Be Thankful

I made this card for my daughter Elaine who calls me every day to see how I'm feeling and how my day is going, even though she is a new mother and exhausted with newborn baby duties...I am so very Thankful for Her!  All papers used were scraps except for the dark purple card base!  The sentiment outside and inside the card  is a freebie from A Piece Of Heart , die cut & framed with Spellbinders Labels Four Nestabilities. The background embossing is from Paper Studio and the flower & leaves are die cut from Spellbinders Rose Creations set. I chalked the edges of the flower & leaves, don't know if you can see it from the photo.   Sorry for the bad photo..although you can't tell, the sentiment and embossed background are on WHITE paper!  Thanks for stopping by to see my projects!

Challenges Entered:

Challenges 4 Everybody #7 Anything Goes
Card Makin Mama's Anything Goes Thanksgiving
Craft Your Passion #137 Scraps
Tiddly Inks # 98 Gratitude
Crafting For all Seasons #40 Thank You
Fresh Brewed Designs # 123 So thankful
Digi Stamps for Joy # 55 Giving Thanks
Delightful Sketches Thankful
Sassy Cheryl's #142 Thanks.
Squirrel & Fox #31 Anything Goes
Dream Valley #45 Anything Goes
Love to Create #42 Give thanks
Tammy's Scrappin Corner #37 Anything thanksgiving
Digi Darla's A little Inspiration
V's Sweet Ideas #5 Anything Goes
Chalk "n Stock

Happy Birthday Will

I made this card for my son William's 24th birthday.  Kind of kiddish you might say for a 24 year old, but he really is still like a big kid. He left our home and moved out to Oklahoma  a couple years back searching for a career and some adventure...not having any idea where it would lead him!  It broke our hearts and we've only seen him a couple times since then though we've talked, texted & emailed a lot.  One of the first adventures he went on after arriving there was to take flying lessons! OMG!!  Then he uncovered a career opportunity that involved using his talents and might suit him well.  He's making his way in the grown up world now, and we're just hoping that it eventually brings him back home here with us!!  Anyway..he just recently completed his solo flight lesson and I thought this would be a really cute birthday card for him!!  Below the card is a  close up picture of him in the plane at his first lesson with that crazy "Oh Wow..this is going to be fun" look on his face!  The airplane & sun were cut from the Cricut Boys Will be Boys cartridge,  the grass from Everyday Paper Dolls cartridge, can't remember which cart the cityscape was cut from.  The sentiment is cut & stamped from Jillian Vance Everyday Flags and the twine that connects it & the plane is from Scrapworks.com.  I chalked up the grass, cityscape and sun.  Thanks for stopping by to take a look!!

Challenges Entered:
V's Sweet Ideas # 5 Anything Goes
Digi Darla # 37 Your Favorite Die Cut
Craft Your Passion # 136 Clean & Simple
Little Miss Muffet #48 Textiles
Sassy Studio Designs #151 No Patterned Paper
My Heart Pieces Anything Cute
Clearly I Stamp # 64 Clean & Simple
Squirrel & Fox # 31 Anything Goes
Dream Valley #45 Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody #7 Anything Goes
Chalk N Stock Anything Goes

Precious Gift

Well I started this card out as a birthday card for my grandson Kenney who will be two years old Nov 25th.  I wanted a cute little boy image, I thought this one was perfect, except that the teeny tiny tag on the gift says "From Santa".  Not that he would even know of course what it said, but it bugged me, so I'll have to make him another one!  So I decided to make it a Christmas Card.  I purchased this image a short time ago and can't for the life of me remember where I got it...I usually keep better track!!  Anyway...I colored him using Promarkers & Spectrum Noir markers, and just have not mastered how to keep the colors from bleeding outside the image..will take hours more of practice I guess!!  The papers are from My Mind's Eye "Countdown to Christmas" pack...my most favorite pack of paper ever!  The image was cut out with Spellbinders Lacey Ovals die, and the sentiment shape cut out with Jillian Vance's Everyday Flag die & stamp set.  The actual sentiment is from Pure Innocence "In a Manger" set.  The red diamond's are Sticko Tile's Play Mosaic Stickers that I've had forever and never thought I would use!!  Thanks for stopping by!!

Challenges Entered:

One Stitch At A Time #138 Anything Goes

The Crafty Pad #195 Anything Goes

Color Me Creative # 56 All About Kids

V's Sweet Challenge # 5 Anything Goes

Paper Take Weekly Anything Goes

Sassy Cheryl's #140 It's All About the Boys

LEJ's Designs #28 Use die cut or punches

Bearly Mine #60 Anything Goes

Sweet Stamps # 90 Christmas Challenge

Clear it Out Challenge - Anything Goes & Red

Whimsy Inspires #53 Traditional Christmas Colors

Dare to be Sassy #150 Sketch Challenge

Southern Girls #57 - 46 Days to Go

One Stop Craft Challenge Anything Goes

Send a Smile 4 Kids Happy Holidays

Baptism

I made this card for my granddaughter Addison who will be baptized in a couple of weeks.  I wanted to try and make it simple but elegant, and I think I managed to pull it off!!  The pink paper is from Paper Studio.  The pink embossing was done using Hero Art's Design Block Flourish & Stampendous embossing powder.  I found the Baptism saying from an online site, punched it out and matted it using some Marvy punches.  The pearls & ribbon are from my stash.  Thanks for stopping by to see my creations!

