A Spoon Full of Sugar is in SHAPE!!

Spoon is really taking Shape this week! Yes ... this week A Spoon Full of Sugar the challenge is to make a card with some shape, no square cards here!

Now I have been really short of crafting time this last week. Work Work Work... and not much fun time! LOL ok, so I was shipping out stamps to customers so that was fun :0)

But now for my shape card - I was stumped on what I wanted to do... and of course kept putting it off all week... and then was out of time. So I got to thinking... hmmm why can't I use a chipboard album? And take it apart and just have a card from it? And heck the "album" gives me a few more cards for later.. he he

Now I covered the chipboard Inside and outside, with Core'dinations card stock. Then sanded the edges and a bit across the tops. For my image I used one of Stampavie's new Penny Johnson images, this is Penelope - love all them flowers and that flowing dress. I colored her with my Copics and then cut her out with a wide border around her. I cut a circle to be the center of my flower as a mat behind her, I used lots of bling rhinestones around the edge.  The words Thank You are one of the Jumbo punches from Martha Stewart - had it for months, and I think this is the first time I have used it.. oops :0)

I wanted a bit more, but pattern paper just seemed too much, and I was stumped as it really is plain... I don't do plain well... I then found a couple of Fancy Pants rub-ons... that helps I think.

So what do you think? Too plain, maybe I should have covered the flower with pattern paper after all...

Now please pop over and see all the shaped cards! FUN FUN FUN! So click here.. to visit A Spoon Full of Sugar!

HUGS and -

The MichJay Challenge is back!

Ok... I know many of you are scratching your head and saying "HUH? MichJay Challenge?" 

Let me explain for you - My buddie Jay Jay and I were talking last year that we both had this "fear" of making 3-d items. We needed a push to help us get into the swing of doing things other than plain flat cards. So we started up the MichJay Challenge! Due to the holidays and the CHA we put it off for a few months. But we are back! And for our first challenge for 2010 we decided to Spring into things and make a POP UP card! Now I have never made one of these before, and I really don't know what Jay Jay has made, but me... I think I went a bit different. The easy way I think, but it is cute and different!

Here is the front...  Looks like a "regular" card I know. I used the Stampavie Gillian Roberts "Looking at You" image. One because it is one of my favorite Spring images, and two because that little butterfly fits the inside of my card :0)

I used a light blue card stock for the base, matted with a very light pink card stock mat. The Pattern paper is from K&Company's new Specialty Paper pad, lots of enhanced papers in this stack, foil, bling and flock!   I wanted the paper to be just a bit simpler so the image would stand out on the front and the "pop" in the inside. I sewed down the papers with a zig zag stitch and then ran piece of antique lace, with pink dotted ribbon as a vertical band, then matted my image with a Nesties Label cut blue mat. Then I added three pink mulberry roses, and Martha Frond leaves punches.

Now for the INSIDE:

Simple... I know... but I was trying to make the actual Spring be the focus! The inside pattern papers are the same as the front, layered with pink mats card stock, and sewed down. Here is a better view of the Spring...

This was soooo easy! I saw this on a blog a while back. Sorry I don't remember where, I so wish I could give credit, cuz it is a great simple idea!   I used my extra large Fiskars Circle Squeeze punch, then I cut in creating a spring. I attached the inside part of the circle to the top inside of the card, and the outside part of the circle to the bottom. I just used scotch tape here cuz I wanted it to hold, and I knew I was covering it with my sentiment.

On my Spring I attached lots of Martha Stewart Butterfly punches, that I added Stickles to for some pretty bling. My sentiment is one of my new favorites... from My Sentiments Exactly. I got it at Hobby Lobby on clearance. I layered matching card stock for the mat. And done!


It was fun and something different! Thanks so much Jay Jay for the challenge this month! Now I can't wait to "POP" over to your blog and see how you "popped up"!   Please visit Jay Jay HERE and see too! And if you would like to join us in our challenge please do, and the comment and let us know so we can come and see your pop up!

HUGS and-

Animal Crackers ... ah Spring!

A glorious sunny afternoon! I do believe Spring has sprung! And all of the animals are really loving it!

