Feeding Donkey Day

Ok, as I promised I got some photos of Donkey Feeding... not just ordinary feeding, last night was treat night - once or twice a week they get Alfalfa... we LOVE Alfalfa! Now I just need to work on video for you so you can see the fast movement and hear all the noise!

They all get so excited, they kick up a lot of dirt - lots of excitement and energy - it is so fun to watch. Maybe not for all of us - The three standards are trying so hard to be patient... not really but it looks that way in the photo - they actually were making lots of noise themselves and kicking at the fences. But I can pretend they are well behaved.

This is the youth pen... they really go nuts - LOTS of bucking and kicking... Irene and Rosie really do go nuts... and that makes me feel good that Rosie is so happy and eating so well. She really is doing much and seems back to her happy self. This "sick time" was really a much shorter one, maybe we are getting to this thing!

I also got a photo of proof that Spring is coming - this tree next to the pen has just popped out in the last day or so!

Ok, now some Libbie shots....


I put the camera on the floor for these... different angle, but still a cutie...




Then I thought this was too cute to not show.... this is what Libbie and Gato do every morning. They sit on the rug in the kitchen and try and wait. It last just a few minutes - then Libbie starts running around barking. Breakfast is coming soon... just let me snap this one photo first!

Now I am going to get laundry started and then snap some photos of my BLOG CANDY... so after lunch I will get it up - I hope you will come back and see what I put together to celebrate my one year Blog Anniversary!

Hugs and-

A BRIGHT "Cute Card" Happy Birthday -

This card seems much brighter this morning than it did last night.. I really don't know what I was thinking other than matching the Cloud Nine Papers. And well you really might need you shades for this one.

Well Cute Card Challenge Blog this week asked for an Animal on our cards. Well that is a pretty easy request, so many wonderful new animal images out there and I decided it was time to ink up one of the Whiff of Joy images that I had not inked yet. I can't help it... when I go to use them, I end up using the donkey from the collection. But I slapped my hand and was happy I did as this this leaping sheep is really a wonderful fun Birthday image. I colored with my copics, and then used my Diamond stickles for the wool.. and then bright yellow stickles for some bling on the presents.

The pattern papers are Cloud nine, and that is where all the bright colors started. I matted the image and the patterns with scrap green card stock and the orange is the back side of one of the pattern papers. They are all sewed together with a zig zag stitch and placed on a bright yellow card stock base.

Now what do you think of that border punch??? How awesome is it for birthday cards? Well it is one of those new EK Success punches, I love all my border punches and I don't really want to admit just how many I own.. especially if you have me add in all the other punches with it. But it takes up a lot of space... lots of space! Man if only they all stored like the new EK Success punches! These are really cool they way the lock closed and flat! And they have some really cute patterns too! So anyway this is one of the new patterns and I love the row of candles! I stickled the flames with the yellow stickles, to add a bit more to it. Like this punch.... you just may want to read down in the blog :)

I gel pen stitched the edge of the card and the border, then stamped the Hero Arts "Happy Birthday". Topped off with a couple of Creative Imaginations Felt Flowers and leaves. Bright, Fun, and Happy -

A report on my Hair cut.... well I was brave - and Mom did a great job and cut almost 6 inches off! I have always had long hair, ok for a short time in high school I cut it for one of those fashionable 80's styles.. I grew it out as quick as I could LOL! Anyway it isn't short now.. just below my shoulders. But wow.. it feels really short! And wasted a bunch of shampoo when I washed it last night.. Ha... I have to say I like it and it feels so much better...

All right one more thing today - my Blog Anniversary is this week. Yep I have been here for one year! And it really was a fast year, can't believe it. I have made so many very special friends, that I hope to have a part of my life forever - And I really feel as if I have improved my craft to a new level due to all of the inspiration from all of your blogs. So I am going to throw a party starting tomorrow - and I have put together some blog candy - I think you might like. And yes.. I purchased one of those EK Success punches as a part of it. The birthday candles just seemed to perfect. So Tomorrow during the day after my Donkey Day Post I will add the candy - I hope you will come a check it out! Today I have to figure out how to photo it all.

HUGS and-

My Donkeys are not Spoiled....

