Saturday, April 30, 2011

Inspired by Trees

Yesterday was Arbor Day, and I got a gift certificate to a local nursery for a tree! I am excited to choose one (probably a pink one!) and get it planted in my front yard. 

For today's SCS Inspiration Challenge 282, I chose this art print. I loved the soft colors. I used to have giant birch trees in my yard and I have always loved the shape of the leaves. I don't have a bluebird stamp to go with this, so I incorporated the color of the bird instead. I embossed the bottom half of my leaf panel with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.

And for Joy #17, Happy Birthday to my beautiful mom today! We will be going to the community theatre performance tonight of Cookin' With Gus and having a lovely dinner there. My mom is awesome and I love her lots~! 
Stamps: Be the Birch Tree by TLC Creations
Paper: Basic Grey DP, Kraft, Mellow Moss
Accessories: Cuttlebug EF, Rolodex punch, taupe ribbon, button, baker's twine

Friday, April 29, 2011

Oh To Be A Princess!

Well, I was one of them.  Not totally, but somewhat.  I had to work this morning, but I did get up at 5 AM, and caught the last half of the wedding.  And I loved it.  I think there will always be a desire hidden in the back of my mind somewhere to be a princess. Although at this point in my life, I would be happy with just having a massage occasionally, or a cleaning service come twice a year~!

This sweet little princess is happy today, and that makes everybody happy :)

I stamped my princess (I Brake For Stamps) with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored in with Copics. You can see the whole gang of cute kids here. Use SAVE10JUDY and get 10% off! While you are there, check out the awesome Wild Orchid flowers and Bo Bunny papers that Della is carrying! I just got my order of the flowers this week and am excited to use them.

Click on the photo for a close-up (and a not blurry picture -- I don't know why Blogger is now blurring up the pics until you enlarge them) of the cute sentiment by TLC Creations.
The glitter is Starfire by Sparkle N Sprinkle. 

Have a perfectly royal day~!

Challenges for this card~
Daring Cardmakers - royal or patriotic
Just Add Ink - just add a flower
Creative Belli - royal

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A Basket of Love

"A tisket, a tasket, we have a little basket" over at the Hambo Hoedown today.  It is so cute and can be used for so many occasions: get well, sympathy, thinking of you, Valentine's Day, birthday -- LOTS of things!  

I decided to make my hearts in a rainbow of color and added complementary flowers by Prima.  Part of the Hoedown challenge for today is to also use flowers and lace and make a creation for a special woman in your life.  Well, my mom's birthday is this Saturday, and this is her birthday card!

I used Copic markers to color my hearts and basket, and then added Spica Glitter pens in the same colors to each of the hearts.  Take a close-up look here (click!):

Come and play along with us! There are FREEBIES every week and tons of fun at the Hoedown! Click HERE to see what the other Bacon Bits created today! 
And then head over to Hambo Stamps to check out their awesome 25% off sale!!!

Other challenges for this card:
Crafty Creations - white space 
Little Red Wagon - for mom (her birthday is 4/30) 
Stampavie - pearls 
Scrap Creations - flowers 
Shabby Tea Room - photo inspiration 
Creative Inspirations Paint - inspired by the rainbow 
HandStamped Sentiments - Mother's Day 

Monday, April 25, 2011

My Dogs Like You and My Turtle Loves His New Home

I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend! I am still looking for sunshine, but we did have a good day yesterday.  I made up little Easter baskets for everyone in the family, and that was fun to deliver those and enjoy some good Cadbury chocolate!


I think this image by I Brake For Stamps is so funny.  I have so many sentiments that would work with this guy - his expression is priceless!  That being said, my dogs like everybody!  :)  You can see their pictures in the right sidebar!

I stamped my images with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored in with Copics. You can see the whole slew of cute kids here. Use SAVE10JUDY and get 10% off! While you are there, check out the awesome Wild Orchid flowers and Bo Bunny papers that Della is carrying!


And speaking of pets, take a look at my turtle's new home! My friend, Alex, bought Raph (my 16 + year old red-eared slider water turtle) a new terrarium, complete with waterfall and plants.  Plus, this awesome new food with raspberries and mealworms and shrimp (all dried, of course).  He is in heaven.  He has lived the last 16 years of his life in a 10 gallon aquarium, which was so small, and didn't allow for much movement.  He is a happy guy lately! (Phone picture, so kinda blurry)

Hope you have a colorful day!


