Yee Haw - You're Great!

This one is different for me. I had a idea in my head, and it just wouldn't come out and go onto the card. Cute Card Challenge this week is "The Stars at Night"... to use stars in your card. Well Yee Haw I just got a few of the New Martha Stewart border punches and was really looking forward to using one, I picked the picket fence border. That has a "western" kind of feel, don't you. I then found a piece of paper that has stars on it, ok they were really large stars so only one would fit on my card, but one big star qualifies right? I matted the star and found a piece of Core'dinations paper that would go with it, I sanded it to distress and match the feel of the pattern paper.

It really made me happy to pull out a stamp I haven't used in a while. Sweet Ebony Giddy Up! She is perfect for this card, don't you think. I colored her with my Copic, Spica Glitter Pens and white gel pen and then cut her out with a border. The Hero Arts Sentiment is stamped on a Martha Stewart label card, it was white and red... and when I put it on the card I think it glowed in the dark - really bright. So I colored it with a Copic marker to tone it down. I punched the picket fence border out of the back side of the star paper, it needed more. I found a star ribbon, but it was royal blue, did not match at all. I was upset because it would have been perfect. I then decided it wouldn't hurt if I tried and inked it. Taa Daa... that worked! Then for some bling I added some brown dew drops and some red foil stars to it. Now I am ok with how it came out, but let me tell you this all took me probably 2 hours! I really struggled with the layout and the items. Do you ever have a card like that? It just won't go together like it should.

Can you believe it is Friday? I think a couple of days this week were missed. I am going to sit and enjoy some blogs, eat some breakfast, and then put myself in fast forward and get my list done today so I can go and play tomorrow!

Hope you have a great day, and have some fun plans for the weekend... like getting inky!

HUGS and -

Miss You -

Ever struggle with a sketch? I love Bea's sketches, she has more talent in her little finger than I do. I loved this weeks Friday Sketchers project, and was so excited about trying it because it is so different, but since Friday I have been moving things around on this card and it just isn't working. I finally gave up, and just stuck it down. I have come to the conclusion that it is the paper I am not happy with. Ok so here it is out there in the world for all to see, what do you think?

I started with my Sweet Ebony Flowers image, just love that large flower she is holding, that and I love watering cans! I colored her with my Copics, white gel pen and Sakura Glaze Pens.

The pattern paper is from Daisy Bucket Designs, have you see the cool new papers they have that are 12x12 but have 4 different 6x6 papers on one side of the paper, really a great idea! And I really love the patterns and colors, just didn't work for me with this card. The papers have a brown and bright blue color in them, and are two sided so they were perfect for this sketch.

I matched the ribbon with the blue in the paper and the base of the card, and a large darker blue flower that was in my stash. And I do love that mother of pearl button! The sentiment is from Fiskars. I doodled around the edge with a glaze pen trying to help it for me....

Well Hubby is off today, he is going to start really working on the house. We are adding a small area on the back, I need some space to store Hubby's "stuff". Fishing Poles, Bags of Fishing Tackle, you know guy stuff. And he is working on my Laundry area. Then next year... all fingers and toes crossed... he will add a space and front porch on our house. The space.... a 10x20 craft space!!! All mine, not a corner in the bedroom!

Hope you have a great Monday!

HUGS and-

A Spoon Full of Sugar and some Raspberry Ribbon Love

I have some catching up to do! I have spent so much time outside with the new baby that I am really behind on my cards, and my blog surfing!

Today I have two cards my first is my DT card for A Spoon Full of Sugar: Challenge Blog.

This week is some for some "Animal Magic"
"We would love you to make a card with an animal somewhere in the design. Don't forget you must include at least one Sugar Nellie, Rachelle Anne Miller, Sarah Kay, High Hopes or a Hanglar Image somewhere on your design."

For my card I chose my Hat-itude Chicks from High Hopes. I colored them with my Copics and Spica Glitter Pens. Wish you could see that on the flowers, they really do sparkle! The pattern papers are from Paper Studio, and I used sage green and pale yellow Bazzil card stock. Everything is sewed down, twice! I liked the double stitching look. Prima flowers and buttons finish out the corner.

