Let's Get Down and Dirty

Yay, it's Friday!!! I am really looking forward to the weekend, hoping to hole away in my craft room for awhile. I have so many projects I need to finish, LOL.

Today I'd like to share a simple little card I made using my Walk In My Garden Cricut cartridge. The wheelbarrow and the flowers were all cut from this cartridge. I used a scrap of gingham paper, from my stash, for the border at the top along with some twine and a cute ceramic button I had from my stash. The sentiment is from Life's A Garden by Pink By Design.

Supplies used: card stock - white, vanilla, pink, red, brown, black, 2 shades of green, 2 shades of yellow, 2 shades of purple; pattern paper - scrap piece from my stash; Walk In My Garden Cricut cartridge; twine - Liz's Paper Loft Boutique; stamp - Life's A Garden - Pink By Design; ink - Rich Cocoa by Memento; border punch - Fiskars; ceramic button - my stash; Pop Dots

Sneak Peek - LUFP

We CAN beat this!!!!

We can spread awareness, we can urge our mothers, aunts, sisters, cousins, friends to get their mammograms, we can help raise money for cancer research and to help those fighting the disease!!

Yes, together We Can Beat This!!!!

I have a little sneak peek of a card I made for Link Up For Pink!

I hope you'll stop by the blog and check it out.

Ladies - Don't forget your mammograms!!! Take care of your girls!

Whimsical Designs "Recycle It" Challenge

Happy Wednesday all!!!

This week over at Whimsical Designs we are stampin' out our carbon footprint (haha) by recycling!
The theme is to "Recycle It", create any project and use something you would normally throw out.

Our sponsor for this weeks challenge is Inky Impressions with a $10 gift certificate to their store up for grabs!!

I used a darling image by Inky Impressions, called Birthday Girl, for my card. I colored her with Copics and did a little paper piecing, using Vintage T papers, for her jeans and vest. I fired up my Cameo and cut out a park bench and some grass. I recycled a couple of coffee stir sticks for the posts the banners are on and stamped them with two darling sentiments from Stephanie's Everyday Sentiments.

Supplies used: card stock - vanilla, 2 shades of green, brown, black; patterned papers - Vintage-T 6x6 paper pad by We R Memory Keepers, Barefoot Stripe in Barefoot by BoBunny; digital image - Inky Impressions; Copic markers; stamps - Everyday Sentiments by Whimsical Designs; ink - Tuxedo Black by Memento; coffee stir sticks; Silhouette Studio cut files; Pop Dots.

The design team has some fabulous ideas to spark your creativity and give you some "recycling" ideas so head on over to Whimsical Designs to check them out!!!

Eat Cake, Party

My daughters birthday was yesterday! I made her a homemade strawberry rhubarb pie and took it to her house last night to celebrate with her. We had a wonderful time with her and her family.

I thought I would share the card I made for her. I was inspired by a card created by Kathy Martin in one of my Paper Crafts magazines.

I used a stamp of the week by Unity called Cake Wishes, a Silhouette Studio cut file for the polaroid background and some washi tape from Pick Your Plumb.

Supplies used: card stock - kraft, recycled white; patterned papers from Bitty Dot Basics by Papertrey Inc.,stamp - Cake Wishes by Unity; ink - Tuxedo Black by Memento; Washi Tape - Pick Your Plumb; Silhouette Studio cut file; button from Dear Lizzy by American Crafts; letter stickers from 100 Days Of Summer by Simple Stories; Black Diamond and Orange Peel Stickles; twine - my stash; sewing machine; Pop Dots.

Link Up For Pink Challenge #13

Woot, woot, it's time for a new challenge over at Link Up For Pink!


We have two fabulous sponsors for this months challenge: Lovebug Creations is giving away a $15 voucher And Sk Digis is giving away four $6 vouchers 

Isn't that exciting!!!