First I am so happy - I have to show your what Hubby brought home this week... nope not another donkey, goat, dog or cat...  a wonderful huge Red Oak Tree! The tree in our back yard, which is now divided for the goats, Libbie and Autie - we have a very old large old not well old tree... that is ready to fall over. We have cut on it and trimmed as much as we can, but it is now time for it to come down completely. That is something we have not wanted to do, we need the shade in our yard - the goats really need the shade now. So Hubby planted it this week, and once we get a tree ring around the bark - we will open the pen back up around the tree... the goats will try and eat the bark and kill it if we don't get the tree ring first.

Pretty huh?

This tree will give some awesome shade in coming years!

Speaking of shade... we have planted quite a few trees around the property since moving here. Most are just outside the donkey pens... inside the donkey pens are dangerous for the trees... they get eaten. But just outside, they still get the shade. I love this shot of Lina and Pavo... they were enjoying the shade, not many more than two or three can here though. LOL

Needing the shade is Felicia. Man this donkey has some hair! Most of our donkeys I can brush out a few times and they loose all their winter fur - a few we shave just cuz it does get so hot here in the summer... Felicia is going to be one of those HAVE TO shaves... she will melt this summer. They say that long hair is really popular in she show rings up north - But not here in Texas! As soon as the nights are a bit warmer - she will spend time with the shears!

And look at our new baby, Alonso... I tell you this guy really is a stunning dude, and we have never had one so independent and adventurous so young! I look out the window and he will be all the way across the pen from his Mom... charging another donkey - most of the time it is Frio, but he has already learned that despite Alonso being the instigator of the trouble... Frio will be the one to get in trouble with Bella, Alonso's Mom... So Frio is keeping just a bit of distance, just until Alonso is a little older I am sure.

Feeding time in the goat pens... we got a new goat feed last week... mmm they really love it! This is Paintbrush and her 4 kids, aren't they getting big!  We have already sold Ricky, Fred and Ethel to a neighbor, so as soon as they are old enough to wean they will be moving next door. But Lucy.. my girl will stay with us :0)

I found myself spending all my time in the pen holding Lucy and loving on Lucy - she is so sweet and affectionate.  But since selling the other three, I knew I needed to work on some lovin' with them as well... Ricky and Ethel have taken to it very well - they are now just as friendly as Lucy - Fred on the other hand... well he is working out some man issues - he spends all his time trying to head but Lillies older kids.  Here is a close up of Ethel, she has really stunning gold eyes.

Here is Libbie and Autie talking to Annie ... ok so Libbie was yelling at her. I am telling you Libbie is really having some I am boss issues the past couple of weeks. She barks at all the other animals all the time, she won't listen to anyone or anything. Which has "Dad" and I ready to pull out hair out... or Libbies! She runs out the door every chance she gets and then won't come back in... AHHHH good thing she is so darn cute, it saves her most of the time. I keep telling myself it is a faze and she will grow out of it. Well she better!

Ok this is a bit blurry... but it was such a cute photo I had to share it. Don't you love how his ears are flopping up... That boy LOVES to run outside, I need to mow this weekend, and I hate to cuz he has so much fun jumping in the high grass... Once in a while Libbie will join him in the run, but most of the time she just stands at the fence barking at the goats... sigh...

Hope you enjoyed Animal Crackers.... Have a wonderful weekend, and I hope the weather is as beautiful where you are!

Hugs and-

Just Magnolias - A fun Sketch!

Friday = Just Magnolias Challenge! YEA! And today is a wonderful sketch! But first I got a new Tilda in the mail this past week... so I just had to ink her up and color her and her cute little lamb!

How precious is this image? I love it! Only one thing... does her foot look a bit odd? Don't know what it is, not the right angle? Too small? I don't know but that foot up in the air just isn't right. But I still love the image! I have colored with my Copics - high lighted with a white gel pen. And then I used white puff paint for the lamb.

For my card I followed the sketch for the challenge, and used Papertrey Ink Pattern Papers. Love these, that they all match so well together. I sewed everything done. I then just had to have a picket fence for the image, so I  punched the extra large Martha Stewart border punch. Love how wide these are. I then found some mulberry flowers that were lilac in color and I though were perfect, and added some Martha Stewart Frond leaves.


