simple- I like it because I can use lots of paper!!!!  This summer I am not buying another stitch of paper- I am using what I have sooo this is quite the mish mosh of paper scraps.  Can you believe I used a sticker as my focal point???  I know who is this girl- right?!  I rarely if ever create a card without a colored image- this was an absolute shot in the dark!  But it isn't bad! AND are you ready for this? I got the sticker at The Dollar Tree ages ago!!!  See, using what I have- day 1!

The throwdown is a color challenge (red, white, blue and kraft cardstock).  Not a great fan of kraft cardstock, but it does have its place in the craft world- maybe I should try using it a little more... I used the blue as the base of the card and part of the rectangle on the card- I had two really busy papers and felt I needed to anchor it somehow.

This was a fun one!  Stay tuned for more creations on this crafty summer vacation!

The Sweet Stop Sketch-SSS201 March 8th

Oh man- trying to take a picture of this card and working with the lighting!  I think this is the 8th photo I've taken of this card!  I am not sure if it is the color in the card, the lighting or possibly...hmmmm... camera user error (I am in NO way a photographer!) And I am sure when I upload this card to my blog it will totally clash seeing as the blog's colors are hot pink and black!

Nonetheless, this card is created for a friend of mine who just had a bit o' surgery and I thought I'd send her some cheer!  Love the poppies in this stamp by Technique Tuesday and the paper even has some poppies in it too!  

This card is being submitted to the Sweet Stop Sketch card challenge.

I took the layout and turned it- all the elements are still there!

The Sweet Stop Sketch-SSS201 March 8th

Happy Anniversary!

Today is my husband's grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary!!  Wow!  Sixty years together- what a moment of pride- to know that you have built a beautiful life together and still more years to come- WONDERFUL! I made this card for their anniversary and hope they like it!

Image is by Lili of the Valley and the papers... Oh how I love coordinating papers!!! They are from the Stella Rose collection!! There is nothing like coloring an image with your Copic markers knowing that everything is going to coordinate! The flowers and time of year just shout "SPRING" (not to mention I saw a Robin this morning and feel like I could go outside with my shorts on! Ha! It is only about 48 degrees here today!)

I am entering this in the following card challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #206- To Die For- Used a circle die!
Mojo Monday 283 Contest
Papertake Weekly Challenge- Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 259- Spring Fever

Bee My Honey!

Wow this vacation of creation is really workin' for me!  Amazing how much you get done when you have a stay-cation!  I saw this sketch on the The Sweet Stop blog and it had a twist- bees or birds.  I have another cute digi from the Stamp Fairy to share today!  He turned out really cute.  I am not used to using such soft colors on a card, but when I saw the honey comb paper in this paper pack from My Mind's Eye, I had to give it a try!  The bucket with the honey has some Glossy Accents on it which you cannot really see in this photo, but it is there!!!  The black on the bee has some black gel pen on it- I wanted to make the outfit really stand out on the paper and not get lost in the softness of the colors of the card.  Sentiment is also by the Stamp Fairy and the twine I used over on the left there has some cream color running through the white of the twine.

I wanted to use glitter on those wings in the worst way, but this card is scheduled to leave for Operation Write Home and they have some strict guidelines on card submissions for the troops.  Glitter is a no, no, soooo pretend in your mind:)  If you haven't tried card making for Operation Write Home, click on the side bar link and check it out- it is a great cause and I have really enjoyed their blog Stars and Stamps.

I am entering this card in the Sweet Stop Sketch for the week:
SSS198- Sketch with a Spin and a Prize (Birds and/or Bees)

With All My Heart!

A day of crafting all to myself (and a little laundry)!!!  I found these really cute journaling cards from Michaels through the company Recollections.  I bought one with a love theme, a hello theme and a thank you theme.  They are really sweet and I hope they inspire me to use up some of my paper that I have on hand.

I really like the way this came out and the hot pink is awesome on this card.  If you stop by Operation Write Home's blog Stars and Stamps they have a February Design Bootcamp designed to stretch your creativity!  The challenge is to create a card that has a strong focal point- I think I did it!  I even cut that heart out from a matching journal card (the packs of journaling cards come in packs of 50- 5 of the same card) and used dimensional adhesive to give it the boost it needed:)  I really like this one- simple, but to the point.

I am even entering it in the following challenge:
Sketch Saturday- Sketch #246 with Sassy Studio

Some bunny loves you!

I haven't posted in awhile- work is soooo busy this is the first chance I have had to actually submit something to a post!  I hope to get a bit of card making done this week as I have a vacation and am really looking forward to some creative time to myself! This card has a cute image from the Stamping Fairy and the heart the bunny is holding has some glossy accents on it to give it some dimension.

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #202- From the Heart
Sentimental Sundays Challenge Challenge #141- Love Is In the Air
Papertake Weekly Challenge- Hearts and Flowers

Have a fairy good day!

Happy Sunday everyone!  Week 3 of the New Year Resolution!!!  Even though I am soooo awfully tired (it was very windy here last night- I've been up since 4am) I managed to make the card for the challenges this week. It is the first time I am attaching a charm to a card - used a jump ring and kind of squeezed it together with pliers- is that how you do it out there?  If you have any suggestions I would LUV to hear them!

On with the challenges!  I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #199- Fairy Fever- this fairy image is from Lili of the Valley.
Sketch Saturday #242 with Bunny Zoe Crafts

Thanks for stopping by, stay warm (I think it is about 18 degrees here) and have a Fairy Good Day!

Winter Hello!

Winter hello! Of course it doesn't really feel like winter when it is 60 degrees out today!  This weekend was simply glorious!  And can I tell you, this is WEEK 2 of the New Year resolution!  Not bad!  This week I am using a new stamp that I got from Whipper Snapper Designs, Inc. (Beckham)- thank you to the people that got me gift certificates to my local stamp store- stay tuned for other new purchases:)

Anyhoooo, upon attempting some of these challenges I realized that I don't really have a ton of blue paper- this is a bit pieced together with different paper - all of which I have no idea where I got it from (sorry!).  The image is so cute I can barely stand it and the rest just kind of fell into place- hope you like:)

I am entering it into the following challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday- Challenge #198- Sketch Challenge
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 251- Beat the Blues
Papertake Weekly Challenge- Happy New...- I am using the new stamp from Whipper Snapper Designs

Happy 2013!

Happy 2013 everyone!  New year means new beginnings!  My resolution for this year is to try to post a card/ enter a challenge once a week- now it is in writing and now we see if I can manage this- once a week how difficult can that be? (he! he!)

So here's my post for this week- it is an image from Penny Black and she is just sooo adorable! I saw it a my local stamp store and had to have it! I sanded some paper on the background to make that red pop through and I used my new Stampabilities die that I got as a Christmas present.  The heart on the image has glossy accents on it (kind of hard to see) and I used some 3D adhesive to give the heart some dimension.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday 274- Round or Square?- I chose square:)
Papertake Weekly- Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Challenge- Something New- new stamp, new Stampabilities die
Cute Card Thursday-Something New- new stamp, new Stampabilities die

Alrighty then, I am on a roll with this New Year resolution!  One post a week. Soooo easy- right...?