If only I could talk hubby into barns like this... I would! LOL! OH my I can not tell you how much fun I had making this card! It all started as part of Paper Craft Planet Alota Rubber Stamps Inspiration Challenge there are still a few days to get in on the challenge and the great prize... and what is the prize? Well Alota Rubber Stamps new Furniture SET! Oh these are too cute, really makes me feel like a little girl with my paper dolls! These stamps can be used with so many of our character images, but me... well I think I had a chocolate milk high last night... and well my Donkey from Alota's "Michelle's Sweet Donkeys" set came out and well.... this is one fancy barn! My Donkeys are worth it don't you think?

Ok first I have to just scream... do you love that "pattern paper" that is the Wall paper? It isn't pattern paper!!!!! Nope it is one of the new Wall paper stamps from Alota - I see so many possibilities with this set! I colored the pink areas in to match the real pattern papers that I used for the mat and the paper piecing on the bed quilt and bed skirt. Copics were used to color everything else and then all the pieces were cut out with my Fiskar's Kraft knife. The bed is pop dotted off the card for some depth. Then I used the "mirror" from the set and decided that my donkey needed to show off a photo of a family member. I mean I take so many photos of them all - why not right? I laughed so hard when I found the adhesive dot to use as a nail and drew a string on. OH and the lamp is part of the set too, I mean Donkey shouldn't have to be in a gorgeous pink bedroom barn at night with out a lamp should he? I have no idea what I am going to use this card for - but I guarantee that it will bring a smile to whoever "I" send it to... they know me and everyone tells me I spoil my donkeys... well if only I really did spoil them!

I hope you will check out the Challenge it really is a wonderful inspiration challenge and the prize... well it sure was fun!!! I can't wait to "play" again with this set!

Today... well I am off in just a few to my Mom's shop... she is a hair dresser. I need desperately a hair cut. I can't even see anymore. I am thinking I am going to ask for a whole bunch cut off. I think I need less hair and something different - but I will probably chicken out and just end up with a trim. Back later to check in with everyone.

Hugs and-

Fun Greeting Farm...

There are so many wonderful new stamps out there - and I try so hard to resist, as I have so much rubber here that I am dying to work with, but sometimes you just have to do it! I purchased a couple of the Greeting Farm stamps... and I have to say... I love them! They are really fun to color - You will be seeing a few of them over the next week, as I went nuts making them the last few days - Angel Anya.. how pretty is she?

And I just love her with all of the pretty spring colored Making Memories Chloe's Closet pattern papers. Now to make her match the papers, I colored her with my Copics and then gave her polka dots. Don't you just love polka dots? I then stickled her wings.

Chose a couple of patterns... especially the polka dot green from the collection, and put them together and sewed everything down with a zig zag stitch. The flowers are EK Success Retro Flower punches, with a jewelry spacer and mini brad. The ribbon up the side is from the same collections ribbon set. And my favorite part... the clip with the words "One of a Kind" perfect for this image. I love that these clips are so different, I just wish they were a tad bit wider, they are pretty skinny.

Well I hope you like my Angel Anya - I think she is really adorable. You know the problem - I think I need more of these Greeting Farm images... I told myself I wasn't going to buy anything else this month - good thing it is a short month and almost over right!

Gotta get moving - MIL has a eye appointment this morning... I'll be back later to visit y'all!

HUGS and-

Maybe this is where Sarah Kay lives...

It is Tuesday - that is Spoon Full of Sugar Day - and today we are shifting the shapes!



"We would like to see all different shapes of cards and not the normal square one's we all like to make ;-) We have a great prize this week of the two cute stamps (Easter Jar & Chick in Egg). These have been kindly donated by Helene from Alota Rubber Stamps. "





Me... ok, so it still has corners, it is a long rectangle, with a top off of it. I started with the background stamp. I purchased this stamp a long time ago at a craft garage sale, it is from Arts Uniq' Inc. - I just loved all the details, but well it is HUGE! The stamp measures 5x7 (that includes the tree off of the top). And well I really didn't know what I was going to do with it, but I just loved it. The wording around the edge reads.



"One hundred years together - Would surely be too few - For every day , all over again ... I fell in Love with you. D Morgan."

