Cute as a Cupcake!

I have had this pattern paper for months! Just waiting to use it at the perfect time. Well guess what this weeks challenge is at Cute Card Thursday? Food! And from the look of all of the gorgeous DT cards Cupcakes were on the mind of many of them! So this Heidi Grace cupcake paper was a perfect background!

I decided that I just really needed to ink up one of my new Magnolia Autumn Stamp Club stamps... but I don't have the cute Tilda holding the cupcakes, so I picked this sweet Tilda sitting and placed her leaning back against a giant cupcake from Hero Arts! A chocolate one to boot! mmmm yummy!

I layered on a brown card stock and then a light yellow. The band across the middle is actually the back side of the cupcake paper... love that! I rounded the corners of everything with my Fiskars Squeeze Punch. Now that I have done that it qualifies for this weeks Dutch Dare Challenge. YEA! A double duty challenge card! Tilda and the cupcake are colored with my Copics and Sakura Glaze Pens. And the straps and buttons are Quickutz die cuts.

Now I didn't have any room for a sentiment... so I decorated the inside with the same papers and cut out cupcakes! The sentiment is from Stampabilities.

Short post today.. it is MIL shopping day, and I need to get moving and get ready. Lots of errands today and I am limping so it will be a challenge to get around. Had a sheet of 1/2 plywood fall ontop of my foot yesterday... mmmm my favorite shade of purple today! But doesn't seem to be broke so it is all ok, cuz after it happened I was worried it was! OUCH!

OH and I got some great Donkey photos yesterday that I can't wait to show on Saturday! Hope you have a great Friday and have some crafting time!

HUGS and-

A Whiff of Joy - Guardian Angel

I am so in love with these new stamps! This image is Melinda hugging heart, from Whiff of Joy, isn't she beautiful! I colored her with my Copics, Sakura Glaze Pens, Spica Glitter Pens and even some stickles for her wings!

Now I wanted to do something special with this image, and so I pulled out one of my favorite sketches. This happens to be one of Katharina's sketches, and I will admit I have used it more than once. I

just love those scallops! I used pattern papers all from K&Company's Classic K pad. These papers are soooooo me! Actually this is my colors in my house! I chose card stock from Core'dinations that complimented the pattern papers and cut all my pieces.

Now when I put everything together the image background was so bright and white and just was too much for the antique papers, so I colored it! It has a cool look I think and made the wings pop even more. Then I sanded all the card stock and then sewed the pieces all together with the same color thread. When I punched the Martha Steward Doily Lace border I didn't think the cream color showed up well enough, so I punched it a second time and layered it as well. Love how that came out and will be doing that again. My sentiment is from Stampin Up and is centered in a Prima Flower.

I am so happy with how it came out and decided I would go ahead and submit it for Katharina's Whiff of Joy Guest DT call. Hope she likes it!

Today is Hubby's day off so we all know what I will be doing... following him around holding, handing, and helping with what ever he needs. Yea! Maybe I will get time off for good behavior and he will let me break off early for some craft time. Hope you all have a great Thursday and find craft time yourself!

HUGS and-

Pretty Pressings Sketch Challenge

I just love Claudia! That being said I had to give her Pretty Pressings Sketch Challenge a try. It is such a great sketch, and I followed it pretty well, except I was watching the baseball game more than I was paying attention I guess. My circle in the middle ended up a square. But other than that I think I did pretty good. Hopefully Claudia will not give me a failing grade for not following perfectly.

I used one of my new Whiff of Joy images , this is Oakley in bathtub and I think he is absolutely adorable! I loved coloring him with my Copics and Spica Glitter pens. After done coloring I put some Diamond Glaze over all the water areas to give it a shiny wet look. Really does look cool in person! You can sort of see it in the photograph.

I cut down as small as I could and then inked the edges. My mats are Core'dinations green card stock inked on the edge as well. The pattern paper is from K&Company Designer Pad, this is one piece, that is double sided... love when things work so well together and I don't have to cut into lots of papers! I followed the sketch, Ha, and inked the edges of the pieced of designer papers. For my embellishments I tried buttons, flowers, ribbons and nothing seemed to work right. I then remembered a Quickutz die that I purchased on sale at Hobby Lobby, I cut out the tabs and the buttons out of the same papers as the base and the mats. I inked the edges of the buttons and used a gel pen to stitch down the buttons. Love that they look like buttons but are flat, so much easier to mail! I am really happy how it came out! I may have to do this sketch again and try it with a circle next time ;) Run over and give Claudia's sketch a try... I read that there are prizes!

Oh and speaking of Whiff of Joy... RUN over to Bev's Blog "All the things I love" she has some Whiff of Joy Candy! and while there look at the awesome cards she makes no wonder she is on the Whiff of Joy DT... her work is gorgeous!

And also Elizabeth Bell... yes THE Elizabeth Bell has some candy on her blog too! This very stamp is part of it plus some of her art! and more! So check that out too... I just love her stuff, wow talent!

