Spoon Full of Sugar - Let's Get Sketchy!

Running a bit late today - I worked all day yesterday and didn't get my post written a head of time, thought I would get up early today and get it done, but oops I slept until 7:30! You know "before the farm" that would have been really funny as I have never been a morning person and getting up before 8 am would be a horrible thing to think of. But now - well the animals are hungry, and the dogs need let out - so 6 am is more like a normal start to the day.

Today is Spoon Full of Sugar Day and the challenge this week was picked by our fellow DT Paola and she has created a fab sketch for us all to follow. Our sponsor this week is Bella digi Studio and she was kind enough to share images with the DT - She is a new Digi for me and she has some really cute images!

So here is my card -

For my image I colored with my Copics - and then highlighted the background with chalk. I always do this last.. you do not want to get chalk on the tips of your Copics :0) I then cut out with a circle Nestie... then I took a purple Copic and "colored" a mat around the edge, it was blah... so I stickled the over the purple.. ta da bling!

My pattern papers are scraps so I don't know the maker - sorry - but I was happy to use them, they matched and I just love purple and green together.

I hope you will join the Spoon challenge this week - it is a fun challenge and a fun sketch.

Well gonna get a little breakfast, then get to work. It is nice working from home - something about working the morning in my PJ's makes me happy - LOL  Have a wonderful Tuesday!

HUGS and-

Anyone need some tea? I did after making this!!!

Sunday was MIL's birthday, and I wanted to make something that was "her"... and I found this teapot at My Time Made Easy - I just love these templates, and I fell totally for this teapot template... now when I saw it, bought it and sat down to make it, then we had issues. Darn this thing was tough!! There are 2 teapots in my trash can! And this one, well it may not hold together for a long time. LOL

Seriously this thing aged me! And you can tell it isn't put together really well - the edges keep coming loose, and I used two different types of glue - my ATG and then also white paper glue. Sigh I wish it came out smoother on the edges, but I was happy it came out at all by the end of the day.

I used, scrap paper for the pattern part - And LOTS of green bazzil card stock. I used fancy pearl lace for the edge of the top, with a mulberry rose topper. My sentiment is from Stampin Up and cut out and matted with a Nesties.

I love the curly handle :0) It really was fun to make, once I figured out how to get it put together correctly. These templates are so much fun and make great gifts. MIL loved this, I just don't know how long it will stay all together -

Hope you have a wonderful Monday!!!

Animal Crackers Saturday and Visit One to the Ocularist Done!

Whew... I am so glad that my first appointment at the Ocularist is over! I know it is strange,but I have dreaded that part of this whole "thing" more than anything else, even the surgeries! Dumb huh? I think a large part of it was the total unknown of what was going to happen, and that idea of making a mold of my eye. But it wasn't bad at all... just took a few minutes, and really other than feeling really really strange, there was no pain or even that uncomfortable. So the mold has been made, I go back on Thursday for the fitting and positioning. Then on Saturday the eye coloring, this takes a few hours. I have to be there so she can match my good eye, I will leave for a couple of hours, then return later in the day to pick it up. Done over and behind me. So things are moving well!

Now how about some Animal Crackers?

We have a couple of really wide donkeys here... Patti is really large and when I took this photo the baby is really leaning to one side - you see it? Her left side here is much larger and higher than the other... This photo makes her look much skinner than she really is - she is realllllly wide!

Maybe not as wide as Macie... LOL we stopped on our dirt road and chatted with a neighbor yesterday. He is a really nice guy, we love having him as a neighbor. He asked us about that wide donkey he sees across the field between us. And as he is saying "That Wide Donkey" he holds his hands as wide across as he can spread his arms.. LOL I call Macie one of my Dinner Table Donkey - - when she is pregnant we could put a table cloth across her pull up chairs and have a meal. Well other than the lumps of fat... but I won't talk about that or someone could point mine out as well.. ahemmmmm

How adorable is our newest baby Felipe? He is really sweet - and looks just like his mom Jazz. It takes two people to love on him though - not to hold him still, but one to love on his Mom so the other can love on him! Jazz really adores attention, so she sort of, well... shoves him out of the way so you can give her 100% of your total attention. Gotta love her!

