Kitty Bee Blog Hop

It's time for a blog hop!  Yep - the Kitty Bee Blog Hop.....the theme is Halloween.  Now I must admit that Halloween is not something I celebrate.  But I do think it's fun for kids to go Trick or Treating.  I used an image called Milk Box Cow digital stamp.  Isn't it really cute???  There are all sorts of neat new images at the Kitty Bee shop...check them out - they are soooo cute!!!

So here are the deets about the blog hop - you can win prizes!!!!  Who doesn't love freebies!!??  There will be 3 random winners from comments throughout the blog hop.  You don't have to comment on every blog to win - but if you do - you'll have that many more chances to win!  The blog hop will end on Sunday, September 7th at 11am Hawaii time.  Winners will be posted Tuesday, September 9th.  Here's the hop order:

Kitty Bee Designs Blog
TraceyB - Tracey's Corner Cards
Julie - I Made A Card
Taniaj - Manx Made
Katie -  Katie's Crafts
You are here now:  Zella - Joyful Expressions
TraceyMo - Mowbray Designs
Larissa - Muffins and Lace
Mari- M and My Crazy Family
Shirl -    Creations by Shirl
Michelle - Just A Nutter Stamper
Cely - Hawaii Paper Party
Niki - Stampin'HI
Leanne - Finding My Groove
Elina - Scrapbooks, Crafts, and Cards, Oh My!

Join our hop for fun and prizes.....I can't wait to visit the blogs too!!

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Robyn's Fetish - Use a Digital Stamp
• Hiding In My Craft Room - Freestyle

Now a little something to encourage you:

Thank you for stopping by today.  God bless you!!!

Back to School

It's that time of year - Back To School!  The buses are running, parents have bought all the school supplies, and now the kids are back in class.  School is our theme for the new Aloha Friday Challenge. Isn't this backpack image cute?

The images is from our sponsor for this challenge:

2 Cute Ink

Come join us at Kitty Bee Designs Aloha Friday Challenges - you have two weeks to enter the challenge....Enter for a chance to win 2 digi images.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• C.R.A.F.T - Animal/Pet
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• DL Art - Back To School
• Milk Coffee Challenge - Back to School
• Crafter's Cafe - Dies/Punches
• Creative Moments - Back to School

And now something to encourage you:

Thanks for stopping by today!  God bless you!!!

Flower bulb

I wish I could tell you about this card - the image, etc.  But I can't.  It was a card kit that I received from a friend and I can't find the image info (guess I threw that out - sorry).  But I do love it and would love to add this image to my collection!  So maybe it's a good thing that I don't know what it is so that I won't be able to buy more stamps!!!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• Loves Rubberstamps - 2 or more papers
• Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley Challenges - Flowers
• Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes
• Love To Create - plaid

And now something to encourage you today:

Thanks for stopping by today!  God bless you!!!

Ice Cream Anyone?

I'm addicted.  That's just all there is to it - I'm addicted to ice cream!  Too bad I don't have as many arms as this little guy from Deedee's Digis - I'd be able to eat ice cream all the time!!!!

 

This image is from a set called Triple Scoop.  Look at the whole set:

For my card I used an outline image of the critter and colored him to match the purple paper I was using.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• My Time To Craft - Food and Drink
• Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes
• Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Now a little something to encourage you:

Thanks for stopping by today!  God bless you!!!

Baby on board

There must be something in the water....I have 3 friends who are pregnant right now!  What is going on??  LOL!!  This card has already been delivered....it was attached to a gift for a little boy who will be arriving next month.

The image is from Bugaboo called AKV-Expecting.  Isn't it just adorable and perfect for a couple waiting for their bundle to arrive?  I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and used paper from my stash.  You know, as much as I keep just using stash paper it seems like I'm never making a dent in the pile.  Add ribbon and buttons and this is what you get:

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• City Crafter Challenge - photo inspiration
• Crafting For All Seasons - Monochromatic
• Sweet 7 Designs - Baby
• Simply Create Too - Monochromatic Madness
• QKR Stampede - Monochromatic

Before I leave you today here's a little something to encourage you:

Thanks for stopping by today!  God bless you!!!!