For the challenge this month we have a photo for inspiration:

Aren't those colors just gorgeous? The theme: breast cancer awareness,

inspirational, healthy reminders, "celebrate more birthdays", you're in

my thoughts, encouragement, etc.

For my card I used one of SK Digis digital images from the Save The Hooters For Breast Cancer Awareness kit which you can purchase here. I also used some of Lovebug Creations gorgeous rumple ribbon.

Supplies used: card stock - recycled white; patterned papers - Fairy Dust from Magic Happens by Kaiser Craft, Girlfriend Stripe-Passion Pink and Red Polka Dot both by Daisy D's; digital image - SK Digis; Copic markers; rumple ribbon - Lovebug Creations; ribbon - Blue Jean Boutique Trims by Doodlebug; flowers - Yolie; border punch - Fiskars; sewing machine; Pop Dots

Remember Ladies - Take Care Of Your Girls!!!

Get Your Mammograms!!!

Whimsical Designs "Song Inspired" challenge

Happy Wednesday everyone!!!

Time for a new challenge over at Whimsical Designs. This week we are asking you for a "Song Inspired" creation. So get out your ipod, listen to some tunes, and let the music inspire your crafting mojo!!!

Our sponsor for this weeks challenge is 3 Girl Jam and the prize is a $15 certificate to their store!

For my project I chose one of my favorite songs "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother". I love the version by The Hollies the best, although "The Osmonds" did a great job also. I just love the lyrics to this song.

  

Hollies

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother lyrics

(B. Scott - B. Russell)

The road is long

With many a winding turn

That leads us to who knows where

Who knows where

But I'm strong

Strong enough to carry him

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

So on we go

His welfare is of my concern

No burden is he to bear

We'll get there

For I know

He would not encumber me

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

If I'm laden at all

THEN I'm laden with sadness

That everyone's heart

Isn't filled with the gladness

Of love for one another

It's a long, long road

From which there is no return

While we're on the way to there

Why not share

And the load

Doesn't weigh me down at all

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

He's my brother

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

Originally my thought was to use a silhouette of one brother giving another a piggyback ride, but after much searching I could not come up with an image at the Silhouette store, on any of my Cricut cartridges or online (without paying $$$). So my second idea came to me when I saw an image of a gril pushing a wheelbarrow of flowers in my "A Childs Year" cartridge. Then I found another image of a little boy sitting on a stool, holding a teddy bear. I welded the two images together and came up with the following card.

Supplies used: card stock - white, black; patterned papers - Flowering Vine by Heidi Swapp and Palmetto in Poppy by SEI; A Childs Life Cricut cartridge; rhinestones - Kaiser Craft; sequins and metal flower - my stash.

Please head over to Whimsical Designs to see what the rest of the design team has come up with!

And... come a play with us on this fun "song Inspired" challenge.

Hero / CTO #113

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

This week over at Celebrate The Occasion we are asking you to create a project for Memorial Day. The design team has some wonderful inspiration for you, so click on over to the blog and check it out.

To create my card I used the Hero Panels stamp set and some papers by Reminisce, along with this sketch from Operation Write Home.  I will be donating this card to Operation Write Home.

Supplies used: card stock - vanilla, red; patterned papers - American Stripe and Party In The USA in Party In The USA collection by Reminisce, Charles Thompson in Let Freedom Ring by Pebbles; sticker - Est. 1776 by Reminisce; stamp - Hero Panels set by Stampers Best; ink - Faded jeans Distress Ink by Tim Holts for Ranger; star punch - EK Success; Pop Dots.

Yummo!

I hope all my friends out there had a fabulous weekend!!!

I had a productive one and managed to get all my pots in the front and back yard planted :) Now it looks so pretty!

I'm sharing a card this morning which I made for two challenges.

The first is Less Is More and the theme this week is Cats and/or Dogs.

The second is Case This Sketch.

For my card I inked up a couple of cute stamps I had by We R Memory Keepers and a fun Sentiment from Whimsical Designs! I stamped the kitty twice, once on patterned paper so I could fussy cut him out. I had to add a couple of google eyes for fun.