Challenges Entered:

Tammy's Scrapin Corner #34 Anything Goes
Digi Darla's White Delight #35
Totally Stampalicious Anything Goes
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #5 Anything Goes
Creative Craft Challenges2 Special Occasions-Not a Birthday
Catch The Bug November Anything Goes Challenge

Crunch Time

Still trying to finish my Halloween cards for the grandchilren!  This is a " Count Dracula Noah" image from Sassy Studio Designs"!  I colored him with Promarkers and framed him on papers from my stash.  The background paper is from the Cloud9 Specialty Pack.  The BOO stamp is from a Martha Stewart Holiday Stamp Set.  That purple bow is antique.. satin.ribbon from a robe/pajama set  my 33 year old daughters wore as a child!!  How's that for repurposing!!!

Challenges Entered:

Cuttlebug Spot Tuesday
Digi Darla's #34 halloween
Little Miss Muffet #46 Halloween Colours
DTBST #147
Squirrel & Fox # 29 Use a Ribbon
Craftymess Challenge #20 Halloween
Sentimental Sundays# 125 Halloween
Dream Valley Challenge #43 Halloween

Another Halloween Card

Still making Halloween cards for all the grandchildren...think I have two more to go!  I made this one using a freebie image from DZ Doodles Digital Stamps.  I thought he would be fun and fairly simple to color (since I'm racing the Halloween clock!)  I colored him with Promarkers and went over his eyes with some Stardust Clear Glittering Gel Ink.  The borders on both sides of the striped paper were done using   the Martha Stewart Drippy Goo punch.  The Happy Halloween sentiment is a stamp from a Martha Stewart Holiday set.  I stamped it on orange paper, than hand cut around it.  All the papers are from my stash. Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!

Challenges Entered:

Bearly Mine Challenge # 57 Anything Goes

Crafting For All Seasons #28 -Spooky

DTBST #147 Halloween Spooktacular

Card Crafters Circle #45 Halloween

Sparkle & Glitter #2 Sweet or Spooky Halloween

One Stop Craft #201 Anything Goes

Crafty Mess Challenge #21 Halloween

Sentimental Sundays #25 Halloween

Come & Get It Challenge - Halloween

Dream Valley # 43 Halloween

Stamptacular Sunday #186 No Rules

Tammy's Scrappin Corner # 32 Anything Goes

Promarkers Giveaway

Enfys is having a fantastic giveaway over on her blogspot Going Buggy.  One lucky winner will get an entire set of Promarkers 148 colors in all!!  Stop on over and leave your comment and sign up for the Letraset newsletter.  That's all it takes!

Anything Goes - Poodles Parlour

It's time for a new challenge over at the Poodles Parlour and the theme for this challenge is Anything Goes!  Our sponsor for this challenge is Milk Coffee and they have some adorable images to color & use for your cards...check them out!  I used the "Charlotte Makes a Cake Image" for my card.  Reminds me of my oldest daughter Emily.  I colored her with a combination of Letraset ProMarkers & Prisma pencils.  Popped her up on a black Nestabilities Scalloped Oval & then underneath that I used the Nestabilities Lacey Squares.  The ribbon on the left is from Paper Studio....just the perfect colors!  My oldest daughter Emily LOVES to bake, and we call her Martha Stewart because everything she makes is delicious and so appealing to look at!  She loves the color green, so I made her apron & tablecloth in that color.  She actually keeps her hair short, but when in high school, used to keep it long & braid it!  She is the mother of six of our seven grandchildren, and I don't know how in the heck she manages to find time to bake!  Hope you enjoy!!

Challenges Entered:

Come & Get it Color Challenge

Little Miss Muffet Halloween Colors Challenge

Halloween Everywhere!

I made this Halloween card just because I loved this image.  It is a freebie image, and I'm sad to say I don't know where it came from!  I usually label all my freebie images so that I can link/send people back to their website for some love and appreciation!  If anyone recognizes it, please send me an email so I can recognize the person/website appropriately!   Anyway..this one was definitely a challenge for me with everything going on in the image...and I am no pro!!  But hey...I've got to try to wet my feet ...right??  Other than making another Halloween card, I was trying to follow the color challenge over at the Come & Get It color challenge.  Color challenges are kind of hard since you are going only on the color you see on the screen, and then sometimes the design team cards look like a different color all together!  I colored her with Prisma pencils and sparkled her bodice, bow & hair with Martha Stewart's crystal fine glitter.  I cut the spider web from the Theresa Collins "Chic & Scary" Cricut Cartridge, and the ribbon & bow are from American Crafts/Weaving Stitch/Black & White. Hope you like her...thanks for stopping by!!