Garden Gnome

I'm not a gardener.  At all.  I have a black thumb.  Nothing grows for me.  So if I were to have a garden, it would be full of weeds and I would have to get something else to make it look nice.  Hmmm, how about a gnome?  LOL!!

Our Aloha Friday challenge at Kitty Bee Designs is "In the Garden".  The neat thing about the challenge is that it can be ANYTHING you would find in a garden or even a garden image.  Birds are in gardens....so are bugs...flowers, bees, veggies....the options are endless!  I chose to use a Gnome.  Our sponsor for the challenge is Lacy Sunshine.  I used an image called Lovely Larry Gnome. 

Isn't he cute??  So come on over and join us at our Aloha Friday challenge.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• Wonderful Wednesday - Anything Goes
• My Heart Pieces - Use a Digi
• Crafty Girls Challenge - Anything Goes
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Now for a little something to encourage you:

Thanks for stopping by today and spending a few moments of your day with me.  God bless you!!!!

Monkey Business

I remember when I was younger (gee, that was such a long time ago) and we would go to the zoo....didn't you just love going to see the monkey's?  Certainly all the other animals were great to see...but there was something about those little monkey's swinging all over the place and having so much fun.  Maybe it was seeing their child-like spirit that appealed to me as a kid.  Whatever it was - I could stand there for such a long time and just watch them and smile!

Deedee's Digis has brought back that memory with her August Digi of the Month - Monkey Business.  Now not only is there a fabulous set to play with - but did you know that at Deedee's Digis Deedee is celebrating 1 year being back in business!  Congrats Deedee!!  And she is being so generous this month....Not only is there the usual offering of the full set of the month at a reduced price or free with a $10 purchase....but she even has a freebie available from this set here.  Why would you want the freebie?  Well, not only because it's just soooo cute - but because if you play along with us in August - you will get next months set for FREE (and it's absolutely adorable - trust me!).  Plus there are weekly drawings....so come on over and play with us!!!  You'll have a lot of fun and be joining a great bunch of crafters.

For my project I used the outline image and colored it with Spectrum Noir markers.  Since the image has the wood barrel, I used a wood grain embossing folder (I think it's Sissix) as the background layer.  In my stash I had this rick rack pom-pom stuff - just a small piece and I never really knew what to do with it....and this was the perfect time to use it!  I love when things just come together.

 

Here's what you get in the whole set:

Come on over and join us at Deedee's Digis....you won't be sorry!

 I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• Crafty Creations - Use Something Old From Your Stash (the pom-pom stuff)
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes/Animals
• Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - Children, Christmas, or Critters
• Tuesday Throwdown - Our Furry Little Friends
• The Crazy Challenge - Cute Little Animals
• Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - Z is for Zoo

One last thing to encourage you today:

Thanks for stopping by today!  God bless you!!!!

Going in circles

"Going in circles" - usually that phrase makes us think about just spinning our wheels and being stuck....but today it makes me think about the new challenge going on over at Digistamps4Joy - CIRCLES!  Shapes are fun and I have to admit that they do make me stress sometimes - but with punches or dies it makes life so much easier.  Ah, and who can forget circular images too!  For my card I used an image called "Flower Circle".  I love this image because you can put anything you want in the circle - I happened to have a phrase stamp that fit perfect in the image I printed out - and also was perfect for the person who will be receiving this card.  I used Spellbinder nestie circles to cut out the image and also a few other circles from paper (Papertrey paper and then another one that was from my stash).  The image is colored with Spica pens to add some glitter (thanks to Sassy for giving the pens....gee, I think it was last year!  LOVE THEM!).  The image is popped up with pop dots.  Here's the final product:

 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes 
• Clear it Out - Anything Goes (used buttons and paper from stash)
• Papertake Weekly - To Die For 
• Try It on Tuesday - Use Your Stash (used buttons and paper from the endless stash of paper)
• Craft Your Passion - Use at least 3 Designer Papers 

 Lastly, here's a little something to encourage you:

Thanks for stopping by today!  God bless you!!!!