Supplies used: card stock - recycled white; patterned paper - Lazy Time in Friends Furever by We R Memory Keepers; stamps - Meow in Friends Furever by We R Memory Keepers and sentiment in Whimsical Fun Vol. 1 by Whimsical Designs; ink - Tuxedo Black by Memento; google eyes - JoAnn's; Pop Dots.

Sneak Peek - LUFP

Are you good at letting your friends know you care about them?

I have to admit, that I could be much better than I am.

Being someone's friend means doing more than just thinking about them -- you need to let them know you are doing it. Pick up the phone, write the email or better yet, send them a handmade card!

That was my inspiration for my post over at Link Up For Pink

Here is a sneak peek, I hope you'll hop over and check it out!

Whimsical Designs "Mix It Up" Challenge

Last week, at Whimsical Designs we asked you to "Alter It" and we received some fabulous entries!!! This week we are asking you to "Mix It Up", create any project and use some type of mixed media.

Our sponsor for this weeks challenge is Tabitha's Designs and you can have a chance to win 2 digi paper packs of your choice!!

For my project I started with a small canvas. I purchased a digital image at A Day For Daisies of a girl flying a kite. I printed her on a peachy colored card stock and on a page I had torn from a thrift store book. I used green floss to hand stitch some grass. I attached her and her hair to the canvas using Modge Podge. I cut her dress from a scrap piece of material I had and glued small sections of it to the canvas so that it would look like the wind was blowing it. Her kite was printed on patterned paper, fussy cut, glued to the canvas along with some twine for the kite string. I also covered the kite with glossy accents. I stamped the sentiment using Stephanie's Whimsical Fun Vol.1. I punched 2 tiny butterflies out and glued down their bodies only. As a finishing touch I sprayed the whole thing with Perfect Pearls mist.

Supplies used: canvas; card stock - peach; page of a book; scraps of patterned paper; scrap of material; green floss; twine - Liz's Paper Loft Boutique; butterfly punch - Fiskars; stamp from Whimsical Fun Vol 1 by Whimsical Designs; ink Jet Black by Archival; Modge Podge; Perfect Pearls Mist.

Now, please, head on over to Whimsical Designs and take a look at what the Design Team has come up with for inspiration!!!

All Occasion / CTO #112

I hope all of my friends who are Mom's were able to enjoy a wonderful Mother's Day!!!

I had a lovely weekend with my Mom. On Saturday my Mom and my sister and I went out to lunch and had an enjoyable afternoon together. On Sunday I made my Mom a cherry pie and a big, yummy salad, my Dad grilled steaks and we had a super Mother's Day dinner. My daughter came from San Francisco, which was a real treat!!!

Anyway.. on to business, since it is Tuesday we have a new challenge over at Celebrate The Occasion. This week the challenge is called May Flowers and we are asking you to create a project with 3 flowers, 2 buttons and 1 ribbon.

I decided to make an "All Occasion" card this week and to NOT use a sentiment. I've actually not made a sentimentless card before. I think with all the sentiment stamps that most of us have it is hard for us to not throw one on a card, but I curbed my desire to do that and kept my card plain.

I used a Silhouette Studio cut file for my card. Popped on a couple tiny, yellow buttons on my purple flowers and tied a purple ribbon around the front and I was done. Simple, yet pretty.

Supplies used: card stock - recycled white, 2 shades of green, 2 shades of purple, 2 shades of pink; Silhouette Studio cut file; buttons - my stash; ribbon - Michaels.

Hexagon Mother's Day

I saw a card by Kalyn Kepner in one of my card magazines which inspired me to make this card for my Mother-in-law for Mother's Day.

I took advantage of my Cameo once again, using a Silhouette cut file to cut out my hexagon background in recycled white paper and then to cut out all the hexagons in patterned paper.

I did a little stitching with my sewing machine as a border around my background pattern paper.