Well it took a couple of tries to get a good image - takes a lot of pressure to get the entire thing evenly stamped. I colored with my Copics - yes it took some time, but not as long as I thought. I then stamped out one of my Sarah Kay images - she was PERFECT for this, can't believe I hadn't seen that before - She just looks like she is getting ready to walk down the path to the house in the background. I wonder ... do you think this is where she lives? or visiting a friend? What ever the store is, she fits. She too is colored with Copics and then I cut her out. The large image is also cut out. I went with the straight lines of most of the image but then popped out the tree at the top of the card. The Sarah Kay image is pop dotted off of the background so she has some dimension. Only other thing is a simple white gel pen stitching around the edge of the light blue card stock base.

Hmmm guess I am gonna have to make an envelope for this one as it is bigger than a 5x7....


Make sure you pop over to A Spoon Full of Sugar and see all the wonderful shapes! And welcome our two new DT members, Caryn and Karen... really wonderful cards to see.

HUGS and -

Spring - Whiff of Joy -

I am so loving this Spring Whiff of Joy set! Now I know this should have been colored in some bright spring colors... pink, yellow, greens - but I had this paper from 7 gypsies - so I went with it. Dark Reds and tans all with Copics, and high lighted with white gel pen. I also added some grass stamps and flower stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry.

She is so pretty - Wish my hair looked like that.

For the card - I started with a Bazzil Swiss Dots card stock. Then two scraps of the 7 gypsies paper. Inked the edges and then I used my craft knife to cut out the edge of the flower and placed the matted image under the flower. I doodled the edge of the image as well.

Oh and found some photo turns on the edge. Ran a strip of dark red ribbon with a metal slide across the bottom. A simple card yes - but sometimes I think I need that.

Monday again - And it is the last week of February - time is speeding by - sigh - All the goal I had set for after Christmas - still haven't all gotten done. No biggie I will get to them in February - nope. May March will be my month - LOL!

HUGS and-

Vroom Vroom...

This week at the Magnolia Vs. Stampavie Challenge there is an awesome sketch. Of course I had to turn mine.

















I started by coloring on of the FABULOUS Stampavie Leere Aldrich images. This is "Going Places"... and I just love the convertible! It reminds me of the MGA Hubby had when we dated and married.








Colored with my Copics, and high lighted with white gel pen, I then I took the close up photo with an odd angle so you could also see the dimensional glaze I added... a really shiny wax job on this car!








The pattern papers are all My Minds Eye Laundry Line collection. Again hard to see in the photo, but they all have a glitter to them. Love these papers. I matted everything with BoBunny scraps of brown dotted paper, and for some fun I used a Martha Stewart Border punch on the side of the image mat. The base is a dark brown card stock. The edges of everything is inked. I love the ribbon.. and am getting really low on it! American Crafts I believe - Sorry my bow is so sad looking, it just wouldn't stay up and pretty. The sketch shows a pin on the corner of the image, and by luck I found a heart pin by Heidi Grace to use on mine. I was stumped for a time on what to use for a sentiment. You see because I turned my card on its side and my image was so large, I didn't have much room for a sentiment. I decided to do something vertical - and found these wonderful Paper Studio letter dots - the match pretty well I think. I doodled the edges of the image, and then for a finishing touch... I used silver adhesive dots for hubcaps on the car!








You really must go and see the rest of the DT cards - it amazes me how different so many cards can look all made with the same sketch as a starting place. Wonderful! Hope you will join in this week too!

I had a lot of comments asking me when Macie is due... my fat pregnant donkey. She still has about another two months - imagine carrying that around that much longer!

HUGS and-

Lots of Donkeys and one little Libbie

Lots more photos today.. in fact I had to narrow down. I also had a card to show today.. HA .. it got bumped to - I'll save it for one day next week. The weather was gorgeous yesterday afternoon, and the donkeys were all friendly and posing for me. Here are some that I picked to show this week.









First... do you remember this photo of Macie from a couple of weeks ago? I love it... but after I put it up on the blog - Hubby and I were talking that you really can't get an idea of just how pregnant she is - she is REALLY wide and this photo angle just don't show that! So ready...





















Here is how she looks from the back side -





Told ya...she is VERY PREGNANT!

Here are two of our girls from last Spring.. they are getting so big. I can't believe they are almost a year old! Lina and Lola always together, great sisters. Well 1/2 sisters - same daddy.

And also nearly one, actually my oldest from last year - is Rosie... can you tell she has been under the weather again this week. We go longer now between her sick times... but they still come now and then, and you can really tell she isn't well. This was last night and she actually is much better in this photo than she was a few days ago. This morning she actually came to us and let me love all over her - so she is getting better again - hopefully the next ill time will be even longer away.