Challenges Entered:

Come & Get It Color Challenge

Digi Darlas #33 Alphabet Challenge...W is for Witch

Cutie Pie Challenge # 29 Halloween

Fashionista Challenge # 8 Anything Goes

Paper Take Weekly Challenge - Friday Night..BOO

Top Tip Tuesday - Things with Wings

Whimsy Inspires #52 All Things Sparkly

Stampin with the Dragon Challenge - Halloween

1st Ever Rick St Dennis Challenge - Sparkle & Glitter

Dream Valley # 43 - Halloween

Stamptacular Sunday # 185 BOO-tacular

Halloween Card

I've been trying to make some Halloween cards to send to my granchildren, and these past two work weeks were horrendous, so haven't gotten to far!!  I try to personalize them so they bring a smile to their face....using their favorite pet or their own personality traits, and I include a Frisch's free meal gift certificate (local burger joint!)  I only have two out of seven done...so I think I'm in trouble!  I made this card using a free image from Designed2Delight , olored with Prisma pencils, then cut it out and attached it to the card with pop dots.  I used a newly purchased background stamp with lots of bats (just purchased on clearance from Michael's Crafts)..so sorry.. cannot tell you the manufacturer for sure .might be Hero's Art.  The die cut bat is from Recollections, the "Trick or Treat" title was cut from the Cricut Theresa Collins cart "Chic & Scary". I brushed some 3D Galaxy Gloss on all the letters and the owl's eyes, and then sprinkled them with clear glitter!  Of course the glitter seemed to find it's way to the rest of the card!  Hope you like it..thanks for stopping by!!

Challenges Entered:

Tammy's Scrappin Corner #32 Anything Goes
Digi Darlas Alphabet Challenge - B is for Bats
Cutie Pie Challenge # 29 Halloween
Creative Challenges 2 Anniversary Blog - Three's--Three pumpkins
Bearly Mine Challenge #57 Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday # 238 Paper Piecing
Stampin with the Dragon Halloween Challenge
QKR Stampede #8 Halloween Fun
First Ever Rick St Dennis Sparkle & Glitter Challenge
Dream Valley Challenge #43 Halloween
Whimsy Inspired Challenge #52 All Things Sparkly
Paper Take Weekly Fright Night Boo Challenge

World Card Making Day Challenges

Saturday October 6th was World Card Making Day.  I came across a challenge site "www.ellenhutson.com" that is having a big challenge that involves making anywhere from one to five cards, each with a different theme, for a chance to win $150.00 to spend in the Ellen Hutson LLC Shop!!  I don't know if I'll make all five, I've just completed the first one tonight, which was  to make a holiday greeting card.  I had never really made a sentiment only card, but I kind of followed the same pattern as the design member Julie Ebersole, using all different sentiments.  I thought I would mix it up by using some general and religious sentiments in a non-traditional Christmas color scheme.  I like the way it turned out..hope you do too!  The sentiments were a mix from Close to My Heart, My Creative Time, Pure Innocence, & Clear Dollar Stamps.

Challenges Entered:

WCMD Challenge 1 - Holiday Greetings

CIC Challenge # 61 - Sentimental

Happy Halloween at The Poodles Parlour!!

I  have started making Halloween cards for my seven grandchildren...oh my!...and first up is this darling Bugaboo "Hween Brat Kitty" image I used to make my granddaughter Shawnee's card. Her favorite animal is a cat, and her hair is blonde, so this image just reminds me of her so much!  I colored her with Prisma Pencils and used the Spellbinder's Nestabilities Labels Four to frame her image.  All the papers are from my stash!!  I printed the sentiment on my computer & used Paper Shaper & Paper Studio punches to frame it, and tied it on with some Mandarin Orange thread from the Paper Twinery.   Hope it makes you smile!!  Bugaboo Stamps is our sponsor over at The Poodles Parlour Halloween Challenge this fortnight, and they have the cutest images ever!  Please check out all the DT members projects and join us in the challenge!!  I have been super busy at work this week so I did not get to enter this card into any current challenges1!

Happy Birthday Karen!!

My oldest sister Karen will be 60 on October 3rd.  I distinctly remember a remark my late father said about 11 years ago.."I can't believe I have a daughter that's going to be 50 soon!  Yeah Dad...how time flies!!  He would be glad to know that she's retired from work and living the life!  She has traveled far & wide in the last five years, writing about her experiences along the way!  You would be so proud!!  For this card I used the Bugagoo Scarlette Image "Friends Don't Let Friends Wine Alone"!  She likes an occasional glass of wine,.. usually red & dry!  I thought of her when I first saw this Bugaboo image!  Unfortunately this is one of my FAIL colorings, but don't care, she'll love it and I'm going to enter it in some challenges anyway!

Challenges Entered:

Cute Card Thursday # 236 Letters or Numbers
Little Miss Muffet #44 Anything But A Square
Digital Delights Color Challenge
Stamptacular Sunday #183 It's You Birthday
Tammy's Scrapin Corner #30 Fall Colors

Happy Fall/Autumn!!