And gorgeous Lydia, she is just getting so big! They grow up so fast don't they? She too looks just like her Mom, Lacey. And reminds me of Lacey's first baby, our sweet Rosie -

Speaking of growing up fast... Frio and Alonzo are ready to leave. I know it just kills me to say that!!! They are being sold to a neighbor, so I can visit them ;0) We were suppose to take them over a couple of weeks ago, but our times just never met up, so I think Sunday we are going to try again - I dread it as both of these Mom's really do cry a lot when you take their babies from them - will be loud around here for a few days or more!

How is this for one cute baby? I think I took 24 photos to get this one. I love digital cameras! Stunning little dude isn't he?

And just as stunning as he is.. Libbie is beautiful - she was really calm here, a rare thing for my triple A personality girl, but she had just woke up from a nap on Daddy's lap.

Well hope you enjoyed this weeks Animal Crackers- and I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned - Hubby is working today, I have to work part of the day, then the rest of the day I was thinking I may try and get ahead on some crafting. I have been looking for some new Christmas papers, haven't found any locally at all - so if you know of the latest and greatest holiday papers and where to find them let me know, I am just not finding any that I love this year! Frustrating!

HUGS and -

It's Just Magnolia Day and my EYE DAY!

Hi - ok, today is going to be a quick post... Nervous, Exciting and long day predicted. Today is my day at the Ocularist - Yes I am having my new eye made today!!!! And I am very nervous, but very excited to get back to a normal look - It will be a long day I am sure, they said to be prepared for 2-8 hours... uhmmm ok...

So here is my Just Magnolia Card for this week.. This week is a great sketch -

Sorry no details today - if you need to know something email me.. I am so late today, sorry-
Make sure to visit Just Magnolias and see all the DT cards!
HUGS and-

Did you see my Clock in the last Stampavie Newsletter??

I just realized this week that I never showed off my Sarah Kay Clock that I made a while back!!! I made it for the Stampavie Newsletter - then I was... well sort of out of it - when the newsletter came out. I can't believe I never posted it here - well I did get sort of "sidetracked" with life for a while... but just had to show you even if a little late :0)

When trying to come up with something "different" to do for the newsletter, I looked up and in my craft room I have a scrapbook clock I made many many many moons ago - and I thought hey, if you can put photos in a clock like a scrapbook page, why not ink up stamps and create a background? So I pulled out some of my favorite Sarah Kays and colored them up....

 

 

 

Here are my instructions in case you want to try one yourself ;0)

I started by purchasing an inexpensive clock, I got mine from Wal-Mart and it was only $3.99. They make a few different styles and sizes of these plastic clocks, some the front pops off and others you have to unscrew the back. Once you have your clock apart it is as simple as finding what images you want to use and coloring them - I used copies on mine, and then tore them roughly around the image and inking the edges to show off that tearing. 

Then it is time to decorate the face of your clock, you carefully take the hands off the face, they usually slide off the top of the center. Put them somewhere safe - then find a pattern paper that you like and cut in a circle in the same size as the face, and poke a small hole in the center, then attach to the face with adhesive. I then attached my images. -and for all of the wording and flourishes I used rub on's You can use stamps as well, really what ever you would like to decorate is fine, just make sure that the items are lower than the hands when placed back onto the center - this is really important if you would like this clock to actually tell time :0) - Numbers can be used if you like - really have some fun with it and add whatever you like!

Carefully pop the hands back in place and put the clock back together. You can leave it like that and hang and enjoy --- or you can go for more! I pulled out my button jar and hot glued buttons all the way around the top of the clock - you may want to lay these around first to make sure you get the right sizes of buttons to fit perfectly Next I used a piece of pattern paper around the outer edge of the clock with a large lace ribbon on top of that - I love the vintage feel the lace gives it, but any ribbon would work great! Some of those really wide ribbons alone would work wonderfully! To add some bling and hide the hot glue on the top of the clock I pulled out a bottle of Diamond Stickles and surrounded each button and around the edge of the glass - really does add some sparkle to the top!

 Hope you like it - and hope it didn't bore you if you have already seen this in the newsletter :0)   Hubby like this one, he is always really nice about everything I make. But this - well it was suppose to be a gift, and he didn't want me to give it after it was done. That made me feel really great.. but then panic for another gift ;0)

OH and if you didn't get the newsletter and want to make sure to not miss them in the future - sign up HERE just scroll to the bottom of the page and click the link - these newsletters are the greatest at inspiration!

