Spring is in the air!

The snow is gone!  The temps are starting to climb!!  The birds are chirping and the sun was shining today!!  Spring is in the air and I'm so glad!!!!!  It was in the low 50's today in Ohio - still a bit cool to be getting outside so I spent a some time in the craft room after going out and getting dessert for Easter dinner tomorrow.  What did I get?  Mmmm, I got an Orange Blossom cake!  It's white cake with lemon filling, orange icing with coconut around the sides.  Yummo!!!!

The card I'm sharing today is one I made for Inkspirational Challenges.  This week is sketch week and here is the sketch that was given to follow:

I took a little liberty on this one.  But then really - isn't a sketch a guideline?  Sure....that's the ticket...a guideline....to get the creative juices going....are you buying this yet?  LOL!!!

Instead of a circle I used my hexagon Nesties.  And instead of putting the sentiment right in the middle, I moved it a bit.  And instead of the 3 embellies going into the circle...I put them around the edges.  Hmmm, did I stick to the sketch enough?  Well, time will tell won't it?  LOL!!  The image is from my stash and so are the papers.  I'm really trying to not buy anything...but then I went out this week and bought the 12 sets of Spectrum Noir markers this week.  But it's an early Birthday present for myself....and I had a coupon...and they were on sale....and now I'm just making excuses because I wanted them!  LOL!!  Anyway, here's the card:

 

Thanks for stopping by!!! 

Inspirational #12 - Cool Guy

Wow - 3 posts in one day!  LOL!!  But there is lots to post.  I didn't get around to posting my card submission for Inspirational Challenges and time is running out.  This week was an inspirational photo:

I found a card I made earlier this year that I think fits this well.  Since I have to leave for work in 5 minutes, I don't have much time to talk about it...but the whole card was made from a kit I received in a swap.  I love having kits handy when you want to make a quick card.  The picture quality isn't that great but at least you can see it.

 

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Twist of Faith - Make it Sparkle!

With all the snow lately we need some sparkle here in our neck of the woods - so when I saw that this weeks challenge at Twist of Faith Card Challenges is Make It Sparkle - I was excited!  Our sponsor this week is:

Melonheadz

 

 

Be sure to check out their site because they have super cute digis!  The winner of this weeks challenge will win a bundle of digis! 

 

My creation for this challenge will be going to a little girl with cancer.  The picture doesn't show it, but the colors are bright and even the background paper glitters.  I colored the image and then used Stickles to color over her dress. 

 

 

 

Now have fun making your cards sparkle and good luck!  Don't forget that your project needs to include a verse or inspirational sentiment.  I can't wait to see all that glitters on the Twist Of Faith Card Challenges blog this week!



{PIN}spirational Challenges - #50

It's time for another great inspirational photo from {PIN}spirational Challenges!!  I adore the photo this week that was chosen....it's so cute!!!  This week we have two great sponsors:

PaperCrafting World

 

Shop.BackToPaper.com

 

 

Now wait until you see this {PIN}spiration:

 

 

 

Isn't that just adorable??  I love elephants so I was tickled pink when I saw the digi choices because there they were - elephants!!!

 





 

 

I thought they were just darling!!  Now, go find your inspiration using the photo and make a fantastic card to enter into the challenge this week at {PIN}spirational Challenges.  Good luck!!!!

 

 

Spring flowers are here!

So there aren't any flowers blooming yet, but at least there are flowers all over the place on the challenge blogs and I decided to take the plunge and make a flower/spring card today.  There wasn't much time to play in the craft room today since we have family in from out of town this weekend, but I was able to sneak some time in there while no one was looking.  The image is from a Kit of the Month set from Unity.  I wanted the colors to be bright (since I'm longing for Spring and all the colors that come along with it in the flowers and birds and precious little Easter dresses).  So here's what I came up with:

 

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

'ABC' Challenges - Bring on the Flowers

Shopping Our Stash - Easter or Spring

Inky Impressions Challenges - Flowers

{PIN}spirational Challenge time!

It's time for a new {PIN}spirational Challenge!!  This weeks picture is one that makes me smile because it reminds of Spring, Easter, coloring eggs as a child, playing with Easter toys, wearing the new Easter dress and bonnet to church....all those great childhood memories!  The funny thing is that nothing much has changed....  I still will be at church on Easter (although not in an Easter bonnet).... I may not color eggs, but I color images....and my toys aren't bunnies and baskets, but are now paper and ink.  Still a kid at heart I guess.  So here we go....  this week at:

 

the picture to be inspired by is:

 

 

 

Now isn't that just a great picture?!  Our sponsors this week are:

 

 Paper Pretties

 

and

 

 Totally Stampalicious.