Wow...we had a couple of really cold mornings this past week (45 degrees on my car barometer on Monday morning!)  Nothing like going from 70's to 40's in a weeks time!!!  I guess that means Fall is here!!  We don't really have spring or fall here in Northern Kentucky. We go right from scorching to freezing without much pause in between!!  So in anticipation of Fall/Autumn's arrival, everyone is thinking about chilly weather and Halloween!!    Thus the many Fall/Autumn/Halloween challenges starting up.  I just recently discovered Sassy Cheryl's Digi Stamps and there are some darling images!!  I couldn't help but purchase this  Sassy Sally's Fall Pumpkin image and make a card with it right away!  I use Prisma pencils, and unfortunately, after I had colored the image, the blue on her skirt smeared quite a bit. Don't know why, but she was so darn cute, I decided not to waste the image.  The patterned paper behind her is from DCWV's Fall Stack.  I used brown chalk around all the ages to distress/age it up a bit as I did the gold frame she is matted on.  I die cut the leaves out in the lower left corner using My Creative Time's "Piles of Smiles".  I chalked them up a bit, and curled the edges so they would be lifelike!  The sentiment "Autumn Greetings" is also from the same "Piles of Smiles" stamp set...  Got to admit...Emma has it going on!!  Hope you enjoy!  Please feel free to comment on my creations good or bad!  They all help me learn!!

Challenges Entered:

Love to Create #34 Anthing Goes
Bearly Mine # 54 Add A Sentiment
Delightful Sketches- Distressed
Clearly I Stamp # 60 Fall into Fall
Stampin with the Dragon "Fall Colors"
QKR Stampede #6 Fall Fun
Craftymess Challenge # 18 Distress/Aged
Secret Saturday Challenge # 204 Distressing
Sentimental Sunday's #121 Autumn

1 month old!

My grandaughter Addison will be 1 month old this coming Tuesday.  It's hard to believe a month has gone by already!  I thought the card would put a big smile on my daughter's face.  It has been a crazy whirlwind month for her...waiting nine months..realizing the day had come to deliver and being scared...then back home 2 days later with her little bundle of joy!!  Of course now the really hard work starts...she is exhausted with all the round the clock feedings and has only been out of the house only on a few occasions by herself since Addison was born.  Anyway, everything went well, both baby and mom are healthy and that's whats most important!  Addison seems to have her days and nights mixed up a bit, and I couldn't help but think this cute DigiDarla Blessing of Heaven image would be perfect for my card.  This is how my daughter wished Addison slept at night!  The black background paper is from a Karen Foster biggie bundle called "Throughout The Year" #3.  It's very hard to tell in the picture, but I used a Clear Glittering Gel Ink pen to color on the stars and give them some sparkle.  The pink & black frame was cut from the Cricut Elegant Edges cartridge, and I placed a pearl in the center of each scallop.  The tag is a Spellbinder Shapeabilities die cut.  I printed the sentiment myself, and lastly added the little number 1 next to her.  Believe it or not I cut it out of a birthday invitation that I had saved from a couple years ago..I thought it fit perfectly!  Thanks for stopping by and seeing my creations!

Challenges entered:

Tammy's Scrapin Corner Anything Goes #28

Totally Stampalicious Girly Birthday Card

Creative Craft Challenge2 Anything Goes

Clear it Out Tuesday Challenge

LEJ Designs No.21 Sparkle & Shine

DYSU #90 Tags or Flags

Send a Smile 4 Kids Anything Goes

The Squirrel & Fox #27 Celebrate the Occasion

Dream Valley #41 Celebrations

TAGS--Poodles Parlour Challenge

It's time for a new challenge over at The Poodles Parlour and this fortnight's theme is TAGS!  We are being sponsored by the Digi Garden and I used the Snowman image to make my TAG!  I will confess right here and now that I have NEVER made a tag!!  It's ridiculous I know...but until I joined the design team at The Poodles Parlour, I only made scrapbook pages & cards..and never on a blog at that!!  Oh well..I dove right into it all, so here I am presenting my TAG!!  I have to figure out just the right lighting and background to photograph my creations, because they are all dark & greenish looking when I photograph them!!  It is much cuter in person!!  The background paper is from My Minds Eye "Countdown to Christmas" cut out with the Tags, Bags, Boxes & More Cricut Cartridge2.  I used Prisma Pencils to color the image, some Fine Granulated Frosty Snow for him to sit in (leftover from my Dad's crafting days), Michaels Celebrate It Basic Narrows ribbon for the red bow up top, and added snowflake gems from my stash. OH...i cut a black tophat for him from one of my cricut cartridges because he just seemed naked without it!!  Hope you like!!

Challenges Entered:

Creative Craft Challenges2 Anything Goes

The Squirrel & Fox Challenge #26 Anything Goes

LEJ Designs Challenge #21 Sparkle & Shine

Fashionista Challenge #7 Anything Goes/Christmas Blog Hop

Tammy's Scrapin Corner Weekly Challenge #28 Anything Goes

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #85 - Recycle It

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #133 - Use A Die Cut

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #129 End of Summer

I created this card a couple of weeks ago when Cricut had some kind of promotional deal where you could use the new "Create a Critter 2" project for free in the Craft Room and win some grand prize!!  I made this card using that free cut, but didn't end up entering it into any contest or challenge.  I thought it was just so darn cute, but wasn't able to make the deadlines.  I am going to send this to my oldest sister Karen for her birthday October 3rd.   Funny..you wouldn't think this card would be attractive/appropriate/happy for a 60 year old..OMG... she is always sending me emails with BEAUTIFUL wild animal photographs that she has come across on the internet so I thought....what the hay...she'd probably love this!!!  Anyway..here it is. I used the Create a Critter 2 lion cut, all papers were from my stash, and I printed the sentiment in Microsoft Office. Although I didn't photograph it, the inside of the card says "Wild About U" using the same cartridge's sentiments!!  I decided to enter this into the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #129 End of Summer.  We are supposed to make a project reminiscent of summer days/outings.  Every summer my husband and I made at least one trip to the Cincinnati Zoo with our young children.  I have so, so many great pictures!!  Now my daughter takes our grandchildren to the same zoo at least a couple times in the summer!!  Thanks for checking my creations out...hope you enjoy them!!