Why not give this weeks challenge a try. Lots of stamp brands to choose from and any animal will work!

My second card is a fun sketch from Raspberry Ribbons. I ran across this blog a few days ago I have of course drooled on their Ribbon kits from seeing them on lots of blogs, but then I found their blog and the fact that they are going to have a sketch challenge twice a month. The sketch this time really was cool, different and I had to give it a try.

I used a Sweet Ebony stamp and Doodlebug pattern paper and ribbons, I colored the image with my Copics to match the papers and ribbon, love the vintage colors. I don't do use these colors often, and I love them. For the sky I wanted something softer, so I used chalks.

I tried a million different things for the larger circle. I knew I wanted to use the buttons for the smaller circles, but that larger one... Then I found the flowers in my stash that were the same colors as the image, it just clicked. I couldn't decide which ribbon I wanted to use...he he..... so I used all three! I stacked the two on the bottom border of the image, love the soft velour flowers mixed with the satin ribbon. Then the larger ribbon I used as a background to my sentiment, which is from Stampin up, and punched with my new Stampin Up Word punch! (Thanks Claudia for helping me get one!)

Love the sketch, and think I will be checking in often to see what new ones they put up! Give them a look and see yourself.

Well I am off - Don't you think I should go back out and hug and love on the new baby? Don't want her to not feel loved ya know!

HUGS and-

A double Katharina Sketch day!

Tuesday and that is A Spoon Full of Sugar time!

"We have the gorgeous Katharina as our guest designer this week who has created this fab sketch for us, if you haven’t paid her a visit pop over and take a look at her fab blog, and wish her well on her new adventure whiff of joy!

Don’t forget you must include at least one Sugar Nellie, Rachelle Anne Miller, Sarah Kay, High Hopes or a Hanglar Image somewhere on your design."

For my DT card I wanted to do something different, while going through my stamps I came across the Sugar Nellie Pirate Monkey... just staring at me... "I have never been inked....." it was saying. Well that was just sad, so I gave him a chance and while stamping I remember the fun sock monkey paper I had gotten a while back.

I colored this cute guy with my Copics and doodled the edges of the Nestibilities cut oval with a Sakura Red Glaze Pen. and then inked the edges to give an appearance of a mat behind it. I cut a circle for the Hero Arts Sentiment and did the same for it. The blue bands are embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. Everything is stitched down with a zig zag stitch with fabulous Red Metallic Thread! I so wish you could see just how cool it looks, that thread is awesome. I think it is fun looking... and I have a perfect idea of who I will be sending this one to!

And lets just make this an all Katharina Sketch day!

I got a chance last night to play with another sketch from her. Now if you haven't heard Katharina is starting a new stamp company! A Whiff of Joy is going to be one of those companies that everyone is going to be running to get all of the new releases, stores will sell out quick just from seeing the few samples she has shown on her blog I know I will be one with my nose stuck to the screen waiting impatiently for the "open for business" sign to come on!

The sketch is a challenge for a guest DT spot! Wow can you image how cool that would be! The DT was named this past week and it truly is a dream team, to join even for just a couple of months would be a dream as well! Make sure to check out the fabulous ladies that have been added to that team.

For my entry into her challenge I went with one of my all time favorite Sweet Ebony stamps. It just makes me totally happy and smile the entire time I color this adorable little lady. She is colored with my Copics, white gel pen and Glitter pens for her locket and buckle.

For my pattern paper I had this wonderful Bo Bunny floral paper, love the country look of it and perfect for the image. I then used a piece of Coordination's red paper and ran it through the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing folder. I sewed everything down, zig zag stitch for the backgrounds and then a blanket stitch around the image. Then in a my masses of ribbon I found this checked ribbon that matches perfect.

The sentiment is from Rubber Stamp Tapestry and I know I have used it a few times this last week... can't help it I love it! But I did just get a few more from the LSS... so there will be different ones coming. I punched it with the smallest Fiskar's Circle Squeeze punch, I placed that on a red Prima flower, and the with the medium Squeeze punch cut a slightly larger circle out of the card base green so the red flower would pop off of the red card stock.