 

I was able to use an image from Paper Pretties.  I chose a bunny.  I used to have a toy that looked something like this bunny....my toy was one of those old metal ones that would wind up and his tail would go around and around.  The last time I saw him - his tail was off and it was was just the metal piece...his jacket was beat up....he certainly was well loved...and still is. 

 

This week I discovered why everyone is so crazy about decorator tape.  I've never really used it before but saw some in the store last weekend and bought a couple rolls.  One was perfect for the color scheme I as using.  I colored the image with Bic markers and then added a flower just for that extra pop of Spring. 

 



 

I hope you come over and play along with us at {PIN}spirational Challenges - and be inspired.  Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!

Twist of Faith Card Challenge - Easter

I'm so excited to announce that I'm one of the new Design Team members at Twist of Faith Card Challenges!  I love this group because it is a group of people who love the Lord and share their faith through their cards.  Submissions must include a scripture, verse, or quote that is encouraging, uplifting, or inspiring.  Isn't that what we try to do with our cards - lift each other up and brighten the day of the one who receives it? 

This week the theme is Easter.  I can't believe that this Sunday is Palm Sunday and then the following Sunday is Easter!  WOW - this year is flying by already!!!

The sponsor for this week is:

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More

 

 

Be sure to visit our sponsor - there are some great digi's there!

 

I chose a lily for my card.  I love the purity of a white Easter Lily.  I know there are other lilies that are more colorful such as the Tiger Lily.  But there is just something so beautiful and majestic about the traditional white Easter Lily.  I colored the leaves, stem, and a little bit of the flower with pencils.  I kept with the yellow and added a white ribbon to keep with the white flower.  The verse is just perfect for this time of year.  

 

 

 

I hope you come over and play along with us at Twist of Faith Card Challenges.  Don't forget to visit our sponsor.  Blessings to you today!   Thanks for stopping by!!!

 



Back in business with a new paper cutter!

Yesterday was quite productive - bought a new laser printer for digital stamping and was able to get a new paper cutter too!  So into the craft room I went.  I made 3 cards today...but will only post 1 since the other 2 are for Design Teams.  Yep - you read that right - "Teams".  I'm excited to tell you that I am now a member of the Twist Of Faith Card Challenges Design Team.

The card I am posting today is because of a "boo-boo" I made making one of the other cards.  But I liked the color and I think this is the best bow I have EVER made!  So how could I just toss it away?  You're right - I couldn't.  So I dug into my stash of images and found this cute little Hedgehog.  You can't tell very well in the picture, but the flower is sparkling. 

This is going to be a busy week for me so not sure how much more card making I'll get done this week...but hopefully some.  Have a fantastic day!!!!

 

Uh-oh...no more cards...until.....

It's happened.  The day I wasn't ready for....the day that my paper cutter has bit the dust.  I made three cards this morning and the edges are rough....time to go get a new cutter.  I tried changing the blade and that didn't work....there's a wire that guides the cutter and it's starting to shred.  How do I know this?  Because I thought there was just something on it and slid my fingers across it....OUCH!  So today I'm heading to the store to get a new paper cutter. 

In the meantime...those rough edges on these cards....should I tell a little white lie and say I meant for them to be there?  LOL!!  No, can't do that.  These aren't the way I would want them to be - but they are done so I'm posting them.

First up is for 'ABC' Challenges where the theme for the week was chosen by my friend Lela!  Go girl!!  She chose "Spring is 'In The Air'".  Since I've been enjoying hearing all the birds this week when I leave for work in the mornings, it only was fitting to make a bird card.  This card is also for the One Stop Craft Challenge - "Anything Goes".  The image was sent to me so it was already stamped in blue.  I dry embossed the card base using a Cuttlebug and D'vine Swirls embossing folder.  Since the image is so large, there wasn't much room for anything else.  So I matted it using some extra paper from another project.  The bow came off a Christmas gift from Bath & Body Works.  If I think I can use a bow or something else in a project, I save it.  So here's the final project:

 

 

Next up is a card for Inkspirational Challenges where it is photo inspiration week.  I think the photo is just darling!:

 

 

 

