Tuesday, August 7, 2012

High Hopes Stamps Challenge - Glitter and Sparkle

Hi - today is the High Hopes Stamps Challenge! Lovin working with these stamps :0)  - This weeks challenge is Glitter and Sparkle. You know that makes me happy! Love some bling.

I had a hard time choosing my image this week. Had more than one that I wanted to color and add sparkle to. But in the end I decided that I "needed" to color "Buzzin' By Bear" 


Now I started to go all yellow and black, but then I got a new paper pad in the mail and well.. I just had to  use it so pink was brought in :0) The paper is from Prima's Zephyr's collection. Love the bright colors. I colored with my Copics ( colors below ) and then chose two pattern papers, matted with black, and a yellow card stock card base. Sewed things down. Hot pink satin ribbon around the middle with a small bow. I die cut a Memory Box "Honeyblossom Sprig" twice, once in dark green than again with pink. I cut the flowers off and glued them to the green. Viva Decor Pink Pearl Pen over all the flowers, including the one that our bear is holding. Green Rhinstone bling centers. For more bling for the challenge I added a row of clear and pink bling across the ribbon. Then for Sparkle I added Diamond Stickles to the bears wings. The sentiment is also from High Hopes and can be found HERE.  I finished off the inside with matching papers.

Here are the Copic Colors -

I do hope my Buzzin Bear gave you a smile :0) And please do pop over to the High Hopes Challenge and see all the other Sparkle from the other DT. And PLEASE do join us... you can win High Hopes Stamps of you own.. your choice!  How cool is that?


So whats on the schedule today? For us.. chores. Since Hubby is home full time now, we have been playing way to much. Antiquing, Shopping, Eating out ( A real favorite ) meeting up with long time friends. But we have to get to a routine and get lots of chores done. Blah...   So today we will be responsible and Hubby is mowing.. and I am cleaning House. No fun... but very much needed. LOL But once we are all caught up.. I am sure off we go again! Ha!

Have a fabulous Tuesday!
HUGS
MichelleO

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Me and My Space - Paint, Collectibles and A little Jam

Hello Sunday - Bringing back one of my old post days, you seemed to like me showing off a few of my old things last week. So I thought I might on Sundays try and show you a few things we (Hubby and I) have been working on that week, and/or show off a few of my treasured pieces around my house.

The main project we started this last week was jumping in head first into re-doing furniture in our house. Now we never tip toe into anything we do. We dive right into the deep end. Last winter we painted our house inside. Was Sage Green... was tired and worn, so we went with a new color and did Taupe. I love it. But the furniture that we have in the Living Room and Dining Room. Well it all was purchased from a small unique furniture store in town, and it all matched. Something I had never had and thought we would like. And honestly we did... but when the green left the furniture well.. the cream color somehow turned yellow. And the more we lived with it, the yellower it got. So last weekend we were talking and decided that it was time for another change. And from that decision over breakfast we now have plans for 7 pieces of furniture. LOL Told you we dive...   I did some surfing and reading and found a paint that sounded interesting. We went out and found it in a small store in town and since then have been back two more times for more colors! Diving here...

First here is one of the pieces in my Living Room that we just finished. (We meaning I hold, move things and support Hubby while he is doing. He is a bit of a control freak when it comes to standards of painting. I don't pass.. so he does it.)  Anyway... here is the before

 Sorry the photos STINK! The lighting in my Living Room is not good at and for some reason every photo I took is a bit grainy... but I think you can still see it.

Ok.. now you may not see it, but to me, this thing is WAY yellow. All the furniture is this same color. And we are really tired of it. It is still great solid wood furniture, just boring. So... We went and did this to it!

AFTER

I LOVE IT! It is Chalk Paint with a wax coat over it. So So So happy with how it turned out. Again Sorry the photo are so bad. LIGHTING IT HORRIBLE. Anyway this is my Flow Blue cabinet. Well, it has lots in it actually... Flow Blue, Feather Edge, Iron Stone, Iridescent Glass, and so on and so on. But we call this the Flow Blue Cabinet.

We painted it with this...


Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. In Duck Egg color. A pretty soft light blue. Have you heard of this paint? It isn't everywhere. But if you google you can find it in more and more places. I got mine at HERE at a cute little shop called Woodland Cottage. This paint is so freaking awesome! Covers amazingly, water based for easy clean up, will paint and stick to just about everything. (I am trying to get Hubby to do our steel front door too!) But the bestest thing... NO PREP work. Yes... NO SANDING to get it ready for paint. Just dust it off.. and paint! It really covers amazingly. It is a flat "CHALK" finish when done. But they have wax that they sell that you put on over it that gives a warm sheen and that fabulous vintage feel to it. And they have another wax "Dark Wax" that you can use that really gives a totally antiqued darkening feel! (We did the donkey cabinet with that... I'll show it next week)  Google this stuff... it ROCKS!!