Challenges for this card:
Bunny Zoe's - one for the boys 
Simon Says Stamp and Show - buttons
Creative Inspirations Paint - inspired by rainbow


 
Stamps: MS76 Full Plate by I Brake For Stamps and Inkadinkadoo sentiment
Paper: Real Red, Ballet Blue, GP White, SU! and stash DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Accessories: rainbow ric rac (Coat's), brads, distressing tool, buttons, Spellbinders dies

Friday, April 22, 2011

It's a Magical Birthday!

Isn't this a magical place? Definitely the coolest treehouse I have seen! 

Both my image and sentiment are by TLC Creations. I watercolored with reinkers and an aqua brush. There is so much fun sparkle in this from Spica Glitter pens, which never show up in photos for me!

Have a magical day! 

Challenges for this card:
Mami Doodles - kraft 
Stampin' Royalty - watercoloring
The Paper Shelter - nature inspired 
 

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Have You Had Your Daily Hug?

This card was inspired by my daughter, who has been rather sad this week, as one of her teachers at her high school passed away on Monday from pancreatic cancer.  The teacher was 46, and had three children.  She had been fighting her cancer battle for 15 years, when the doctors had told her originally that she would have 6 months to live. She inspired the students at the high school and people in the community to raise over $45,000 for Tackle Cancer.  She was an inspiration to my daughter. 

The first thing my daughter did when she saw me that afternoon was to give me a huge hug and tell me she loved me.  So I made this card for her.  Go give your kids a hug.  Or your mom. Or a friend. Life is precious.


Challenges for this card:
Cooking It Up With Katie - pink/flowers/for a lady 
Crafts and Me - pink and sweet 
Creative Card Crew - recycle (recycled buttons from another card) 
Scrapbook Sisters - buttons
Your Next Stamp - texture 
Ladybug Crafts Ink - anything goes
Craft Your Passion - use dots
Stamps: Sentiment by TLC Creations & stick girl is from MS76 Full Plate by I Brake For Stamps
Paper: So Saffron, Regal Rose, GP White, K & Co. DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics R81, 83, 85
Accessories: organdy stitched ribbon, buttons, Spellbinders oval and scalloped oval dies, Cuttlebug EF, baker's twine, paper piercer, paper flowers

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

I Love the Hoedown!

It's Wednesday, so get your dancing shoes on and head on over to the Hambo Hoedown, where there are many announcements to be seen!  Why?  Our free digi to Hoedown players this week is the King and he has all sorts of announcements to make today! 


For me, he is announcing a special birthday for the birthday princess! Take a look:




Click on the photo for a close up of the sentiment made by Paulette at TLC Creations.  I used one of my Martha Stewart punches for the border and repeated it on the inside of the card again (you can see a little peeking out on the left inside).  The silver paper is Prism Metallic and has such a beautiful sheen. The pink swirls on the deisnger paper (DCWV) have glitter all through them. I colored the King with Copic markers, and then added Spica Glitter pens to much of the image. Dance your way over to see what the rest of the Bacon Bits Digi Team made today!

Join us and make a Hambo creation with a special announcement you might have! Is it a Royal Wedding? (I know I will be watching next week!)  Perhaps it's a graduation, or a new baby!  Play along and you will be in the loop to receive next week's digi image FREE!  It is a sweet one too......


Other challenges for this card:
A Spoonful of Sugar - Let's Celebrate
Digital Tuesday - Pretty Punches
Scrap Creations - digi
Karen's Doodles - punches
Stamp With Fun - birthday

Friday, April 15, 2011

Oh Spring! Where Are You?

Yesterday it rained and rained. This morning it froze. And now it's snowing. Keeps things exciting, I guess. But I long for JUST Spring!! My lilacs will survive - not sure the almost blooming bulbs will, but maybe!  I have a quick post for you this morning, and then maybe another later tonight.  I haven't done my taxes, I have a funeral to play for at 10 this morning, and then work this afternoon at the theatre. Busy day ahead, as I am sure most of you have too.  So I will share a card that I made earlier in the week, that makes me long for Spring.


My sentiment and patterned paper (both digital) are from TLC Creations.  The paper, called And the Bird Sings, is beautiful and comes in several colors. 


I love the combination of the music, and the nest, and just the way it looks!

I hope you have a wonderful day!


Challenges for this card:
Craft Us Crazy - thinking of you and animals
Aud Sentiments - anything goes
DYSU - scallops
Pals Paper Arts
- flowers

Thursday, April 14, 2011

I Am Hostessing the Paper Romance Challenge Today!

Today is a new challenge at the Paper Romance blog, and one I know almost everyone can play: PAPER FLOWERS.  I am the hostess for this week, and I wanted to choose something that I love using, but also that others have (probably) a LOT of!