I love how it came out. The country feel, and the fact that she is one of my favorites is surely why! Make sure you check out Katharina's blog for more details of all the fabulous news she has been sharing!

Today is catch up day... catch up on laundry, housework, and of course some time to catch up on my favorite blogs and find a few new ones too!

And as for Donkey update... we are still on standby.... but with soon to be Hurricane Dolly coming they are sure to deliver at the most wonderfully fun time to be outside with them! =)

HUGS and-

Ismaki Challenge with some Chocolate!

Today I have two cards again, the first is for the Ismaki Challenge. I am going to admit, I wasn't sure about the sketch at first I don't do a lot of pocket cards with tags. But liked the samples and thought I would give it a try.

I decided to use a card base left from last years Christmas cards. I pulled out a this adorable set of Hanglar stamps, I just love them, I think it is the polka dots. I colored them to match the base and the dark chocolate brown card stock with my Copics and white gel pen. I also used a clear Sakura glaze pen to color over the lock and the key, I couldn't get this in the photo... but it looks kind of cool in person.

A Martha Stewart punch to make the scalloped border for the top of the pocket, and placed a satin ribbon around the pocket. I doodled the edges of the pocket and base.

Now to the tag. I was lucky to find a chipboard tag from Basic Grey in my stash that was the perfect size. I inked it with Brilliance Cocoa ink pad and "stitched" the edges of it as well.

The sentiment is from Paper Inspirations and was one I purchased on a clearance rack months ago and have never inked up, $2.49 well spent now! I thought it fit perfect with the image and colors of this card. Tied some fibers to the top of the tag and done!

Love the colors and the chocolate them. And love this sketch and now plan to use it again. Wonder why it threw me at the start so much?

My second card was just plain for fun. I got a new toy yesterday! I was quickly passing through Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon. Thinking wow... nothing to buy this time, then I found on the punch isle.... the brand new Fiskars corner/border punches! I have really been wanting these since I saw them online, but knew they would take forever to get in the stores here! Well surprise surprise! I found them hanging there just waiting for me!

As soon as I got home I pulled out a scrap piece of card stock and punched. Yep this is my first punch from that scrap! If you haven't seen these punches... run and see if you can find one, or come here and I will let you play with mine =)

It punches the corner, then also the border to match in perfect one inch increments, now to get all of the other patterns!

I layered the purple decorated piece with a light pink to show off the punched design. Then laughed, cuz I had no other plan for anything else just ran around showing off how cool it looked. Well I didn't want to waste it so I colored up a Sweet Ebony image with my Copics and white gel pen, and cut it down to the correct size. Now I quickly found that if I cut to the correct size the slits on the corners of the punch are designed to be corner holders! Wow cool! I had to cut through the pink behind but loved the look. I doodled the edges, added a plastic iridescent flower and leaves on the bottom corner with a purple brad. Then I stamped the sentiment from Hanna Stamps. I then placed everything on a pre-purchased kraft paper base, fit perfect. From start to finish.. maybe 30 minutes! That is fast for me.

Hope you have a great Wednesday, Hubby is off again today so who knows what I have planned. It is just easier that way, most all of my plans get thrown up in the air when Hubby is off, so I am just going to go with it =)

Hugs and -

Sweet 'n Sassy and a little "hog"

Well it is Monday again, man the weeks are flying by! Today I have two challenge cards, the first I love, the second... ehhh I can't decide if I like or hate.

First - Friday Sketchers Blog - wow it is week 9 already! And this was a great sketch just as the 8 before, I changed the sizes just a bit from the sketch, but love how it came out. First I love this stamp!! How pretty is she, this is one of the new Sweet Ebony images, Sweet n' Sassy, I think she is my favorite so far, but then I pull out one of the others and think the same of them =) I colored her in with my Copic Markers, white gel pen, and Sakura Glaze Pens.