Challenges Entered:

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #129 End of Summer

Happy Birthday Makayla!

Tonight we celebrated my oldest granddaughter's seventh birthday!!  WhooHoo!!  I made this birthday card for her....I showed a picture of it to my husband tonight after all the festivities were over and he said.....Wow.. that actually looks like Makayla!!  I have to agree except...her beautiful blonde hair is not quite that tame!  She has naturally curly hair that is just ALL OVER THE PLACE!!!  But she does have those darling freckles and loves anything pink, frilly, and girly!!  She is a very creative, thoughtful, loving girl at the early age of seven.  Her favorite thing at the moment is to play "store' so her mom & dad gave her a cash register, fake money & coins, comes complete with a credit card that when swiped says "your credit has been approved...OH MY!!!  DANGER AHEAD!!  Anyway..here's the card...and here is Makayla!!  I used a "Kidz Balloon" Bugaboo Image, colored her with Prisma Pencils, used cardstock stash. Flower ribbon is felt..distributed by Michaels Stores Inc (had around forever & never used)!  The white pearls are new ..from Doodlebug Design Inc. Don't remember the sentiment stamp, but was framed by the 1 1/2 Paper Studio punch in white, the 1 3/4 Stampin Up punch in pink, and the 2 inch Paper Studio Punch in "chocolate.
What do you think??

Challenges Entered:

Paper Take Weekly..Things That Make You Go Awwww

Card Crafters Circle # 40 Gone Gingham

Southern Girl's Challenge #53..BLING!!.

Quirky Crafts Callenge - #19 Lets See Numbers

Autumn - Back to School

On this past Friday, September 7th, we attended our 4 year old grandson Russell's adoption!  It was a long awaited event, and we were all so happy it had finally happened!  He came to our family as a foster child when he was about 3 months old, and was developing into a gregarious 10 month old when he was given back to his biological family!  Of course we were heart broken, but knew that was a part of the foster care system!  Another year passed and my daughter & son-in-law got a call asking them if they would take Russell back into their home.  He came back a troubled anxious child, so much in need of attention, discipline & guidance!    
We all look forward to helping him become the wonderful person he was born to be!!  He just started pre-school a week ago, and my son-in-law told me how excited Russell is to be in school.  He said that Russell gets up super early every morning and dresses himself, packs his schoolbag, and is ready to go before his older siblings are out of bed!!  I couldn't help but make this card for him after hearing that story!!  Love you so much Russ!!

Challenges Entered:
Crafting for All Seasons #35 School Days
Clearly I Stamp Leaves Challenge
Send a Smile 4 Kids - Fall/Halloween
Whimsy Stamps Challenge #51 - Anything Goes
Tammy's Scrappin Corner #27 Fall Inspiration
The Squirrel & the Fox - Anything Goes #26

My New Layout

Hi all! I hope you enjoy the new layout of my blog. My wonderful son works in digital marketing with websites, and he help me set it up.

FOR THE GIRLS at THE POODLES PARLOUR

Good Lord!! So many events have happened in the last eight days that I don't know whether I'm coming or going!!  My oldest daughter Emily had surgery, my younger daughter Elaine delivered our sixth grandchild...a precious little girl, Addison Margaret, and my niece Molly got married!!  Whew!!  Anyway...we are having a challenge over at The Poodles Parlour and the theme is "For the Girls".  Our sponsor for this challenge is Papelitos Stamps, and I made this card using the "Heather" image.  She is truly adorable...don't you think!!  I colored her up with Prisma pencils, and used the Big Scalloped Circles from Spellbinders as the base. I used my new Spellbinders "Rose Creations" for my flowers and used some black brads I have had laying around forever for the centers. All the papers are from my stash (love using them up).  I added some faux stitching around the flowers and pink background paper (Got scrunched up a bit while I was gluing everything together!).  The sentiment is from Stampin Up!  Thanks for stopping by...hope you enjoy my card!!

Challenges Entered:

Mojo Monday 257 Contest
Craft Your Passion #126 - Floral Images
Catch the Bug September Anything Goes Challenge
Come & Get it Light Shades Color Challenge
Dream Valley Something Old & New Challenge
Paper Take Weekly Anything Goes
http://clearlyistamp.blogspot.com
Southern Girls Challenge - It's About the Flora
Digistampsforjoy #50 Celebrate Colors of Spring

OF COURSE!!!