The paint colors can be mixed to make lots more colors. I think there are 30 available. But you can lighten and darken shades. You can take a little and add water to create a wash.. So you get that we are impressed with the paint right?

But after all of that... This on the can is probably one of my favorite things...


Ha! Hubby didn't think it was that funny.. Oh well, I am easily amused sometimes.  I'll show off other pieces each week as we do them... that will show of a lot more of the colors as well - LOL told you we DIVE into things.

Thought I would mention another thing that was a new thing for us this week... One little comment about how store bought preserves just taste like sugar. And how good some home made would be. From there I ran across a display while waiting for Hubby at Lowes... and then here was my kitchen counter Thursday -


Now I probably should let you know we tried Canning 25 years ago just after we married. Nastiest Limp Pickles I have ever tried to eat. We threw away every bottle. So trying again was a bit scary to me. But we Dove in... First I made the Strawberry Preserves... my favorite flavor. Followed the instructions and it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would, and soon we had 9 8oz jars cooling on the counter. Next morning we opened up one for breakfast.. OMG! SOOO good. So Friday afternoon we jumped in again and did the Peach Preserves...Hubby's favorite flavor. Now we had quite a few peaches. And once all cut up... well enough for 3 batches.... so it took a bit longer, as we did one batch at a time to not mess anything up. But in the end we had 8  - 16oz jars and 9 - 8 oz jars cooling! And yesterday morning we popped open one of them.. OMG! SOOOO good! Don't think we will be buying store bought any more. Now I am planning our garden and LOTS more canning!

All right Collectibles - To end up today I thought I would show you two of my favorite Donkeys from my almost 10 years of buying everything donkey....


I have had these two guys for quite a few years. And I was thrilled when I found each of them. They are late 1920's - 1930's Fisher Price Pull Toys. The Donkey ones are pretty hard to find. Especially in such great condition. They are all wood, with rope tails and Leather ears. Jack's ears don't stand up well.. but hey he is old.. LOL  I think it would be really hard to force me to pick one favorite from all my treasures. But these two guys would be way up on my list for sure.

Hope you enjoyed today's post... a little bit of "Me and My Space"

Have a wonderful day  - HUGS and

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Whimsy Stamps August Release Last Day


Two post for Saturday - Animal Crackers below - 


Hello and welcome to Day 4 of our August Digital Stamp Release Showcase
On Wednesday (1st August) Whimsy Stamps released this month's new digital designs, From then until 4th August the Whimsy Digital DT and Special Guests are showcasing these fabulous new goodies with a daily mini blog hop and I am part of today’s hop! Each mini blog hop has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you have 24hrs to enter each prize draw. To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 12.00PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy blog on 5th August.

Here is my card - 



Love this image! This is "Flower Girl" From Moon Cookie Gallery isn't she pretty? I went country with her. Finding paper from Simple Stories Summer Fresh collection just perfect for her. I chose four patterns, and sewed them down after inking the edges with Distress Ink Tea Dye. I colored Flower Girl with my Copics to match. (colors below). A pretty blue and tan Gingham ribbon around the bottom with a big bow, three buttons for embellishments. Then for the sentiment I used Whimsy's Vintage Birthday Tab stamps, and matching die.  Inside was finished off with scraps of matching papers. 

And here are the Copic Colors used.

 To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations, please click on the links below... 
Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop back to the Whimsy blog tomorrow for more new release creations!


Hope you enjoyed the 4 day blog hop with all the new releases and I hope you popped around and left comments... lots of prizes up for grabs! 

I'll be back tomorrow with a little about what we have been doing this week and a few more of my collectibles! 

HUGS and




Animal Crackers - Face Time

Lots of face time this week with the photos...

This is my favorite shot of the week I think -

Gracie... She may not be the most friendly goat from all of our babies... but man she has the looks! I keep telling her that one day she will be put in with handsome Frankie and with her gorgeous black and white fur and stunning blue eyes, and then his handsome long black and white fur and his Sinatra blue eyes.. SHOULD make for some really pretty babies! But we are a ways from that, for now she can just enjoy being a teenage goat. :0)

Now this was a close runner up ... Love how you can see all her eye lashes... top and bottom!


And let me tell you Crissy... she has some SUPER long bottom eye lashes! She reminds me so much of her Mom Jill when she was a young girl. She has become really friendly, and loves to "help" Hubby with getting the grain each night. Between her and Sandy, he nearly crashes and falls more than once while getting to the feeders. He acts mad... but he really isn't, he loves these girls.