A border punch, some twine and a button dress it up a little bit.

Supplies used: card stock - recycled white, patterned papers from Fiction 6X6 paper pad by Basic grey; Silhouette Studio cut file; stamp - GCS Art Stamps; ink - Barn Door Distress Ink by Tim Holtz for Ranger; border punch - Martha Stewart; button and twine - my stash; sewing machine; Pop Dots.

Vintage Car Happy Birthday

I wanted to play in the challenge over at Seize The Birthday!

For my card I inked up the Cars & Trucks background stamp by Basic Grey with Faded Jeans distress ink. I cut an 1/8" slit in it about a fourth of the way down to mimic the slit in the sketch. I cut my car out of blue card stock using a Silhouette Studio cut file. For the sentiment I stamped it on white card stock, cut it to look lie a banner, punched to tiny holes in it and ran a stick pin through it, then attached it to my car so that it would look like an antenna.

Supplies used: card stock - white, recycled white, blue; stamps - Cars & Trucks Silhouette by Basic Grey, WTF by Cas-ual Fridays Stamps; ink - Faded Jeans Distress Ink by Tim Holtz for Ranger and Tuxedo Black by Memento; Silhouette Studio cut file; stick pin - Little Yellow Bicycle; circle punch - EK Success; hole punch - Fiskars; Pop Dots.

Sneak Peek - LUFP

I have a little sneak peek of a card I made for Link Up For Pink!

I hope you'll stop by the blog and check it out.

Ladies - Don't forget your mammograms!!! Take care of your girls!

Whimsical Designs "Alter It" Challenge

Happy Wednesday all!!

Midweek and time for a new challenge over at Whimsical Designs! For this week we are asking you to "Alter it". Create an altered project. We have some fabulous inspiration for you over at the blog so I hope you'll pop on by and browse through the Design Teams projects.

The sponsor for this weeks chalenge is V's Sweet Ideas and you will have a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the store!!

I pondered for quite some time on what to do as a project for this challenge. I finally settled on altering an Altoids tin. 

I started by removing the lid. I then covered the inside and outside with some scraps of patterned paper I had in my stash. I fussy cut out a mermaid from a page of ephemera I had and attached her with pop dots. I  die cut some seaweed, with my Cameo, in 2 different shades of green. I attached a couple of them flat on the back of the tin and a couple with pop dots. Then I went about gluing shells, pearls, jewels, coral and sand to the bottom using Glossy Accents. I pulled out my Crop-A-Dile and punched a hole through the top of my tin, so I could put a stick pin through it. I decorated the stick pin with pearls, crystals, a silver shell and attached a silver seahorse charm. I glammed everything up a bit with some Stickles. I tied some tulle and fringe around the outside. For the stand I glued some little wooden knobs to a small wooden spool and painted it with aqua acrylic paint, then over the top of that I applied Antique Silver Glitter paint. When dry, I hot glued it to the bottom of my tin. I cut a tiny banner out with my Cameo and stamped it with one of Stephanie's sentiments from her Whimsical Fun Vol. 1

Supplies used: Altoid tin, card stock - recycled white, vanilla, 2 shades of green; patterned paper - scraps from my stash; mermaid ephemera; Silhouette Studio cut files; stamp - Whimsical Fun Vol. 1 by Whimsical Designs; Turquoise and Clear Stickles; shells, coral and sand from my beach trips; pearls, jewels, crystals, charms from my jewelry stash; tulle, trim, wooden spool and wooden knobs - JoAnn's; Aqua acrylic paint by Folk Art and Antique Silver Glitter acrylic paint by Martha Stewart; Glossy Accents; Pop Dots; Hot Glue and Hot Glue Gun.

Now head on over to Whimsical Designs!!!

Find Your Direction

This is my second post for today as I'm getting in under the wire to play at Case This Sketch!

And Less Is More where the challenge is Colour!