Then there is every one's favorite - Gloria

She has personality just coming out everywhere. Finally she has gotten comfortable in her new pen with all of the teens - and she doesn't cry out for Mom any more. Now she just cries out when she sees us outside - "Please come here and pet me!"

I showed Fanci last week too, I think... weeks start to run together. But this was such a great photo of her I just had to post it. It is a shame she won't or can't get pregnant.. she is really a stunning color. Maybe this will be her year and she just needed to get a bit older.

LIBBIE time - Is it just cuz I am "Mom" or does she just keep getting cuter??? Oh and funny! Her personality is really starting to come out... including her temper! When you take something away from her she wants she really flies off the handle! Growing, barking, biting at you for minutes - then she will forget and move on to something else. And you can't help but laugh, cuz it is all in the high pitch yip - Remember the Ewoks from Star Wars? Her growl sounds just like that!

We now know what "NO" means. May not listen all the time, but she knows. And "Outside" has meaning as does "Cookie"...

The second photo is of her and one of her million toys - "Mom" got in trouble and has been told not to bring anymore home for a while, guess I was spoiling her. This is one of her favorites, "Flea"... funny huh? She loves it, and really does tear into it and shake it around. She hauls it from room to room a lot. But then again she hauls everything from room to room... toys, shoes, socks, gloves, paper, bags, mail, pillows... I dropped one of my Fiskar's Squeeze punches the other night and before I could bend and pick it up - she came from no where.. and with all of her might she drug it down the hall to her "stash". She must be my girl as she just loves my crafting tools!

Hope you enjoyed Donkey/Libbie day - I am going to go and get some breakfast and then finish up some DT work, and then Internet time - Have a Wonderful Saturday!

HUGS and-

Celebrate Spring! ??

I am so excited.... SPRING IS COMING! I know that isn't true for everyone... but here... it is coming. I can actually see grass growing, and tree's are putting on leaves. Now if Mother Nature would help us out and give us some rain... things would really get going. Spring is a really important time for us. One we own a plant nursery... Spring is our time, busy but when we do the most business. And two most of the babies are born here in the Spring... and we all know how much we love that right?

Well this week Cute Card Thursday has the challenge of making a card with the signs of spring. This image is called "Natural Boy" isn't he cute? He is from Stampavie and is one of the Lelo Design images. Her stuff is just adorable! This is my idea of enjoying Spring. Sitting and just taking it all in.. ahh.. except here there would be a Donkey pulling at me, or eating the flowers.

I have colored with Copics, and then used scraps of yesterday's Bazzil Swiss dots for the mat. The base of the card is also Bazzil Swiss Dots, a really rich sage green. The pattern papers are from Imaginisce, a new paper for me - but I really like it, very heavy and two sided. I got mine at Treehouse Stamps and I think I may have to order more. I matted all the pattern papers with the same pink Swiss Dots scraps, and then sewed everything with zig zag stitch after inking the edges with a light brown. The Sentiment "Celebrate Spring" is a one of those $1.00 stamps at Micheal's. Punched a few of the EK Success Retro Flowers, with button centers, inked and high lighted with white gel pen. The a little gel pen stitching on the edges of the card.

I decorated the inside of this one too!! And then forgot to take a photo - sorry, but it is cute ;0)

Can you believe it is already Friday? Wow time flies.. when you are running behind and can't catch up.. cuz I sure haven't been having fun this week! LOL

So what do you have planned for this weekend... let me live through your fun... me working around home -

And hey... I think I am going to work on getting some Blog Candy together... I just realized that this next week is my blog's one year anniversary!! So I really need to do some partying don't you think?

HUGS and-

Don't you love it when it all comes together...

This one just put itself together.. it was so fun and easy.. maybe that is because I was working with so many wonderful new things!



NEW Whiff of Joy Spring Club image
NEW Basic Grey Bittersweet papers
NEW Bazzil Swiss Dot Card Stock
NEW Sketch by Katharina!