I was a bit stumped for what I wanted to use as a sentiment. And then I found these three epoxy stickers - I like how they seem to work well with the image.

I hope you like it - and I also hope that you will pop over to the Just Magnolias Challenge see the sketch and join in. FABULOUS prizes here!!!

See you tomorrow for Animal Crackers!
HUGS

Have you seen the Flower Power Camper Van?

HI - bet you thought I fell of the edge of the world huh? LOL Many of you may know I work for Stampavie, and well... we had a very large shipment of stamps come in.. I was at the bottom of them! But I have found my way out and thought I just had to use my New Sizzix dies, and my Big Shot Pro. YEA!!! 

Now here is the thing... I under estimated the size of the Big Shot Pro. Shocked me how big it actually is! Then I ordered a couple of sizzix dies.. and well I over estimated their size! LOL I guess I am gonna just have to save my pennies and get some of the Pro dies... The regular dies are cute as can be, but ok..   small! :0)

First thing I made was is a cute Sizzix "Bag w/Flower" I thought this bag was so adorable when I saw it online, and thought what a cute way to give a gift. Small gift, so I ordered it. The finished bag measures 2.25 inches x 3.5 inches... LOL well maybe big enough for a gift card or money and that is a great gift :0)

So here is my "little" gift bag with the Flower Power Camper Van image by Stampavie and Helz Cuppleditch.

It is cute huh? I layered scraps of pattern paper and card stock and doodled the edges.. for that Flower power look...

My image is colored with my Copics, Spica Glitter Pens and gel pens. I then cut out the image out with my Fiskars fingertip craft knife.

The back of the die cut bag has this cute flower cut out, I made a small hole in the bag and used one of the petals as a closure for the bag. After I layered more scraps for decoration.

Ok, so it is a tiny bag, but I still think it has uses... and it is really cute. And I just love the Stampavie Flower Power Camper Van by Helz Cuppleditch - just really makes me want to put on some oldie music, find my tie dyed t-shirt and mellow out dude - Love it!

Hope you enjoyed it too :0)
HUGS and-

Stampavie Challenge - Easter

Hello! Today is the Stampavie Challenge! And the challenge today is to make an Easter Card. With so many wonderful Spring images from Stampavie this is a pretty easy one!

For me I decided to use the new Helz Cuppleditch image Easter Scenery - a wonderful image!

I colored with my Copics, then pulled out my air compressor and sprayed the background. I love how it came out! I was going for that sunrise look? It kinda worked I think! I cut it out with my oval Nesties and then inked the edges with a light green ink and a sponge. All of my Happy Easter sentiments were... well cutesie looking. Does that make sense? I wanted something small and more "adult" so I had to make due and hand wrote it, and then doodled around the edge while I had the pen in my hand.

For my card I started with a peach card stock for the base, and then found an olive green card stock for the mat. The striped pattern paper is from Webster's pages. A new company for me, but really wonderful paper! Double sided, and great patterns, some really vintage looking, love those. I sewed the papers together with a zig zag stitch, then matted the oval with the same two card stock, and sewed those down. I found a piece of latice ribbon, that seemed perfect - I ran it across the center and then pop dotted my oval down.

So now you need to head on over to the Stampavie DT Blog and see the other Easter cards then join us! We keep the prize a secret... but believe me... you want to give it a go for this!!! Seriously he he he!

Better get to work... I have a LONG day at work today! :0)

HUGS and-

Animal Crackers all counted up!

Animal Crackers Day!!   I am so glad I got photos taken during the week! The weather has been glorious this week! Sunny and warm! But today... cloudy, thunder storms and cold!

As I went out one afternoon this week... I found Ricky and Fred, well doing some Sun bathing! Fred had already made his way in, and Ricky was on his way!  Now as funny as this is... this is their water pail! LOL  There was actually only about 1/2 inch in the bowl....