Got a sweet photo of Miss Gloria -


She really has slicked off this year. And she has really mellowed as she has grown up. For a while I wondered if she was going become a sweet lady. She was so obnoxious and unruly... if I had a nickel for every time Hubby screamed Gloria stop it... well I wouldn't have to worry about the feed bill each month! LOL Getting out of the pen, shoving people, biting and nipping at people and the other donkeys, jumping up on us, all in love of course but just not proper behavior! ha! But as she has gotten older she is much calmer, and still loves to be the center of attention.. just not quite so in your face about it. And believe me there were times where she was literally in your face!

I was trying to get a few photos of "Little Bitty One" She has such gorgeous big eyes.

But something on the ground really had her attention. I have no clue what. Maybe a stray tiny piece of good hay? or a tiny little green sprout of grass? A bug? No clue, but it really had her fascinated. And she had no interest in my photo shoot. She probably was thinking... "Mom you already got photos of me a couple of weeks ago... " They do remember better than I do you know.

Profile of Miss Chica -



Hubby calls her our middle child. All this dog wants in life is your attention. Just a few minutes of loving, petting or talking to her. Such a beautiful little lady.

Oops no face shot of little Tuco this week -



Snapped this one with my phone the other night. This is RIGHT behind my chair. I have to remember to always look behind and around me before I move my chair. If it isn't Tuco - it is Autie or Chica. No.. not really Chica is always in front of my chair with her head on my foot. But Tuco and Autie, they LOVE to sleep right behind me. And here... Tuco was REALLY asleep... in fact the reason I got this photo is because I heard his snoring...  too funny!


Hope you liked my face time this week. The kids are all getting through summer pretty well this year. It hasn't seemed like it has been nearly as hot as normal. But August is starting to look like it may make up for it.

I'll be back later today with the last post of the Whimsy Stamps August Release - so please do stop back in if you can. Then I'll see you tomorrow for a little of what we have been doing this week and a few more of my collectibles -

See ya!

Friday, August 3, 2012

Whimsy Stamps Release Hop and Just Magnolia and Hanglar Challenge!

Please be patient with my post today.. double business to handle today :0)  First is the Whimsy Release Day 3... and then below that you will find my Just Magnolia and Hanglar Challenge -


Whimsy Stamps Release Day 3 -


Hello and welcome to Day 3 of our August Digital Stamp Release Showcase
On Wednesday (1st August) Whimsy Stamps released this month's new digital designs, From then until 4th August the Whimsy Digital DT and Special Guests are showcasing these fabulous new goodies with a daily mini blog hop and I am part of today’s hop! Each mini blog hop has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you have 24hrs to enter each prize draw. To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 12.00PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy blog on 5th August.

Here is my card - I used the very fun new image from Crissy Armstrong - Tight Squeeze Santa -

Now I have to tell you I am one that really struggles to make Christmas cards in the summer. I have always hated it and have to force myself to work with them. Once it cools down even just a little bit I am ok.. but when it is a 102 outside like it was yesterday.... Christmas is the farthest thing from my inspiration. But when I was going through the new releases to pick what I wanted to work with I chose this one right off... just cracked me up. Oops no pun intended there. ..   I colored with my Copics (colors below) Then I pulled out a Graphic 45 Christmas paper pad, Core'dinations card stocks, Whimsy Double Scallop Doily Die and Whimsy Corner Dies, and then the circle with Santa is also from Whimsy called Christmas Sentiments. I really wanted to ribbon to match and didn't have one, so I took my cream colored Bias tape and colored it with Dark Red Copic.. now it matches! For some added fun I used a Marvy Snow Marker for some puffy snow and trim on Santa's coat. I then added a little bit of Stickles to the trim. Then I used a Viva Decor Pearl Pen for all the pearl dots. I also did the inside with left over papers, but due to space today decided to not show. :0) 

Here are the Copics used... 


 To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations, please click on the links below... 

Carly Wilson
Doreen OBrien
Charlene Brown
Kelly JM
Jackie Randolph
Joann Burton
Joanne Davies 
Michelle Oatman
Shannah Bartle
Tammy Ortiz
Wendy Keenan


Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop back to the Whimsy blog tomorrow for more new release creations!

*******

Just Magnolia and Hanglar Challenge


Now second part of the post today  - it is my week over at the Just Magnolia and Hanglar Challenge and this week is a great challenge! Really fun... "Make your Own Flowers"  You can get as fancy or simple as  you would like, but no store bought flowers... me I punched myself some flowers! 