Now isn't that little guy cute??  So keeping with the bunny theme, I went through my stash of images and found a bunny with big floppy ears!  I left him white because I love white bunnies and used Bic markers to color the flowers.  The paper and embossed paper were both from my stash of pieces left from past projects.  Add a few buttons and this is what I came up with:

 





 

 

Last, but certainly not least, is a card I'm submitting for two challenges:

• Twist of Faith Card Challenges - Irish Blessings
• CCEE Stampers - Pencils, please

I know I'm taking a huge liberty with this card for the Irish Blessing theme...but it does have some green in it and the verse is encouraging so I'm taking the risk and submitting it.  :)  The image is one that came from the stash.  I colored it using my ol' faithful Crayola pencils.  I just love those things!  Swiss Dots embossing folder was used to emboss the base of the card and the verse is actually a sticker.  I dug deep into my embellishment box and found them.  This works out well since I issued a challenge in the blog group Tangled up in Creativity on SCS.  Add a few gems and this is what you get:

 

 

 

Now it's time to head to the store to get a paper cutter....also going to be looking for a printer too.  Enjoy your Saturday!

 

{PIN}spirational Challenge Day! - #48

It's a festive day today at {PIN}spirational Challenges!  Sunday is St. Patrick's Day so today is our lucky day to be able to participate in another great challenge! 

This week the {PIN}spiration keeps with the theme of the holiday:

 

 

I would love to have this hanging on my door!  What a great inspiration photo!!  And not only did we have a fabulous photo for inspiration, but two great companies as sponsors:

 

Crafty Sentiments Designs

 

and

 

Bugaboo Stamps

 

 

The image I chose to play with is "Lilly" from Crafty Sentiments Designs.  She's so cute!  I colored her dress green (keeping with the theme color) and then for the flowers on her dress I used Lime Green Stickles. 

 

 

 

Don't forget to post the inspiration photo on your blog along with your creation.  Good luck!!  And I'll see you over at {PIN}spirational Challenges!

 

 



The end of the Rainbow

Ah, today is the end of the Rainbow Swap for me....time to package it up and send it off.  The last color is Brown.  What else could I use for brown other than the chocolate stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps.  I found paper in my stash that looks, once it was cut into a circle, looked like a chocolate chip cookie!  LOL!  Now I feel like I need to go make cookies!!  LOL!!!  YUMMO!

One more card....at least for now...LOL!!!

So not only did we have a great lunch...but my wonderful husband has never had "Killer Brownies".  "What are "Killer Brownies"?" you may ask?  Oh my - they are WONDERFUL!  There is this local market where you can find things you can't find anywhere else...do you have one of those in your area?  Well, they have this fantastic bakery and their signature item is Killer Brownies.  They are so rich and decadent....they have caramel in the middle of them and are so ooey-gooey.  YUMMO!

I made another card this morning and I must admit, it was a real struggle for me.  A couple of the challenges today were for using negative space.  I made one card and - while I will send it to someone - I'm just too embarrassed to post the picture.  But then when I was going through my stash of images, I found a die cut that my secret sis had just sent me last week.  It was PERFECT!  So I quickly turned it into a card that...well, I can't say I'm completely tickled pink about it...but it will do.  So I'm submitting this card for the following:

"Just Us Girls" Challenge - Negative Space

Crazy 4 Challenges - Being Negative

Sugar Creek Hollow - Photo Inspiration (my card is the color)

 



I'm hoping to get a few more cards done today but we'll see.  Maybe tomorrow will be another good day to make some cards.  Enjoy the rest of your day and as always - thanks for stopping by!

Morning cards....hoping to make more though :)

Good morning!  Ok, I guess now it's really afternoon.  My wonderful husband went to the church for a work day so I was able to spend a few hours in the craft room.  After going through the challenge blogs today I decided to make a few cards and enter them. 

The first card was completely out of scraps:  scraps of paper, extra die cuts that were sent to my by a good friend, a sentiment that was also sent by the same person, and even the card base was an extra that someone sent to me in a swap.  Since the challenge this week at Hiding In My Craft Room is using scraps, I'm entering this card:

 

 



My next card is one I think is so cute...I love this little image!  It reminds me of Spring and Easter...inside the card is an Easter sentiment.  It doesn't show very well in the picture, but the leaves of the lettuce are outlined in lime green Stickles.  This card is being submitted for the following:

All Sorts Challenge - Springtime

One Stop Craft Challenge - Spring

Catch The Bug - Green Thumb

All That Stickles - Green Stickles

 

 

 

But now my wonderful husband is home and he's hungry...we are heading to Chick-fil-A for lunch.  I'll be back later for more posting.  Enjoy your day!