Ahhh... oh my sun bathing really does feel so fabulous!  I know they were really enjoying it, so I put off filling their water - so they could enjoy their afternoon swim... can you swim if there isn't room to turn around?

Speaking of watering... How many donkey heads can you get into a water bucket?  You would think I had let their water run out, and they were dying for something to drink. But nope they had two buckets.. they just love the cold running water :0)

This photo cracked me up... We have new hay bales in the pens this week. Frio and Darlene were eating a late lunch.. heck Darlene eats all day so I don't know if it was lunch or not. But I found it really funny that her son Frio wanted the exact grass that Darlene was trying to eat. Had to be the best piece if Mom wanted it!

Jazz was taking a little afternoon snooze under the shade of a big oak tree - mmm it was warm and wonderful - wish I had a hammock out there, I would have joined her!

And now the new baby!!! Alonso and his Mom Bella - I am telling you this is the fast little dude we have ever had! He is so ahead of the curve of what he should be doing! LOL we came out Wednesday night and he was literally doing laps around the pen! Only 24 hours old! And this is why Hubby named him after a race car driver! LOL  here is is already copying Mom and grazing.. adorable!

How is this for showing how big my new Big Shot Pro is?  I put it on the floor and Let Autie check it out! Then I got to thinking... does this show how big the Pro is or how small Autie is? LOL

This is Autie... saying .. "No Mom I am a BIG BOY!"

Libbie saying ... "Yea Right... just remember I am always in charge!"


I had some one ask how many animals we have - so I counted them up! LOL actually I didn't have a count in my head. So here is what we have: 3 Standard Donkeys; 30 Miniature Donkeys; 11 Dwarf Nigerian Goats; 2 Toy Australian Shepherds and 1 Cat -  ahem...  donkeys and goats "In the works"  :0)

Whew no wonder my feed bill is so high each month! LOL

Have a wonderful weekend.

HUGS and

My First Easel Card!

How did we get to Friday so fast this week? Man yesterday I thought it was Tuesday, then thought duh... no its Wednesday. Then last night found out no it was Thursday!! Man... what happened to my week? I have been working a lot around the house, and birthing babies... so I guess I just lost track of the days...LOL

So today is Friday! And that means Just Magnolias time! This week they are asking us to make an Easel Card. I have been drooling over these on the blogs, and really wanted to make one. But just didn't take the time. So the challenge was perfect for me, now you will be seeing a lot more of these from me! They are fun!

So here is my very first Easel Card!

I love how they stand up! What a wonderful way to display your "art". A real gift of a card!

I went through my images and found one that had flowers to match my pattern papers, love her basket full, don't you? I colored with my Copics - to match the papers. Speaking of papers... mmmm ... loving the new DCWV Rustic paper stack! My kind of papers and colors! I found two patterns and created my top and bottoms - sewing everything down with a zig zag stitch.

I then had to play with my new Big Shot Pro you know :0)  So I pulled out a few of my old Sizzlets and dusted them off - I cut out one set of corners, then two sets of buttons and Thank You sentiment with flower - one in the dark peach card stock then a second in the green. The button has been tied together with twine, and then the corners and flower center I added some bling with some light green rhinestones. I highlighted with white gel pen.

Now you know you are wanting to try one of these cards right? They are really fun! Pop on over to Just Magnolias Challenge and see all the other DT cards - just gorgeous! And then join us! A great prize again this week!

So what is on your plans this weekend? Me I have to work.. but I am hoping to find some time to play with my new toy later in the weekend. Hope you have some fun planned!

HUGS and-

Giggle Giggle... look what arrived at my gate yesterday!

Oh my this is so exciting!! AND HEAVY!!!  Hubby said I could get a new Big Shot - as my Cuttlebug was not well. I spent a lot of time researching and trying to find the "best price". And then I got sucked in and fell in love with the Big Shot Pro :0) Ok, it is more money, but it will do 12 x 12 and the large dies are just fabulous! Now they will take time to get a few I admit, they are  pricey too - but I just really got sucked in.... and hey it matches my new craft room! It is Blue and White!