Gotta get my day going... I just might get enough time to do some blog surfing and catch up! I also want to clean my craft area today... I might get buried if I don't do something soon the stacks around my chair are getting pretty high! Then some ink time! Hope you find some too!

HUGS and-

A Tuesday Recipe------

A Recipe for my Tuesday Blog Post...

A Spoon Full of Sugar with a Whiff of Joy

and Alota Gingerbread!

First for A Spoon Full of Sugar the theme this week is Christmas! Now for this weeks Challenge
we would love to see you make a Christmas card this week. It will be here before you know it and it was perfect timing as My Whiff of Joy images were just calling out to be inked!

I went through lots of Christmas pattern papers trying to decide what colors to go with, I love all the new colors that are being used for Christmas. But then I came across this piece of I think Daisy D's (it is a scrap) and it reminded my of Christmas when I was a kid. Bright Red and crisp Green. Well I pulled out one of those American Craft 5x7 card bases and went to work.

I first matted the piece of pattern paper on white card stock and sewed with a metallic thread. I love this stuff, you just cant see in the photograph how cool it looks in person. I colored Charlotte decorating Christmas tree with my Copics and Spica Glitter pens... I am showing a close up to you can see the ornaments and her dress. Love how they came out. I then used gold stickles for the star and the garland, this card sparkles baby! I sewed around the edge of the image and inked with red ink. I used a Bobbin Ribbon with Happy Holidays for my sentiment on the corner and a Prima Christmas Flower and leaf for the top. Simple but I like it!

Make sure you check out the other Spoon Full of Sugar DT cards this week, there are some really creative Christmas cards, some wonderful ideas to get you in the mood for the holiday!

My second card today is from Papertake Weekly and this weeks challenge is another of Katharina's sketches! YEA! Love her sketches!

While going through my Christmas papers I found this FABULOUS piece of shimmering Gingerbread men from Heidi Grace. I drool on her stuff, love the shimmer, the glazes and the flocked papers she puts out! Anyway this is from last year, and is a pretty pink shimmer paper and little gingerbread men. Well I immediately thought of one of the new release Gingerbread Family from Alota Rubber stamps! There are a few different Christmas stamps that are all adorable, but this one was perfect for this paper! So I stamped it out and colored with my Copics. Very simple coloring here. I cut the image out with my Fiskars Fingertip Craft Knife, I then matted the pattern paper on a dark brown card stock, and placed it on the American Crafts Card base (I am really getting my use of these aren't I?) Following Katharina's sketch I found a second Heidi Grace paper that coordinates with my shimmer paper and double matted it with red and brown. I used Doodlebug Sugar Brads for the corners and pop dotted my "family" on the top center. I decided a plain red ribbon was best for the band across the middle. The sentiment is also from Alota Rubber Stamps. Now I thought the family needed just a bit more, this I don't know if I am happy with or not. But I painted a very thin coat of stickles on them to give a look of sugar on them. I just don't know about that.. but what is done is done right? Other than that I love how it came out and think I might make a few more of these!

Well I had a lunch to go to today with some old friends, but it was just canceled... hmm guess I will just head out and run a few quick errands and get home early.... what will I do with the extra time today ;0) I see some extra inking time! Hope you find some too!

HUGS and -

mmmmm Chocolate!

When I saw the Tilda & Co. Challenge Blog this week I knew just what I wanted to use! I purchased this Club Scrap stamp years ago at a LSS Garage Sale. I think I have used it maybe once since then. Well it was perfect for this weeks challenge of Chocolate Delight, to use Chocolate, Pink & White. I stamped it with dark brown on a scrap of cream colored card stock. Now that this has a "Shic" look to it, I knew despite I have my new Magnolia Autumn Stamp Club stamps I had to use Shic Tilda. She is one of my favorite Tildas. She reminds me of my niece Talisyn... too cute. Colored with my Copics and then cut out. A pink American Crafts card is used as the base, I then cut a piece of Core'dinations dark brown and ran it thru my Cuttlebug with an embossing folder, then sanded it. Love this stuff! The pattern paper is from Target, and was on a clearance end cap. 100 sheets of different pattern papers from Hot Hues... and get this, I got it for 2.48! Bargain huh! I matted it with a different shade of brown and then sewed around it and the embossed piece. Stacked three flowers and used a button for the center. Found a ribbon that matched pretty well and placed everything together on the card. When trying to decide what to use for the sentiment, I found a journal square from K&Company I inked the edges with the dark brown and stamped the word "Hello!" that is from Studio G, one of the dollar stamps from Micheals.

Well gotta run early this morning, I have to do Donkey duty, Hubby had to go to work early this morning. Need to find my jacket too... a cool front came thru last night. You know it was 101 degrees here this weekend, today is suppose to be a high of 82. Liking that.