HUGS and -

Spoon Full of Sugar - A Recipe or Shaker Card?

Hello - and Happy Tuesday! Today's Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge gives you the choice - We have a recipe to follow or you can make a shaker card - me.. I went with the recipe ;0)

This week the sponsor is Whimsy Stamps - and I was lucky to get to use this adorable image from their store!  This is Hanging Around Kitty - I love her! I colored with my Copics -

Now the recipe part of the challenge - 3 flowers, two buttons and one ribbon -

I hope you can find all my "ingredients". In case you miss it the one ribbon... the kitty is hanging from it ;0) I cut slits and wove it under the paws.

My papers are all from My Minds Eye Dreamy collection - love these papers and the colors together - the bright turquoise blue with the red. I made an easel card again - having fun with these :0) I sewed all the papers together, and my flowers are punches with EK Success Retro Medium flower punches and Martha Stewart frond leaf punches, with pearl centers.

My sentiment is from Stamps by Judith - just too perfect for the image!

Hope you can join us this week at Spoon Full of Sugar - these Whimsy stamps are too fun to work with, and you could win some for yourself :0)

Have a wonderful day.. Hubby is off today, so I have no idea what trouble we will be getting into - should do some work around the house and the donkey pens... hmm will we be doing that or find a reason to run off and have some fun???  Probably shouldn't as we have done that a lot lately...

HUGS and-

Happy Birthday HEIDI!!!!

Today is one of the sweetest ladies in the world birthdays.. I am very lucky to call her friend, and boss!

Heidi is the owner of Stampavie, and today is her birthday - I of course had to use a Stampavie image to make her card ;0) I adore this image from Tina Wenke - Mouse with Sunflower, and I know Heidi loves Sunflowers... so it was the perfect choice - for her card.

Colored with my Copics, and the chalk for the background - A Hero Arts sentiment in the corner.

For the card I remembered a gorgeous paper from a K&Company Stack that had large sunflowers, I was worried that they were to large for a card, but I think they are fine - dramatic even. I went with an easel card. I haven't made many of these before, but love them. They are different, and fun to put together, I will say though, this card... well it is pretty heavy so mailing is gonna cost a bit more.. Lets see how many layers there are... 14-16 layers? Plus the thread, and ribbon.. LOL I put lots of love into this one!

Hope she likes it, and I hope she has a wonderful Birthday!!!

Have a great Monday -
HUGS and-

Animal Crackers - Shhhh.. the doggies are hunting...

Yes Autie and Libbie were not interested in a photo shoot at all this week.. Very serious business to tend too... They were just going insane hunting Grasshoppers!! I just wish they wouldn't eat them.. ewww.... that part just grosses me out!! But it is fun to watch them hunt ;0)

And they are so good at it, unless they both go for the same grasshopper, then it becomes a fight for who is toughest - (Libbie usually wins that one, Autie is a lover not a fighter LOL)

How is this for a group of trouble? No not really they are all just too adorable and sweet for words, It still amazes me when I see a large group of my "children" and I know they were all born here - - Adorable!

Rosie was the first to leave the group and come for some loving - Rose is our "sick" girl, always on her meds, and always skinny... even though she is spoiled and gets special feedings with her sweet feed.  But let me tell you as long as she has those meds and all she is full of energy and is one pushy sweetheart! She will always be super special to us.

Now this is a photo I may have to print and frame... I just love it! Irene was standing out in the pen, and I guess Cali and Mirta just were so hot and tired they couldn't hold their heads up. Ok so Irene is the right resting height for Cali, but little Mirta well she had to stretch :0)

Shade was Frankie's only thought  - I was agreeing and headed in pretty quick, it was so hot!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, and enjoyed my Animal Crackers - They all really enjoy visiting you all!

HUGS and-

Just Magnolias - Getting Sentimental!

Love that Just Magnolias is Sentimental! Ok, so it sounds so sweet and wonderful - what it really means is that you are pretty much wide open for the challenge this week, just have a sentiment of some sort on your card - :0)

I inked up a new Tilda - well new to me, as this is the stamp I got Sunday at the Stamping Store.  I just loved her hat.. LOL  I colored with my Copics, then inked all the edges and the shadow behind her with Distressing ink Antique Linen - Then for her little veil I used Smooch Illuminate - love that stuff!! And I love how it came out as her see through veil.  Very sparkly!