This month we would like you to choose TWO opposite colours from this Colour Wheel

For my card I chose blue and orange. I picked out 2 cut files at Silhouette Studio and created the sentiment on my computer. I chose to put them on kraft card stock. After finishing I realized that, without meaning to, my card had a bit of a southwest feel. LOL!

Supplies used: card stock - kraft, blue, orange; Silhouette Studio cut files; font - your choice (I forgot to write it down); Pop Dots.

Mother's Day / CTO # 111

Wow, we had 180 entires last week in our "Anything Goes" challenge. All kinds of wonderful creations for many different occasions. Thank you everyone for playing along!!

This week at Celebrate The Occasion, our challenge is  Mother's Day! If you haven't already made your card or project for Mom, now is the time to do it. This coming Sunday is Mom's Day. I am planing to drive down to Turlock, CA in the central valley to go see my Mom for her special day.



If you don't want to see your card Mom, you better stop reading now, LOL!



For my card I used some darling papers from Amy Tangerine and some equally cute cuts from the Silhouette Studio store. and SVG Cuts The polaroid frame is from the Silhouette store and the Mom with Baby is from SVG Cuts. I did the sentiment on my computer.

Supplies used: card stock - white, recycled white, black; patterned papers - Play and Remember in Yes, Please by Amy Tangerine; Silhouette Studio cut files; dots - SEI; Alphabet - Cloud 9 Design; corner rounders - Fiskars and Zutter; font - your choice.

Hello Friend

 Hello Friends!!

I have a fun little card I created for Link Up For Pink!

I saw this design in one of my magazines and loved the way one side of the card follows the outline of the birdhouse. I used my Stretch Your Imagination Cricut cartridge to cut out the birdhouse and my Home Decor Cartridge to cut out the blue bird.

I fussy cut one of the clouds out of the patterned paper, inked the edges and used Pop Dots to attach it on top of the cloud background paper. 

The sentiment is from a Family & friends Word Stamp Kit. I fussy cut those and used pop dots on them as well.

Supplies used: card stock - white, 2 shades of blue, pink, brown; patterned papers - scraps from My Minds Eye and Howdy from Everyday by American Crafts; Home Decor and Stretch Your Imagination Cricut cartridges; Family & Friends Word Stamp Kit by Words & Crafts; ink - Tuxedo Black by Memento and Ice Blue Chalk Ink by ColorBox; pearls - Kaiser Craft; Pop Dots.

Whimsical Designs "Bling" Challenge

Everyone loves a little sparkle now and then, and that's what we're asking you to do for this week's challenge over at Whimsical Designs, create a project using "bling".

We have a fabulous design team who have some wonderful creations to share with you and inspire you, so please stop by the blog and leave them a little love.

Our sponsor this week is Paper Nest Dolls!!! They have some darling digital images you'll just fall in love with. The prize you can win is 3 Copic markers of your choice and, better yet, if you use a Paper's Nest Dolls image in your creation you can win 5 Copic markers!!!!!!

For my card I used Lightening Bug Ellie and the sentiment You Light Up My Life, both from paper Nest Dolls, along with one of Stephanie's stamps "Love Bug" from her stamp set With Love.
I printed out my digital image 3 times - on the star background paper, on white blending paper and on the flower patterned paper so that I could fussy cut out her dress. After I finished coloring her and attaching her dress I fussy cut her out and used pop dots to attach her to the background paper.

I added my bling by using yellow Stickles on all the fireflies and attaching rhinestones to the centers of the stars.

Supplies used: card stock - white; patterned papers Pixie from Magic Happens by Kaiser Craft and Fiction 6X6 paper pack by Basic Grey; digital image and sentiment from Paper Nest Dolls; Copic markers; stamps - With Love set by Whimsical Designs; ink - Tuxedo Black by Memento; Curved Rectangles Nestabilities by Spellbinders; yellow Stickles; rhinestones - Kaiser Craft and Kandi Kane; Pop Dots.

Now stop on over at Whimsical Designs and be prepared to be wowed!!!!