I'm on vacation this week so I decided to tear into my scrap room with a vengeance and purge everything out of there that I erroneously desired or bought because it was early on in my craft addiction.... seemed cute at the time....seemed like it was a tool I could not do without...seemed to good of a deal to pass up...you name it...I acquired it!!
 Anyway..whatever the reason at the time, I have come to know (unfortunately too late) exactly what I will and WILL NOT use.  But the funniest thing ever was while I was going thru this process tonight, I found some chipboard shapes that I really hadn't used much in my scrapbooking/cardmaking adventures and had buried, but couldn't part with at the time.  I just recently entered a challenge that needed chipboard elements....and I knew I still had them somewhere...just couldn't locate them!! Had to enter the challenge with two tiny pieces that were the centers of a letter!!  Thus the reason for the major overhaul of my scraproom!!  Sorry...just had to rant!!!

Weddings

We have had 3 family weddings earlier this year, and the 4th is on September 1st.  My lovely niece Molly will be married, and I made this card for her & her fiance.  I'm sorry to say I don't know the maker of the cake & sentiment stamp set I used...forgot to label!!  I used an Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge cut to frame the cake, the white satin ribbon is from my stash.  I loved the "Mr & Mrs" stamp ,but couldn't really find a die or punch to surround it, so I hand cut it out.  Kind of uneven...but I liked it!  The button is from my dear Dad...before he retired as a drycleaner he gave me almost his entire stash of buttons that were left behind in customer's clothing, or sets he purchased to mend/tailor them. I know he would be smiling at the thought that I am using them in my crafts.  He gave me thousands of them...I'm sure I shall never have to purchase a button ever..I have every color & shape you could imagine!!  Anyway...thanks for stopping by and checking this blog out!!

Challenges Entered:

Tammy's Scrapin Corner #24 - Anything Goes

Totally Stampalicious Anything Goes Challenge

My Mum's Craft Shop Challenge #71 - Weddings/Anniversaries

Bearly-Mine Challenges #49 - Anything Goes

BTW...I have been trying to post this card SEVERAL times today...might have missed some challenge deadlines...our internet has been in and out all weekend and I'm going to strangle the technician that comes to check on it if he doesn't fix it ASAP!!!   

Winged Things at Poodles Parlour

Happy Friday everyone!!  I'm having an especially good Friday...I've been on vacation since Wednesday and don't have to return to work until Tuesday, Sept 4...YAYYYY!!  Anyway...it's time for another challenge over at The Poodles Parlour and our theme for the challenge is Winged Things and is being sponsored by Di's Digi Downloads.   For my card I colored this cute little Digi Garden image with Prisma pencils.  The pink paper is from a Paper Studio stack, the striped from DCWV's Glitter Mat Stack.  The loopy border is a Martha Stewart punch.  For my sentiment I just used a cute computer font and some yellow twine from my stash. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!

Challenges Entered:
Tammy's Scrapin Corner Challenge #24 Anything Goes
Totally Stampalicious Clean & Simple
Send A Smile 4 Kids Anything Goes
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge # 176 Lets Hear it for The Girls
DYSU Fantasy Challenge #86

Happy Fall!!

Hey...just working ahead!!  Fall is obviously nowhere near here yet...still dry and in the 80's in Northern Kentucky..no rain in sight!!  Thought I might make a card and enter a few challenges!!  This darling little girl is  the "Li'l Pumpkin" image from Pure Innocence.  I have quite a few of their stamps..they are so darn cute!!  I colored her with Prisma Pencils and gamsol.  The circle card shape is from the Sweet Treats Cricut Cartridge, and the yellow embossed paper was cut out with the Elegant Edges Cricut Cartridge. The Southern Girls Challenge wanted some chipboard...I haven't used chipboard in a LONG time...but those two purple dots on the left hand side of the card are ....believe it or not....chipboard!  I don't know if that counts enough to enter their challenge..but I looked long & hard to find them!!  Anyway... I am going to mail this card off to the "Send a Smile 4 Kids" organization that delivers handmade cards to Children's Hospitals to be used by child patients/their parents/hospital staff any way they see fit!!  Hope you enjoy!!

Challenges Entered:

Clearly Inspired Challenge-Circles
Card Crafter's Circle # 36 Rich & Earthy Colors Challenge
Stampin Dragon-Anything But A Square or Rectangle Challenge
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Emboss It Wet or Dry Challenge
Southern Girls Chippie Heaven Challenge #51
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge # 199-Circle Cards
Anything Goes 4 Kids Challenge

Anything Goes at Poodles Parlour!!

I'm super excited to say that I am now officially a member of a design team!!!
I was invited to become one of the DT members at "The Poodles Parlour", and this Friday their challenge is Die Cuts.  I was checking out my digital stamp collection and I couldn't help noticing the darling Deacon Bug image from Bugaboo Stamps.  It takes me back to my childhood summer nights, when my sisters and I set out with glass jars, trying to capture as many lightning bugs as we could!!  I colored him with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol, and the ladybug die cut & "Cute as a Bug" sentiment were both cut from the "Just Because" Cricut cartridge.  I hope you all enjoy it!!

Catch A Wave

The weather here in Northern Kentucky has been hot, hot and hotter!!!  Our grass is brown, but we've had so little rain it would be impossible to water it enough to keep it green.  I've managed to keep our flower beds alive.  And even though I pretty much hate the winter cold, I've had enough of the heat for now thank you!  Whatever happened to Spring & Fall?  I wish we could swap some of our sunshine for the constant rain that is happening in the UK!!  I made the card below using the Tropical Santa Surfing image from Bugaboo Stamps.  Looks like he knows how to cool off!