I then got a chance to play with something new, or new to me anyway! I ordered some of the new Coordination's card stock... ok, will be ordering more soon! I took the darkest purple and cut my sizes for the sketch (I was excited about the new card stock and got the sizes off just a bit compared to the sketch, but it works) Anyway I then ran them thru my Cuttlebug with embossing folder. Then I sanded the tops of all of the pieces. WOW the center lighter color pops! I love it! Can't wait to try some other things with this paper. I then matted all of the pieces on a yellow scrap and sewed everything down with orange thread with a blanket stitch. The image was matted with a scrap of the dark purple and sewed down. I then used pop dots on a dark orange card stock. I used a light purple base and inked the edges of it and the yellow to add to the shadow effects. I found a yellow with orange dots flower in my stash and a large yellow brad for a center. I really wanted some leaves......... so I just apart a large Prima flower and took two petals as a leaves for the dotted flower. I don't know if it the image, the new card stock, the colors or what but this one really made me happy.

Then to the one that just is missing something... I don't know what or if the colors just are not working for me or what. I did this one for this weeks Penny Black Challenge. This week they asked us to use Brads and/or Buttons. Well I had a new stamp squealing to be inked up, I love this "little" piggie, perfect for summer don't you think. I colored her up with my Copics and Sakura Glaze pens. I chose the colors after picking the K&Co. pattern paper, It might be hard to see, but it has tiny dark orange flowers in it. I cut the piggie with my Nestibilities, and then found a card stock that matches the flowers perfect and made the base and then cut the scallop mat for my bathing beauty. I stamped the sentiment (... snort snort... love it) on a scrap of the orange. I distressed everything with a paper edge blade thingy... what is it called? Anyway I distressed everything and then inked the edges. I then used a piece of blue felt border from Queen and Co. I place buttons on the corners to give the look of holding down the mat, I wanted at least one brad and found a decorative one in my stuff and put it on the corner of the piggie art. I stitched down with a glaze pen. Just seems off to me... what do you think?

Well Hubby has the day off, and get this ---- he is taking my MIL across town to a few shops, then Bass Pro Shop (you would think this was on his list but no it is on MIL's for some new shoes) Then we will have some late lunch on our way home. Now this may not be big to some of you, but anyone who knows my hubby... this is big. He hates shopping. We will see how it all works out!

Gotta run and get ready, have a great Monday! HUGS and-

Yea it's A Spoon Full of Sugar time!

I sooooo look forward to Tuesdays! It is A Spoon Full of Sugar Time. Last week was my first week on the DT for this wonderful challenge blog, and I still have the nervous jitters, wondering if my stuff is going to be ok. But I sure am having fun playing!

Now onto this weeks challenge-

Circles

All you have to do is make a card with a circle somewhere in the design,
could be on the paper or the greeting or whatever else you can think of as long
as it has a circle in the design somewhere.
We have some fantastic blog
candy to send one randomly chosen winner this week, which Bryony from Silly Monkey
Crafts has kindly donated.

My card for this round challenge is bright... yep pull out your shades! It didn't start that way, actually I had the idea in my head and as I was making it I thought wow these colors are really bright, but didn't think that they were too bad, until I saw the photograph of the card. Wowser! I wanted it to have the look of scattered circles on the card. Like they were just pitched and stuck kind of.... why is that so hard to pull off?

I colored this absolutely adorable Sweet Ebony image with my Copics and white gel pen. Then found a bright turquoise blue Bazzill card stock as the base. The papers are all Creative Imaginations double sided Renae's House papers. Again pulling from my stash from the past! I thought the colors went well with the image and the cherries on the PP look sort of like apples. I first matted the image with the green dots, and then got out the three sizes of Fiskar's Squeeze Punches. It makes me so happy when I pull these out, love my squeeze punches! I made a bunch of different circles, and then stitched the edges of all of them with my Sakura Glaze Pens, then went for that random placement. 30 minutes later I was still working on the random look..... then just went with it! The sentiment is from Aud Designs and goes so well with the circle theme. Bright but cheerful!

Well lots going on... always is when Hubby is off, he makes a list of things he wants to get done, I stick my things in here and there and then we end up with a list that is way longer than we will ever achieve in one day. But we tackle what we can and then put off to the next day off what doesn't get done. Hope you have a great Tuesday, and have lots of fun craftin' time! Oh and don't forget my Blog Candy.... see two post down and leave a comment, I will be drawing for two prizes!

HUGS and-

Anyone want a Cat cheap?