My card went a bit distressed this week, I love that look but have such a hard time pulling it off. My pattern papers is where I started with that thought. Graphic 45 - I KNOW I CUT INTO A PIECE!!! I love this paper so much I have to really know where I am going with it and make SURE I am going to like it before I make any cuts. LOL These two patterns are two sides of one piece, no thinking coordination! I matted each piece with brown card stock, after distressing the edges of each and inking each with the Distressing ink. They were all sewed together as well. My image is cut out with a Nestie and I inked around the edge with a dark brown ink.

When matting the image with the pattern paper, it saddened me that so much of the pretty paper was being covered up, so I cut around the clock art with my craft knife and slipped the image into the pattern paper. A Satin ribbon is wrapped around the paper, and then a bow added.

My sentiment is from Stampin Up - I love it! Found this set at an antique/estate shop a few weeks back, I was so happy!! It was cheap too.. I think it was like $6.00 for the entire set. Score!

NOW... Eye Update:
Doctor appointment was Wednesday afternoon, he was very happy with how I am doing, and said I have healed perfectly. I do like to do things well you know :0)  He said I was able to get back to everything I felt up to doing - that is WONDERFUL!!  I did say I wasn't sure I was up to vacuuming and dusting yet.. he laughed, Hubby didn't.. LOL  I now have an appointment to have my artificial eye made on August 27th. YEA!! So things are moving again - and by the end of the month I should "look" more normal - He said I have to go back every 6 months for a eye exam for my good eye - now that it is the only eye I have  - I need to keep it healthy and make sure I take very good care of it.  I agree.

I again want to thank all of you for the support you have given me. I only wish I could thank each of you personally - seriously, I know this is why I have gotten through this so easily. I had each of you behind me :0)

HUGS - see you Saturday for Animal Crackers!

Look what we found outside yesterday morning...

YEP... Jazz had her baby!! We figure about 5 am or so - We went out about 6:45 and he was up trotting around and Mom had him all cleaned up and he was eating.  Isn't "HE" a real cutie?

He seems like he is going to be real friendly! We named him Felipe -

He has gorgeous coloring and lots of stripes all directions on his legs.. long legs at that, just like his Mom -

We did the traditional day one photo with Dad... Felipe was saying "UH No I don't think I like it up here..." He was wiggling everywhere... LOL and Jazz was telling Dad by shoving him with her nose, "Put my baby down please"


Today is my Doctor appointment... wish me luck that all is A-OK and he will schedule the appointment for my artificial eye to be made - I am so ready to move on...

Have a great Wednesday and I'll report on my Dr. visit ASAP...
HUGS and -

Spoon Full of Sugar - Christmas in August!

Just in time for new 2010 Christmas Images being released!! Yes, Spoon Full of Sugar theme this week is to make a Christmas card! A head start on making your cards this year? Or have you already been busy making them?

I was super excited for this challenge as the brand new Stampavie Christmas images are being released end of the month! Look and see all of them HERE...

There were so many I wanted to color up "first" but I ended up starting with Cozy Christmas by Laurence Designs - a new artist for Stampavie this winter! Love these image ;0)

For my card I started with a cream colored card stock base, and the pattern papers are from JoAnn's Debbie Mumm "Harvest & Holiday" collection. I matted everything with dark red card stock and sewed them down. My image is colored with my Copics, cut with Nesties Label and inked. I found a piece of Happy Holiday's ribbon in my stash - I bordered the thin ribbon with a Martha Stewart lace border punch. You might see that a bunch, this was twice I have done it and I am just loving the look - HA! Three red buttons for the corner finished off my card.  I love the look of the RED - GREEN - and BABY BLUE card for Christmas, a little traditional with a modern twist huh?

Hope you like it, I had lots of fun with this one, even though it is like 104 degrees outside while I was making it! Not a Christmas weather feeling at all here!

Now pop on over to A Spoon Full of Sugar and see all the gorgeous Christmas cards, then join us and get a head start on your holiday cards.