The Rainbow continues - Red & Blue

This morning I woke up at 3:30am.  I don't know why I keep doing that.  Maybe just too much on my mind.  So my therapy was to head to my craft room and do the next color for the Rainbow Swap...this time it's RED.  I really like the way this card came out.  Usually I think there is something more I could do - but not with this one.  Maybe it was hour.  Maybe it's that I'm finding my "style" and becoming happy with it....I don't know.  Do you have a "style"?  Ok, so on to the card:

The image from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  It's another set that I loved and bought - then never used.  The flower and the sentiment are both part of that set.  I also used another sentiment from that set for the inside of the card.  I colored it using my BIC markers.  No, I've never given in to the Copic temptation.  The papers are from two pads I've had for quite some time.  The center of the flowers are gems - just clear ones. 
_________________________

It's now almost 11pm and I have finished Blue!  Again, I used an image from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps - not only the image and outside sentiment, but also the inside too.  I colored the dress with a colored pencil.  Recently I took all my ribbon off the spools so I can't tell you who made the ribbon...and the paper was from 2 different paper pads that are several years old.  I know I'm not saying much, but honestly I'm really tired right now and my eyes are even hurting because I want to go to bed. LOL!!!  But I wanted to share this card with you.  I did also finish brown, but I'll post that in the morning...just too tired to take the picture right now.  Have a great evening!!!  And sweet dreams! 

Continuing through the rainbow.....GREEN

Green seems to be the theme for the month - with Spring being right around the corner, St. Patrick's Day next week, the snow melting to reveal grass again....  So tonight when I was choosing which color to make for the Rainbow Swap...it just had to be green!

The stamp set I chose to use was a received in a swap last year or the year before.  It's an Inkadoo set.  I've never used it before and since I'm trying to ink all my stamps this year - it had to be used sometime right?  I stamped the image in black and then decided to chalk the edges.  When I started chalking, I really liked the look so I went further in than just the very edge - and next thing I knew I had a soft green effect over the black image.  The paper is from a paper pad that has been in the stash for probably 3 or 4 years.  I wanted to add a ribbon but didn't quite know where so I embossed a smaller piece of green cardstock so the ribbon could be tied onto it.

 

 

I'm entering this card in several challenges...the first of which is Inkspirational Challenges who has a color challenge this week:

 

 

 

The other challenges are as follows:

 

Inky Impressions Challenges - Going Green or St. Patrick's Day

Loves Rubber Stamps Challenges - Anything Goes

Twisted Tuesdays - Spring into Green

Chalk N Stock - Anything Goes

DL.Art - Anything Goes

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!



Crafty Gals - Celebrating CAROLINA!

I bet you didn't know that today was a holiday!  It's CAROLINA DAY!  Ok, most people don't know about Carolina Day - but those of us in the Crafty Gals blog group over at SCS know about Carolina Day...it's a day to celebrate our friend Carolina!  Now she is one amazing card maker!!!  When I was going through her blog trying to find a card to use for inspiration, I just couldn't find one.  I mean they are ALL so lovely!!!  So instead of trying to use one card for inspiration, I decided to use one of her styles....I noticed that many of her cards have sewing or paper piercing on them....and this is something that I just haven't done.  So why not give it a shot!  LOL!!  I must admit, I'm not too thrilled with my first attempt at this...but I didn't have a lot of time to make this card this morning.  Yep, made it before work this morning.  And it goes in the mail tomorrow believe it or not.  I've been blessed with the opportunity to join a group who sends cards weekly to people who have brain cancer.  I got my first assignments this week so cards go out tomorrow.  This card is going to a little girl who is 6 years old.  So Carolina, you have not only inspired me to try a new technique, but you are also going to be brightening the day of a little 6 year old girl this week!!!

First Design Team - {PIN}spirational Challenges

It's the big day!  Today is the first day for my official post as a {PIN}spirational Challenges Design Team member!  I couldn't be more excited!!!  And wow - I'm in some great company - several friends are already members and all the members of both teams have made me feel so welcome!  A big THANK YOU to Deanne for giving me this new opportunity!  So on to the {PIN}spiration....

This week the photo is enough to make me drool - it was hard to even think about a card because I all I do was think about either making a pan of cupcakes...or better yet - running to the bakery to buy some yummy delights! 