I don't really want to get rid of Gato. But there are moments I really think I need my head checked on agreeing to this critter. I love her dearly, and she has become my cat, but this kitten thing really needs to pass soon and it has only just begun! Oh and she didn't hurt the card, I started to scream and throw her out of my photo tent, but then decided I needed to take one quick photograph first. Then yell at her!

Ok, the card that Gato almost ate - It is for Cute Card Thursday, and the challenge this week was to use no pattern paper. I used a card blank that is kraft brown papers. Not sure if I like these or not. They are not really heavy paper, but I bought 25 of them online, so I need to use them. I ran a piece of scrap peach colored card stock thru my Cuttlebug and emboss it. I was going to do a second one, but decided it was too much.

I colored in one of those adorable Sweet Ebony images (THANKS SHARY!!! She sent me some to play with!) Anyway I colored her in with my Copic Markers and white gel pen. I cut with Nestibilities round, and then cut a lime green scallop to mat. I stitched the edge with a Spica Glitter Pen, then white gel pen around the scallops.

Now how cute is that sentiment stamp! I found these blank metal stamp brads at Micheals this last week, they are from Provo Craft. I have the Papertrey sentiments that are really tiny and I was hoping that they would fit inside the stamp, and yee haw they do! How cool is that! I may have to go and get another box of the brads now! I doodled the edge of the base of the card and stitched the edge of the embossed paper. Then tied a wide green dotted satin ribbon around the bottom. I have been practicing my knots and bows lately. I still have some work there, but I am getting a little better. I used pop dots to attach the circle. I think it works for the Cute Card Challenge.

I also thought I would show you one of the baby girls. Angelina "Lina" I was out trying to get some photos last night, got lots of eyes and noses as the won't hang back and pose for me, but this is one I got as she was walking up, you can see Mom, Macey in the background keeping an eye on her. She is a real beauty.

Today is going to be a busy one, lots of little errands and things to do, and I have a class on Saturday to teach that I am not all together for, so need to do that as well. Hope you have a great Friday! Blog Candy will be put on Saturday! Really I am not doing this as a teaser, just not organized this week at all!

HUGS and -

A dark but sparkling ATC-

This week at Tilda and Friends ATC Challenge is a guest designer, Jacqui (visit her blog she does some great work!) She picked something a little different, she chose the theme of her favourite Shakespeare play, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Ok, a tough one. It has been longer than I want to admit since I read any Shakespeare. I played it safe and just stuck to the night forest card. I really did start to do the 1/2 boy 1/2 donkey head thing from the play. But it just wasn't working and I was forcing it. So I went with my first design instead.

This is the Winter tree from Magnolia, I colored it and the night sky with my Copic markers, then went over it all again with Twinkling H2O's. I love how the night sky came out, looks kind of like velvet. I then dotted some stars in with Stickles. I found some dragonfly brads in my stash..... squint really hard...... they are fairies flying in the distance...... ok, stop laughing. =) I then matted it with a lemon yellow scrap card stock. Different huh?

My card today was one I started a couple of days ago when I had out all my pink and browns. This is one of those really awesome Sweet Ebony stamps, that are just ADORABLE! This one is called Giddy Up! I colored her and her "horse" with my Copics, Sakura Glaze Pens and Spica Glitter Pens. I cut her and the scallops with my Nestibilities and sewed them together. This is when my machine and I started disagreeing, and why there are Prima flowers on the right side. I set it aside. Yesterday the old machine was put on the floor, and my new machine was moved into its spot. Yep mess with me and you are moved down baby! I found a Janome for a really good price yesterday and it sews like a dream! I picked up the image and finished it last night. I pulled out a piece of Basic Grey Lily Kate and the same pink card stock as the scallop and sewed them together with a zig zag stitch. I also then gel stitched around that to high light the edge. I dotted the scallops at that time to. I stuck it all to a 5 1/2 inch square card base. I just love country cowgirls in pink and brown, don't you?

Well Hubby is off today, so I better get busy. He has a long list of chores so I need to look like I am getting things done too! =) Rosie is slowly getting better, the medicines seem to working. Doc is coming back out this afternoon to check on her.

Hugs, Have a great Thursday and -