Oh I am in love! Yummy! All right I started out with the new Whiff of Joy image, colored with Copics, Spica pens and white gel pen. All to match the new Basic Grey Bittersweet papers, I chose three patterns to follow the sketch.. the yummy fabulous sketch. The dark brown more solid paper is used to mat the image, and the two other patterns. A piece of the collections white paper is then punched with the Martha Stewart Lace Doily border punch. And the card base... oh my have you used any of this swiss dot card stock? LOVE IT! I inked the edges of everything, then sewed down with a small zig zag stitch and light pink thread. I found a wonderful ribbon that all of the colors matched perfectly for the vertical band.




My sentiment is from Rubber Stamp Tapestry, I punched it out with a Fiskar's Circle Squeeze Punch, to use as the center of a EK Success Large Retro punched flower, with Martha Stewart Frond leaf punch. The swiss dot card stock is what I used to punch the flower, you can really see the dots here... the edges are also inked.

And yes - I actually got the inside decorated too! Was having so much fun with the papers and the punch, that I used pieces that I had cut off of and sewed and put together a panel for the inside.

All of this and can you image it is only the first image from the stamp club! I have a whole bunch more to play with! Run over to the Challenge site and see the sketch and join in.. the prize this week is a Guest Designers place for two months at WOJ! Drool... would love that!

Plans for today... well first off I have to call the vet. Gato (my kitty) has pulled one of her stitches loose, we had her fixed last week. Her and Libbie play so hard and run and jump - and now we need to take a trip to repair their damage. They are really pretty funny to watch, but this week I have been on guard and tried to keep their "horse play" to a minimum. Yea right! You would never imagine that a small cat and a 4 pound dog could do so much damage to a house. Moving rugs, turning over chairs... again they are pretty funny to watch. Then once back I hope to sit still for just a while and enjoy some quiet computer time before getting some work done. Hope you have a fun day planned -

HUGS and-

Yee Haw - Have a Great Day!

Well Howdy Partner... little bit of country here, after the Rodeo, I thought a bit of a country sheriff would be fun. And perfect timing as my order from Treehouse Stamps came this week! I just had to get me a couple of the Greeting Farm images - I may need a few more, as this one was so fun to color.


Copics were used, and you can't really see it but I used stickles for his badge and his buckle. LOL after seeing all of the guys at the Rodeo I should have stickled his shirt too.. wow some of those shirts are just .... ok we will just leave it there don't want to offend any Bull Riders into bling fashion.


My card - I started with a reddish brown card stock, then the pattern papers are from 7gypsies, perfect for this dude don't you think. I inked the edges with brown ink, I then matted the image with the same card stock and doodled the edges. White gel pen stitching around the edge of the large pattern paper. I found a satin ribbon with the same colors. Then four metal corners seemed to be perfect. The sentiment is punched out with a Stampin Up Word Window punch and inked.


Hubby said it was kind of blah. But I can't help it, Guy cards are tough for me. No flowers, no real bling. But I kind of like my Blah card anyway.


I am home today - Hubby is working and I am going to catch up on a few important things. Paying bills, laundry, and some much needed blog surfing and visiting my friends.


Hope you have a wonderful day planned too!
HUGS and-

A Spoon Full of Easter Goodies -

This Tuesday A Spoon Full of Sugar is a wonderful Sketch by Debbie, and was perfect to try out one of my new images from Alota Rubber Stamps.

We have a great prize this week of a $12 gift certificate which has very kindly been donated by Summer from Roses on paper. Thank you Summer! So make sure play along, cuz we all know how many wonderful items they have!

Ok, quickly here is my card - gotta get dressed and gone for day two of Donkey Day at the Rodeo.

The image is called "Easter Jar", I love all the yummies in the jar, but the I really love the jar, I just love old Mason Jars, I collect really old ones, and this one just called to me. I colored all the goodies with my Copic Markers, then once everything was colored I put a layer of Dimensional Glaze just on the glass section. Oh man I really wish you could see how cool this looks in real life.

I followed the sketch with some really adorable Spring paper, it is double sided, so only used one sheet here! Sorry, can't remember the name. I bought it online and the name wasn't on it and I can't find my invoice. I hide or throw away all proof of purchases :0) LOL I then sewed a zig zag stitch and also a gel pen white stitch around the edges. I was stumped for a sentiment and then found this Popsicle stick in my stash... seemed to fit.

Please do run over and see all the cute cards at A Spoon Full of Sugar - and join in a wonderful sketch.

Better get a move on - sorry I have been so quick and on the run lately... life -

HUGS
MichelleO