Challenges Entered:

The Poodles Parlour-Anything Goes

Going Buggy's July Challenge-Under the Weather

Creative Crafts Challenges2-Summertime

Clearly I Stamp Challenge-Get Wet

Dream Valley Challenges # 37-Summer

Cutie Pie Challenge #23-Christmas in July

Crafting for all Seasons Challenge#32-Splash Me

Catch the Bug Christmas in July Friday Challenge

http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/Wow...I don't know about anybody else..but i am worn out keeping up with the Catch the Bug Christmas in July challenges!!!  But....a big plus...I have many Christmas cards already to go come December!!!   This Friday challenge just requested a bow on the card, which I have, but I just have to say..I love this children's angel image..so innocently heavenly!!!   Thanks for visiting!!!

Bugaboo Christmas in July Thursday Challenge - Sparkle & Shine

These next two images entered into the Bugaboo Challenge are not Bugaboo images, but I thought they were cute and thought they fit the challenge criteria....I don't know if the sparkly & shiny shows up on this picture I took for the Thursday Challenge..but it is surely there and a really cute card!!  Thanks for checking it out!!!catchthebugchallenge

Bugaboo Christmas in July Wednesday Humor me Challenge

This Crabby Cathy image seemed to be perfect for the Humor me Wednesday challenge at Bugaboo Christmas in July Challenge!  I can totally appreciate the sentiment that comes with her image!!http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/

Christmas in July Bugaboo Tuesday Challenge

Today's Bugaboo challenge was to use this freebie Santa in the Sand image to create a card with a tropical theme or color.  Here is my interpretation of the image. Again..coloring isn't the greatest..but I'm still in there trying..and it's fun!!!

Christmas in July Bugaboo Monday Challenge

The challenge rules this time were to use a non-Christmas image for your card..and I immediately thought of grumpy Stella!!  I'm not thrilled about my coloring on this entry or the next..but that's okay...just trying to keep up with the whole week's activities on this challenge blog are enough to keep me creating!!  Hope you like it!!

Christmas in July at Bugaboo

I just spent a half hour trying to post this card in the Christmas in July Bugaboo Challenge...and lost the whole post entry while trying to insert my card in the challenge...SO GOES LIFE!!!  My whole post was about my crazy busy weekend, so I'm thinking the fact that I lost my story of the post is probably a blessing for all of you!!!  Hope you enjoy!!

Tuesday, July 10

Well ..it's only going to be in the 80's this week versus the 105 degree weather we had this past week!!  Woohoo!!!  I know there are many more states out there that are suffering the same fate, so I really can't complain.  My younger daughter Elaine is in her eighth month of pregnancy, and is truly miserable in this heat!!  I made this card for her baby shower mostly because of the funny sentiment!  The image is a Bugaboo Digi Stamp ...JJ Pregnancy-Hospital. I cut the pink paper she is mounted on with Spellbinders Nestabilities Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles Large.  The green grossgrain ribbon is from Michaels and the teeny pink buttons are from Walmart. Of course by now you have guessed..she is having a girl..and the pink and green colors in the card are the colors of her nursery!!  Hope you like my card!!

Challenges Entered:

Catch The Bug July Anything Goes Challenge

Secret Saturday Challenge #192-Use Pastels Challenge

Something Borrowed, Something Blue

It's been a crazy spring/summer with four weddings, three high school graduations and one college graduation...all in the same family!!  Hardly had any time to create anything!  I did create this card for my lovely niece Mollie's wedding shower today.  She will be married in September, and is the last of the four mentioned above.  I am entering this card into the FCCB Challenge Me Monday #116 - Blue Bells Challenge.  We had to make a project with a bell, cross, or church on it and use the color blue.  Hope you like it!!

Supplies used:
Sweethearts Cricut Cartridge
Bazzill Dotted Swiss Paper Pack for blue background
DCWV Shimmer Matstack for bow & inside of bell
Sentiment is from Recollections Just Married stamp set

Happy Father's Day

I made this card for my husband Paul.  He doesn't think so, but he is the best father a child could ever have! Our children are all grown now, and I feel they are the most level headed children out their in the world.  They are loving, faithful, compassionate children who, although they have had challenges in their lifetime, and always will, they know the real difference between the everyday ups and downs and real tragedy, and what a difference family came make in both situations, and how they are blessed to come through it all intact!!
Happy Father's Day Paul!!

I used the Cricut Lite Block Party Cartridge for this card.  Used papers from my stash & printed the sentiment in Microsoft Word and cut it out using a Stampin Up top note punch.  Hope you enjoy!!


I am entering this card in the following challenges:

FCCB Father's Day Challenge
Secret Saturday Challenge#189
Going Buggy's June Challenge

Happy Spring/Happy Easter

One more Easter card before I go to bed!!!  I now have one Easter card to mail to each of my daughters and one to mail to my wonderful mother!!  I cut this shaped card from the Elegant Edges cricut cartridge and the bunny rabbit from the "Just Because" Cards cricut cartridge.  I am entering this card in the Mojo Monday 235 Contest and the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #179.  I wish all of you a wonderful Easter weekend!!  Probably won't be back here till after my daughters wedding on the 14th!!!