OH and thank you so much for all of the wonderful Birthday Wishes - Hubby and I had a wonderful day, put about 325 miles on the truck going from town to town hitting all the shops - didn't buy hardly anything... even in the stamping store!! Was TONS of wood mounted stamps, and the only stamps she had that I naturally gravitated to were her "brand new" Magnolias - she had about 12 images old to new... and of them, only one I didn't already own.. LOL Ok, so I bought that one... and two sheets of paper - other than that, I had pretty much every thing in the store already! But it was a wonderful store, hope to visit there again soon. The fun of the day was just spending the entire day Hubby and I,  and seeing the country  side-

HUGS and -

So... I aged today....

Yes, the calendar rolled over - I aged today. But you know after all that I have gone through this summer, it is ok by me - 43 is just alright with me :0)

So here is an update... went out driving yesterday - TWICE, just me and my pick up truck. Now I didn't venture out onto the highway - LOL but things went well and had no issues, I think the highway and I are gonna be just fine. The main thing I had to do is to get my right hand mirror in the right spot. I do have to look to the right more than I use too, or should I say should have done. And I even passed a man on a tractor with huge load of hay, and didn't rub tires with him! (I had to pass him, he was only going 10MPH) Distance judging didn't seem to be an issue at all. I feel pretty comfortable with what is real distance. Now first time I park in one of those straight, tight, very busy parking lots... I'll report back and let you know how me and "real distance" are doing.. LOL I probably will be getting lots of exercise in the near future... parking WAY out in the lots!

 So that is one big check mark on my list. YEA! And Wednesday is the big DR. day to get the ok to visit the ocularist - learning new things.... this is the person that makes the artificial eyes, from what I have read and heard from people they are more artist than anything.

So what are we doing today for my shhh "birthday"  - Hubby is taking me out for a day trip. Animals have to be fed remember, morning and night, so day trips is about all we can do. We are going antiquing, to a small town about 2 hours away - I have always wanted to take a trip there, and well.. we always get sidetracked and never make it there. And ... there is a stamping store there too.. wink wink so I am sure I will venture in and see what I can find there too wink wink!! 

Well - sorry to post and not show off something, a card, a project, a furry child. For some reason it just didn't feel right to not post today.

Thanks so much for reading my rambling...
HUGS and-

Animal Crackers - Super Models ....

Today I am showing off some super models.. LOL Seriously I think many of them were posing for me this week! And next they probably won't even look at me for photos... working with animals can be frustrating...

Little Lydia - She is destine to be a model. This girl loves to have her photo taken, she even moves her head from side to side and turns for me. She really is very photogenic ( I think that is spelled right.. LOL )

Ted E. Bear was just standing there staring at me from under one of our large oak trees. A perfect photo opportunity. And I know he wanted his photo taken, because normally he puts his head down and walks at you as quick as possible for some loving. He is one of the standard donkeys and is hands down one of the friendliest we have. Especially if you have peppermints :0)

Check out Father and Son... Black Jack and our orphan from last summer Sergio... ok, so Dad has a bit of a belly, but hey he is 16 I think... Sergio is still young. But man... both are just stunning!  Sergio is on our for sale page..... sigh, I hope he never leaves - he is "my" baby! I have lots of two hour feedings with him last summer!

Chatty Cathy... this girl talks all the time! Her and her brother Hank... Hank is for sale anyone need a goat?????  Cathy has really turned a gorgeous color as she has gotten older. Still super skittish, hopefully once she has her first babies - next spring - she will tame down, Annie was the same way and she is getting so much better now.

Now this isn't a Super Model photos... they don't line up to eat, if super models eat at all. But this was too funny to not show. Dad had just filled their grain for dinner... mmm they love their grain. We give them show goat feed. They aren't shown, but this food really gives them beautiful coats and has lots of vitamins for the Mom's and kids.

How is this for SERIOUS Super Model?  She was sitting on the step of my craft room, just staring out into space..... Man I wish I knew what she was thinking....

Would have been funny if this was taken at the exact same time, but no... he was actually looking out of my craft room at Libbie who had just taken his toy away from him. She loves to take away whatever he is playing with or eating. And like a gentleman, he never argues, just gives it up to her and then pouts..... LOL  My little man is so sweet....

Well off to get my Saturday going... I think I am going to practice my driving today - so if you are in my area watch out for me! LOL  I am not nervous, I really have gotten pretty use to my new vision, and I am going to take it slow and stay around the house for now - but I need to get back to life! And well... I really miss driving my pick up truck!

HUGS and