You can read online.. "This thing is big" & "This thing is heavy" and think Oh yes I am sure it is... LOL But when you come home and see the box, and then try and pick it up... "OH MY THIS THING IS BIG AND HEAVY!!"  LOL the spot on my desk I had cleaned off to put my new toy... was only half the size I needed to to be!  After rearranging my room and getting it out of the box and reading the instructions. I did get one large die.. the 6x6 envelope die! Cool huh? But I need to get some of the bags and boxes... sllllowwlyyy  -

Now I need time to play - work is crazy now and no time right now :0) But it is sitting there waiting and calling me....

Bella's Bouncing Baby Boy!

OH my we had another baby! I felt like "we" cuz poor Bella really had a hard birth. This little guys leg was stuck, but after I got it straightened out, she birthed this BIG boy just fine! And is healthy as as horse Donkey! Within 30 minutes he was on the other side of the pasture, and trotting to meet each of the donkeys in the pen. Despite his Mom not wanting this! LOL

Hubby arrived home just two hours later, to find him already trotting around and on the go ready to take on the world. He is a big boy... he is just about the size of Pepita, who is 3 months old. But big or not, he is still adorable.

We named him Alonso... one of Hubby's favorite race car drivers. We figured his is pretty quick and on the go, so that was a good name for him.

Hope this big guy brought a smile to your day. :0)
HUGS and

Tina Wenke - Easter Parade!!

Who doesn't love a Parade? And Tina Wenke's Easter Parade is just too adorable for words! And this week if fits our challenge at A Spoon Full of Challenge! Yes Today Spoon's Challenge is to make an Easter Card.

I mean common.. chicks and a bunny pulling a giant Easter Egg... that is cute! LOL I have colored with my Copics - and then high lighted with white gel pen and Spica glitter pens.

For my card I went pastel of course :0)

To me Easter has always pastel colors with lots of flowers, and lots of lace. Maybe it is all those Easter dresses Grandma made me as a kid?  Well my card had to do the same. I went through my scraps and found two pieces of pattern paper that went well together.  Sorry don't know the names... I think the glitter pink may be My Minds Eye or DCWV. I used two Martha Stewart punches for the lace. The Extra Large lace band is one of my favorites. I layered the back of it with light purple card stock. (that was also used for the mat behind the image too) Then the second punch is her scallop lace, love it. And now for all of those flowers... I went through my box and pulled out as many felt pastel flowers and leaves as I could find in the stash! LOL I used mini brads to put them down. I didn't use a sentiment, as the image already says it all!

So what do you think?

Now make sure to pop over to A Spoon Full of Sugar and see all the adorable Easter images in cards!

Penny Johnson - I love Honey!

Well... I know you are all dying to know how much I got done at my craft time with my buddie and Sister. LOL Well my Sister ended up not getting to come, and my buddie only could stay 5 hours. Now that is just not enough time to get lots done is it? I mean we had to visit each pen, go in and play with the baby goats, see the new craft room, and then sit and talk for at least 3 hours before we could get busy! After all it had been a few months since we have gotten together and crafted! She got almost one scrapbook page done, I got nada, zip, nothing! LOL I was helping her with ideas so does that count? We are going to get together again in a week or so maybe and then we will get more done cuz we have caught up on all our gossip... ahem I mean chatting. :0)

So last night I put together one of the images I had colored - This is Stampavie Penny Johnson's "I Love Honey" - Cute huh?

I love coloring images like this that have shadows and shape. This little bear in his honey pot is all colored with my Copics - Then I went back and added dimensional glaze over all the honey. It is a really cool look in person, but I just couldn't capture it with my camera - can you see it?

Maybe a little? Sigh.. I tried. For my card I went through my scraps - I believe my pattern paper is from Fancy Pants, I used a scrap of pink card stock for the mat. I ran it through my Cuttlebug, and then my Nesties square scallop die. Different. I punched a wide Scalloped Lattice Martha Stewart Border punch out of scrap white card stock. Then found 6 buttons that matched everything and stacked them and tied them with Karen Foster Scrappers floss. The sentiment is from Stamps by Judith punched out with a SU Word Window punch.

So are you hungry for some honey now?

Have a wonderful Monday! HUGS and-