 

Now don't those just look delish?  I was able to use an image from one of our sponsors this week, Limited Runs.  The yummy cupcake image is so sweet!  I colored it using Bic markers.  The top just screamed out to be sparkly so I used some glitter glue by Studio G for the top of the cupcake.   As soon as I saw the {PIN}spiration image, I knew exactly what paper I wanted to use!   Last year I participated in a designer paper swap and received this cupcake paper - perfect for this theme!  The ribbon came from my stash and can you believe it was the only piece and perfect size for this card!

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to play along with us this week at {PIN}spirational Challenges

 

Feeling like SPRING!

I'm so over winter!  Now I can't complain because winter has been mild here in northeast Ohio this year.  We haven't had as much snow as we could have - but I'm still ready for spring to arrive.  Even last night as we were leaving for church I told my husband how much I am looking forward to sitting outside in our yard swing reading a good book and listening to the birds chirping.  It's so relaxing!  Of course the sad thing is that our kitties sit in the windows and cry cause they want to come outside too - but they can't.  They are strictly inside cats.

Anyway - first things first - I have an announcement!  I'm now on a design team!  Can you believe it?  I sure can't!!!  Tomorrow will be the first day for me to post a card for it...so I'm not even going to say which one yet....you'll just have to wait and see!   Honestly, I never thought I would ever do anything like that - never thought I had the talent for it....but when I saw the call for new design team members, I thought why not....and they said YES!  I'm super excited about it and hope I can do a good job for them. 

So on to my card for today.  Spring is in the air and since I'm still working on the Rainbow swap cards - today was yellow.  It's such a happy color isn't it?  Once again I used a stamp set that I loved when I saw it - and bought it - and never used it.  It's not one of the oldest ones I have that haven't seen ink, but since I was doing yellow it was perfect.  The stamp set is called Spring Tuplis from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  I colored the tulips with my pencils (I still love coloring with pencils).  The base was embossed using a Darice embossing folder and the paper is from an very old paper pad I had - I think I bought it when I first started stamping. 

I'm submitting this card for the following challenges:

'ABC' Challenges

Challenges 4 Everybody

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge

Black & White in a rainbow?

Well of course there is Black & White in a rainbow....at least there is in the Rainbow Swap on SCS!  LOL!!  This afternoon, instead of a Sunday afternoon nap, I spent some time in the card room.  I was all alone there today too - even my little Boots Kitty was napping!  But because the house was quiet I was able to whip up the next set of cards for the Rainbow Swap.  Keeping with my goal this year of using stamps I haven't inked, I pulled out a set I bought this last year from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps called "Together Silhouettes".  I loved this set when it was released but have never used it.  Why is it that we do that - buy stamps we love and then never use them?  I'm so bad about that.  Anyway, moving on, I thought it would be perfect for the black & white theme.  The paper I used was from my stash.  Now don't go thinking that I can cut a perfect circle cause I can't!  But my tried and true Cuttlebug can cut those circles perfectly every time using Nesties!  Lastly, pop on a few pearls from Darice - and there you have it.  Not only can I not cut out a circle, but layouts are something that are not in my vocabulary either.  So when I saw the challenge at Inkspirational Challenges was a sketch - how could I pass it up!?  This is the sketch:

 



 

Isn't that a great sketch??  So here is my Black & White card inspired by the sketch:

 

 

 

I didn't take a picture of the inside, but it's white and from that same stamp set I used the sentiment that says "I'm so glad there is you". 

 

Don't forget to come by tomorrow for my announcement....I'll give you a hint....it's something I never thought I would ever do!!!  See you tomorrow!  God bless you on this beautiful Sunday!

 

Continuing the Rainbow....

Today I'm continuing to work on the Rainbow Swap cards.  For this card I used a digital Friday Freebie from Bugaboo Stamps.  I just love Gertrude - what an attitude!  I only colored her dress because I wanted the color to pop.  My favorite coloring medium - can you believe it - my ol' Crayola pencils.  The ribbon is Stampin Up organza ribbon.  I can't remember the color name.  Recently I took all my ribbon off the spools to store it (this has been a great thing for me - it's stored in bags by color).  Now when I need a piece of ribbon I don't have to dig through my tub of ribbon spools - I just grab the color bag I want and find the style in the bag.  It's worked out very well for me.

 

 

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

 

All Sorts Challenge

Craft Us Crazy

Created With Love Challenges



Now for a teaser - I have an announcement to make on Monday!  I'm super excited about it so be sure to come back Monday and see what has me doing the happy dance! 

Enjoy your day!