Here is my card - 

Pulled out one of my Hanglars this week. The store I have my cards has asked for baby cards.. :0)  I colored with my Copics (and oops... the photo I took with the Copics is missing!! Sorry) For the papers I found the very cute Doodlebug Designs Paper Pad "Sugar and Spice" So totally cute for baby cards! I picked out lots of patterns and then sewed them down with mats from the same papers. I found a ribbon that in person does not look nearly as dark as it does here... hmmm how strange! For my flowers that are a must for the challenge I punched out a Corner die from Memory Box and then punched flowers from a Punch Bunch punch - used scrap coredinations cards stock - I folded the leaves up just a tad, glued them down and then used a Viva Decor Brown Paper pen, then added yellow stickler to the center of that.  I really struggled with the Sentiment... NOTHING looked right, too big, too small, wrong color, maybe I was just tired and not feeling it. So I sat it aside until the next morning. Then I found this small piece of ribbon that said "Congratulations" that felt better.. don't know but I think it works.  Inside was done with all the scraps. Then at the end I used stickles Diamond on the wings. 


Make sure you pop over and see all the DT Flowers and then play along for a chance to win a great prize... 

And don't forget to make the rounds for the Whimsy Stamps Release... hidden prizes along the way while you are seeing all the new Digital stamps! 

whew... lots of work this week huh??? LOL 

Have a great Friday...  Working on furniture today, Hubby and I decided we were tired of our it all, so we are "fixing" things. I found some fabulous paint. Chalk paint, I'll tell you all about it in a post one day this week I am so thrilled with how they are looking! Then I am going to work on my second batch of jam! Yesterday I made Strawberry... today is Peach Preserves :0) yummy! 

I'll see you tomorrow for Animal Crackers and then the last day of the Whimsy Stamps Release Hop! 
HUGS and -



Thursday, August 2, 2012

Whimsy Stamps Day 2 August Digital Stamp Release Showcase!


Hello and welcome to Day 2 of The Whimsy Stamps August Digital Stamp Release Showcase
On Wednesday (1st August) Whimsy Stamps released this month's new digital designs, From then until 4th August the Whimsy Digital DT and Special Guests are showcasing these fabulous new goodies with a daily mini blog hop and I am part of today’s hop! Each mini blog hop has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you have 24hrs to enter each prize draw. To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 12.00PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy blog on 5th August.


Here is my card - I used the Whimsy's Love U Mice. A favorite of the rubber stamps now available as a digital stamp!!

This image is just so perfect for more than one type of card, but I chose to go with an anniversary card. I colored with my Copics (colors below) - I then used a few papers from My Minds Eye with a mat of brown core'dinations card stock sanded. All zig zag stitched. Then I had some fun stamps and dies that I just got in from Whimsy :0)  The Celebration Circle Pennants and the matching Circle Pennant Die. These are going to be fun and were perfect for my mice.  I used pink and white twine to hang my pennants, from heart brads. Then I took stickler and pearl paint and added some hearts around. For the Happy Anniversary I used some alphabet sticker letters. That I can not find anywhere to tell you the brand... I really need to clean up my craft room. Sorry... 

Here are the Copic Colors used - 




 To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations, please click on the links below... 
Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop back to the Whimsy blog tomorrow for more new release creations! OH and don't forget to comment along the way... there are hidden prizes :0) 


For those that wanted the links to the Gift Shop that I have put my cards in for sale... they had their opening yesterday! You can find them on Facebook  - Piddlin Pooh    And for info and prices for BFF Tracey's "You Name It" Signs you can email her directly HERE. She can give you prices and all the info you need. Tell her Michelle at DonkeySmiles sent you :0) 

Have a Great Day!
HUGS


Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Whimsy Stamps - DAY 1 August Digital Stamp Release Showcase!

Hello and welcome to Day 1 of our August Digital Stamp Release Showcase!

On Wednesday (1st August) Whimsy Stamps released this month's new Digital designs from 






From now until 4th August the Whimsy Stamps Digital DT and Special Guests are showcasing these

    fabulous new goodies with a daily mini blog hop and I am part of today’s hop! Each mini blog hop 

has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you have 24hrs to enter each prize draw

To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's 

posts listed below by 12.00PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy blog on 

5th August


Here is my card for today's Hop - I used the gorgeous new image Petal Angels - You can find all the new release images HERE.



Real quick - Papers are from Prima. Core'dinations for the mat. The Sentiment is from Whimsy - Friendship Notables 2 - using the matching die of course - Notables 2 Die. Then new for me I finally got myself some of th Make it Crafty  chipboard embellishments that you can find in the Whimsy Store HERE. LOVE them and will be getting more. I just inked mine and then spritzed them with some Smooch!

Here are my Copic colors used for my image -


And Inside done simply with matching papers.



To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations, please click on the links below...
Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop back to the
 Whimsy blog tomorrow for more new release creations!


Have fun hopping and remember that there is a hidden prize somewhere along the way... so visit and leave those comments to win! 

See you tomorrow for Day 2 of the release! 

Off early for us here today. Tuco has a vet appointment. Just a follow up no worries... 
HUGS and