Happy Spring/Happy Easter

So my whole New Years Resolution was to start a blog, make more cards/scrapbooking pages, and enter them in more challenges!!  Well, I've got the blog started, but making cards/scrapbooking pages for loved ones, and entering challenges has not gone as well as planned!  Probably because my daughter is getting married next Saturday, and the whole wedding planning thing has taken over the first part of this year!!  That's okay...I will get back on track with a vengeance when my daughter is happily married!!  Anyway...I wasn't going to even attempt to make Easter cards, but I'm making a last ditch effort!!  The background paper for this card is from the DCWV Blossoms & Butterflies 4.5 x 6.5 stack.  The girl is the Pure Innocence "My Basket of Eggs" stamp, the sentiment is from Inky Antics Carrot Bunny HoneyPOP set, and the small bow was cut with the 3D Bow Cricut Cartridge.   I colored the girl image with colored pencils and gamsol!!  I just love the Pure Innocence stamps from My Favorite Things!!

I am entering this card into the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday #105, Polkadoodles Easter Blog Hop Challenge, and the Catch the Bug Easter/Spring Challenge.

Happy Spring

     I had to enter the March Going Buggy Challenge....Enfy's posts are just too hilarious, and she is just wicked enough to throw this "use something on your card that wasn't intended for cardmaking"challenge  to spark our creativity!!  I looked at the challenge, and as a newbie to this game I thought...."OH LORD...she couldn't have picked a harder project!!!   I decided to go ahead and make a card with as many weird objects as I could.  It might not be pretty, but hope it is unusual enough to win!! 

    The flower centers are water bottle caps.  The red I painted with Delta Perm Enamel Country Tomato, the yellow with Plaid Indoor/Outdoor Dandelion Yellow paint. I used a Stampin Up & EK Success paper punch for the petals.  The flower stalks are bamboo party picks painted with Delta Ceramcoat Leaf Green color.  The leaves, believe it or not, are the paper wrappers from Halls Mentholyptus Cough Drops painted with the same Leaf Green color!!  The sentiment is from the Inky Antics Carrot Bunny HoneyPOP Set.  

Happy Birthday Mary!!!

I made this card a little while ago for a blog challenge....but never got around to linking it to the challenge...SHAME ON ME!  Anyway...I thought it was a really cute stamp, and made the card for my sister Mary's birthday (March 30th) so I am posting it on here just for fun!!  The stamp is "patricia birthdaycake ch107" from stampingbella.com and the sentiment is from the Happiest Birthday Wishes set from Stampin Up!!  I colored it using colored pencils and gamsol (Mineral Spirits)

I WON A POLKADOODLES CD!!

I am so super excited!!  Just found out I won a Candy Doodles CD through Enfys's Going Buggy blog
!!  I've been checking these CD's out for a while, and it looks like they have SO MANY cute images to print and/or color so I can't wait to get it and start creating!!  Thanks so much Enfy's!

Happy Birthday Joey!!

My brother Joey's birthday is March 24th.  He was the 5th child, after four girls! YIKES!!!  We dressed him up in girls clothes and put makeup on him and generally treated him like a doll baby!  (Poor thing!)  Despite all that, he ended up being a mechanical, camping, hunting ,fishing, 4-wheeling kind of guy that went his own way in life.  He's only 45 minutes away, but we don't see or talk to him a lot (probably his punishment to us for torturing him so much when he was such a young tyke).  ANYWAY..this boyish image made me think of him today.....and so long ago!!  I kept the card kind of plain and boyish colors except I did add a bow.

I am entering this card in the Polka Doodles- Let's Hear it For the Boys Challenge.
The stamp name is "Eli & Frogger" fromWhipper Snapper Designs"Inc.  (CY923)
The ribbon is from Michaels Stores Inc
The sentiment I made up & printed myself!!
I colored the card with colored pencils & gamsol!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Patty

Birthday Card

My Coworker Karen's 50th birthday is on April 13th!  Yep...she was born on Friday the 13th...and she swears that exempts her from any superstitions!!  She lives alone with her calico cat Kenney, and loves to talk about how they know each others habits, feelings, thoughts, quirkiness!!  So I thought she would get a kick out of this 50th birthday card for her!  I am entering it in the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday # 102, and the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge 232.  Hope you like it!!

Recipe:

Cricut Cartridge: Create a Critter for image & sentiment
Orange Papers:  The Paper Studio Back to Basics
Bow:  3D Bows Cricut Craft Exclusive

Enfy's Lace & Butterfly Challenge

This card was made for my beautiful foster granddaughter (name cannot be legally mentioned) on her legal adoption date, which should happen in this year.  The card is so appropriate...she has been with my daughter & son-in-law since before she was 2 years old, and has BLOOMED beyond expectation!!  She is now a 4 year old sassy, know-it-all, mother figure, who mimics my daughter in her cleaning/safety habits...she is priceless!!

The background paper is from the Blossoms & Butterflies stack by DCWV.   The stamp is Stampabilities called Lucy Watering Her Flowers.  The sentiment was a freebie from another stamp set purchase, and I can't remember the company for the life of me.  Which is funny, because when I received it, I thought, what the heck am I going to ever use it for!!!  That's just the way life goes!!!  Hope you enjoy it.