I hear Hees and Haws outside, that is for me =) Better run -

HUGS and-

Sunday Sarah Kay - 3 Pattern Papers

Sarah Kay Challenge Blog this week has a real challenge this week. To use 3 pattern papers on a card. Ok... so it isn't walking thru hot coals or anything, but can be difficult if you don't pick the right papers.

I first decided which Sarah Kay image to use, I picked "My sweet Lili"and colored her with my copics... all except her night gown. That is where my first piece of pattern paper is! I stamped her on the pattern paper and then cut out her night gown and attached it to the image.

I matted her on a piece of tan card stock. I cut down the two other pattern papers (all are from K&Company)and matted them on the same paper. I decided that I wanted this card to have a vintage look. So I blanket stitched around all three pieces. and inked the edges. My card is a base from American Crafts and is a pretty dark brown. I used two short pieces of Doodlebug velvet flower ribbon, chipboard corners from Little Davis Designs that I inked, Heidi Swapp Chipboard clock face and a tile heart to embellish. Hubby liked this one, he tends to like the more vintage looking cards.

Make sure to check out the other DT cards at the Sarah Kay Challenge, they are all so gorgeous!

Ok... need to pass on some info:

First make sure to check out Nikki's Blog Candy! She is celebrating hitting 20,000 hits with some fabulous High Hopes goodies and paper! So check it out... but hurry cuz it ends Wed. the 17th!

Then take a spin over to Karin's Blog Candy. She has reached 10,000 and it giving away goodies to celebrate too. Some really cool stuff too! Her candy give away is the 19th so hurry there too!

And then also I wanted to share that my buddy Amy, that owns my local Scrapbook Store, The Scrapbook Corral has opened up an online store! She is still loading it up, but there are Sarah Kay stamps, some Penny Black, Fiskars, American Crafts cards and papers and tons of Thickers loaded as of today. Make sure and check it out and watch it, I know what she is planning on adding ;0)

Better get going... Sunday Breakfast with the locals! Have a great Sunday and hope you get to get inky!

HUGS and-

A Guardian Angel...

How excited was I when I got the mail yesterday evening? Well I nearly screamed when I saw the envelope from A Whiff of Joy! Well I stamped a few of them up right away! Oh they are so beautiful! And the quality is just fabulous! This is one of the ones I stamped out first and colored, she is from the guardian angel collection and is called "Melinda Helping Angel". She is the perfect Guardian Angel.

I colored her with my Copics, white gel pen and stickles for her wings. Her size is perfect to use on this weeks Friday Sketchers Challenge blog, so I found Basic Grey pattern papers and cut my pieces to fit the sketch from Heidi in Norway, it is a wonderful sketch and I see that I may be using it a lot more!

She is matted in two layers of card stock one to match the Basic Grey Papers, and then the second is the same pale yellow that is used for the base. Love these soft colors, I also inked the edges of everything with a pale blue ink to give shadow to it all. For the circles in the sketch I cut three flowers with my Spellbinders die. I used a piece of Core'dinations pink card stock so I could sand it and give it some additional color. I used large light yellow brads for the centers.

And yes I didn't forget it is Saturday... it is Donkey day! This morning I took a few photographs, one is Miguel... now this is what we call out Momma pen. It is a small birthing pen. At this moment it is being used as a penalty box. Or as parents of small children would call a "time out" area. Miguel is one of our Jacks. The jack that needs to be gelded... that is for sure now. He has not been able to get any of our girls pregnant. And Hubby just didn't want to geld him, he is a handsome and is a perfect sized and figure of a donkey. But he for some reason just can't do his job... and his testosterone is making him very aggressive. Not to us, he is a true love to us. But to other donkeys. He actually knocked pens over that were strapped together and beat up one of the standard donkeys... yes the large size donkeys and he is only 31 inches tall! To say the least he is one tough guy. Well he has an appointment this coming week to be gelded, and that should help his attitude. We love this guy and he should make a happy pet from here on.

My next two photo are of Rosita and another of her and her Momma Lacey... she is doing much better. Had a little set back a couple of days ago, but the meds are working again and she seems to be feeling better and is actually running and grazing with the others in the pen. Rosie is my girl, and I am so happy she is doing better. I just hope we keep her healthy this time.

You can see from this one photo that she has not lost a lot of her fur from last winter, this is because she has been so sick. I have been brushing her and trying to remove as much as I can, but she doesn't like the brushing, I think it hurt her in some areas so I didn't force the issue... we are going to shave her now that she is feeling better.

I also want to thank all of those that have been sending their well wishes with Hurricane Ike. We were totally spared here. No rain, No wind to speak of. It turned and didn't even come near us. Early predictions were for right across us, but now as you have probably seen in the news Houston was hit hard, at this moment is still being hit. Now I just pray that the people in that area are safe.

Hope you have a great Saturday planned, and have some time to spend with family... friends and stamps and ink!

HUGS and-