I made a whimsical tall card today, which was determined by the size of my Primas! My sentiment is from the Cute Companions Celebration set (so versatile!), available at Paper Romance. My designer paper is by Sassafras called "Bungle Jungle".  The cute purple ric rac is available at Really Reasonable Ribbon. My sentiment is stamped with Only Orange dye ink from Stampin' Up!
Click on the photo for a close-up!

Other challenges for this card:
Amber's Crafts - my favorite things (giraffes and flowers and rainbow colors)
For Fun Challenges - Choose 3 of pink, blue, purple, green and yellow
The Paper Variety - flowers
A Spoonfull of Sugar - all creatures great and small
Incy Wincy Designs - flowers

Monday, April 11, 2011

Song Bird

Here is another creation using a "Be the...." set by Paulette at TLC Creations. I love these sets and am on a quest to collect them all, so I will be showing quite a few in the coming days.

This is from "Be the Song Bird." I used Tim Holtz designer paper and my Cuttlebug and Spellbinders dies to finish the card. What do you think?

Challenges for this card:
Card Cupids - two colors (blue and white)
Crafty Pad - spring
Gingerloft - blues
I Did It Creations - sing a song (Songbird by Barbra Streisand)

I also wanted to say THANK YOU to the Kraft Journal for featuring my vintage card on their blog for Feature Me Friday! Made my day!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Be The Rose

Paulette (TLC Creations) has made some beautiful new sets this week, all called "Be the....".  You simply must check them out if you love digital art.  They are inspiring, and have beautiful sentiments to go with them.  She even made me a "Be the Giraffe" (I think she didn't want me to beg anymore!) which I will show you later this week.  You can see all the sets HERE.


My card today is made with "Be the Rose." The digi images are printed on Canson Watercolor paper and then I carefully watercolored with ink pads and reinkers so the black ink wouldn't bleed. Designer paper is by Tim Holtz. And my favorite pearl embellishments from Kaiser.... (love those!).

Thanks for stopping by today! I appreciate all of those comments that are left!

Challenges for this card:
SCS Ways to Use It - decorative scissors
Cooking It Up With Katie - monochromatic
CCEE Stampers - add a doily or lace
Colour Create - pink, black & white
Pixie Dust Studio - lace it up
Freshly Brewed - flowers
Anything Goes - pearls
Claudia & Co. - monochromatic
Clear It Out - flowers
Scrap Creations - Pick 3: Ribbons, Flowers, Pearls, Glitter, Button, Charm (I chose flowers, pearls, ribbon -lace)
Papertake Weekly - anything goes + new (new digi set!)
Try It On Tuesday - home color scheme (my master bath: burgundy, pink and white)

Stamps: Be The Rose by TLC Creations
Paper: Melon Mambo, Kraft, Always Artichoke, Rose Red, Canson Watercolor
Ink: Melon Mambo, Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Old Olive
Accessories: Kaiser pink pearls, Fiskars decorative corner scissors, lace trim, Spellbinders dies

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

I Love Easel Cards!

Two weeks ago I had never made an easel card and now I am in love! Today's challenge over at the Hambo Hoedown is to make an easel card! When you play along, you get a free digi each week you play! Check it out!

I made my card using Farm Chicken - digi and What's Up Chick? - 2704, both by Hambo Stamps. I used the easel directions by Beate Johns HERE. I colored my Farm Chicken with Copic markers. Here is what it looks like all the way open:
I love the little flower button (I only had one!) because it went so well with the paper design. Hope you will check out what the rest of the Bacon Bits made here.

And announcing my winner for the Jungle Digi from the April Fools' Day Blog Hop:
Congratulations to AllisonG! 
Your Jungle digi is on its way to you!
Thanks to everyone who hopped and commented.  Mark your calendars for May 20, when Hambo is sponsoring a Customer Blog Hop that you can play in too!

Other challenges for this card:
Basic Grey Challenges - More Than One Fold
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes + Something New (the digi image and the ribbon)
Critter Challenge Blog - Fancy Folds
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenges - Things with Wings
I Did It Creations - Anything Goes

Monday, April 4, 2011

One of My Favorite Peeps

These darling images from TLC Creations were part of the Easter/Spring club that I joined last month.  Paulette sends tons of sentiments and word art, as well as beautiful papers and images.  Hurry and join the next club - starting in two weeks - HERE.

I colored my image with Copic markers, and then just assembled everything - pretty straightforward. Love all those different buttons! What do you think?

Challenges for this card:
Corrosive Challenges - pastels
Creative Cowgirls - Spring or Easter
Creative Inspirations Paint - Spring
Dream Valley Challenges - wings
Sparkles Forum - springtime
Bee Crafty - digi and Easter
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - card for a child

Card Recipe: Digital Images by TLC Creations; Paper: Certainly Celery, Lavender Lace, Neenah Solar White, DP by The Paper Studio; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF, circle cutter, buttons, Baker's Twine, Spellbinders dies

Sunday, April 3, 2011

An Artistic Endeavor

Sometimes I like cards that just have art and no sentiments on them. Like this one:

I like all of the different designs in this stamp by I Brake For Stamps.  It's called Ornate Inchies Background.  There are so many ideas running in my head for this stamp! I decided today to use them all as they come, and make a card with just the art.  My background paper is by K & Co. What do you think?


Challenges for this card:
I Did It Creations - anything goes 
Catch the Bug - anything goes
Stamps: Ornate Inchies Background by I Brake For Stamps
Paper: Mellow Moss, Melon Mambo, Glossy White, PTI White, Close to Cocoa, K & Co. DP
Ink: Soft Suede, Close to Cocoa, Mellow Moss, Melon Mambo
Accessories:Sizzix Embossing Folder, brad

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Carnation Collage Art

Click here if you are looking for the Hambo "Go Ahead, Laugh At Us" Blog Hop!


I just love all of the collage stamps that I Brake For Stamps carries.  This card is from one of my favorite sets called Bird and Blossom Post.  You can find it at the IBFS store as a single stamp -  Large Beloved Carnation Collage - as well. Carnations are one of my favorite flowers.

Click on the photo for a close-up view! I used the Ink, Spray & Smash Technique on Glossy White paper and then stamped my image with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. I then embossed with Clear Detail Embossing Powder.
I added a little flower that I crocheted and some beautiful black satin ribbon. You can find the May Arts ribbon (and many other beautiful colors) that I used at Hambo Stamps.

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges for this card:
Allsorts - Blooming Blossoms 
Catch the Bug - anything goes 
Crafty Calendar - April Showers bring May flowers 
Creative Inspirations - Mother's Day/Mum 
Little Claire's - spring celebrations
Delicious Doodles - Mum 
Stamps: Large Beloved Carnation Collage by IBFS
Paper: Glossy White, So Saffron, Cameo Coral, Basic Black
Ink: Memento Black Tuxedo
Accessories: May Arts Ribbon: I used Item #HA10, 3/8" Double-Faced Satin in Black (available at Hambo), Fiskars Threaded Ribbon Punch, Sizzix Embossing Folder, crocheted flower



Friday, April 1, 2011

Don't Be A Fool and Miss Out! It's a Hambo Blog Hop!

Welcome to the "Go Ahead, Laugh At Us" Blog Hop sponsored by Hambo Stamps! As everyone knows, today is April Fools' Day, and we wanted to share with you some fun, and even funny cards today! You  might have even heard a joke or a pig fact. I think it's time to hear another!

Pig’s explanation for the creation of the Universe: The Pig Bang Theory.  :)

If you happened here by chance, start at the beginning of the hop at Talk to the Ham.  We don't want you to miss out on all the prizes!  If you came here from Libby's blog, you are in the right place! YOU MADE IT! Congratulations!  I hope that you left comments all along the way so you can be eligible for the $15 gift certificate to Hambo Stamps, and also the digi image that I am giving away today. Read on!

My card today is made with a combination of digi images and rubber stamped images. All are colored with Copics.  My designer paper is Safari by The Paper Studio.  My card sentiment isn't foolish, and not as funny as some you have seen on your hop today, but I DO hope that you have a great day, because the Tribe of Hambo has spoken it!

My ribbon is from the Hambo selection of May Arts Ribbon.  I used #HA28, 3/8" Double-Faced Satin in Orange. I am longing for spring right now, and orange was just a good spring color! If you aren't a fan of orange, check out the rest of the beautiful rich colors that Hambo offers in the same beautiful satin ribbon!
I used my Fiskars Threaded Ribbon punch under the sentiment on the right.

What do you think? Leave me a comment and you will be eligible for a free digi.  I decided to offer the Jungle image, which is what I used for my background today. Take a look:


Leave a comment by Sunday night (April 3) at midnight CST and I will draw a winner on Monday! Share an April Fools' prank, or a pig fact! :)

Check out the Hambo Hoedown for more fun! We are so glad you joined us for the hop!  Now go out and have a GREAT DAY!

Stamps used: Jungle - digi; Chief Hambooli - 4119; Tribe Has Spoken - 4109