Words

Words.  They can tear us down or lift us up.  I hope that mine often lift up rather than tear down.  One thing that always lifts me up is scripture.  I love to use scripture when making cards - and I need to do more of that!

Deedee's Digis has so many great sets that include Bible verses!  It's one of the reasons I love Deedee's Digis so much.  For my card I used a set called "Light of His Love".  I used the scripture on the front of the card and the image inside - I really like how it turned out:

(inside)

 

If you get a chance, pop on over to Deedee's Digis to participate in the the monthly challenge - remember if you do you will get next months' set FREE....and believe me, you will want next months set! 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Craft Your Passion - Use Yellow
• Pattie's Creations Design Challenge - Monochromatic
• Hiding In My Craftroom - Use Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by today!  God bless you!!!!

Love is in the air!

It's time for the August challenge at COF.  I just love these ladies!!  This month the challenge came from April.  This is her challenge:

Since we post the day after my wedding anniversary, I would like everyone to make a project based on one of the scriptures read at my wedding - "I Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient; Love is kind.  Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on it's own way; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."  Your card doesn't need to be based on spousal love and as such, I would love to hear a story of one of your loves.

Well, first of all - Happy Anniversary to April!  And guess what - my anniversary is coming up too!  Yes, Russ and I will celebrate 14 years of marriage on Tuesday, August 12th.

Russ and I met online in an AOL chat room believe it or not.  Neither of us were looking for someone - just nosing around since AOL was all the rage then.  We both found ourselves in this room with all these preteens acting like preteens do. I eventually posted "Is there anyone here over 30" and Russ was the only one who answered.  We instantly clicked.  I don't know how else to describe it - it was just meant to be from the very beginning.  I can't say we ever really "dated" since we lived 250 miles away from each other.  The funny thing is that when he "officially" proposed we already were well into our wedding plans.  LOL!!  He said "I guess I should officially ask you"....LOL!!  It wasn't love at first sight because we knew even before we met face to face that we were meant to be.  I would never recommend anyone do that - but it worked for us.  It was certainly a "God thing".  And 14 years later - well, I still love him with all my heart.  He is so much more than I deserve.  He is truly a saint!!!  I'm so blessed to be married to such a Godly man.

My card is playing double duty today - it's not only for the COF August challenge but also for my Kitty Bee Design Team Spotlight....the image is "Best Friends Bun" from Kitty Bee Designs.  Cute huh?  And while it's not really an anniversary card - the bunnies remind me of Russ and I - joined at the hip...we are always together unless we are working.  And the "Happiness" certainly describes my life with him - I couldn't be more blessed!!!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• Doodle Pantry - Any Digi Goes
• Crafts 4 Eternity - Anything Goes 
• Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes 
• Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 - Sketch challenge 
• Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes 
• Crafting For All Seasons - Feature a Creature 
• A Song In Your Art - Best Day Of My Life - the day I married Russ! 
• Hanna And Friends - Animals 
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes 

Thanks for stopping by today.  God bless you!!!!!

Something NEW!

Digistamps4Joy has a new challenge....and the theme is NEW!  Get it?  New Challenge...New.....ok, I'm really tired right now and not making a lot of sense I know.  But I thought it was cute.  LOL!!  One of these days they are going to kick me off the Design Team because I'm just not doing that great...and gee, here I am even posting late!  UGH!!!!  Sorry. 

So what is new for my card - just about everything!  It's a new image (at least to me)....a new embossing folder....new buttons.....And gee, this past week a friend of mine turned 60 and he said that "60 is the NEW 40"...so maybe my old guy is new too!  LOL!!!

Come on over and join us at Digistamps4Joy and show us what NEW means to you!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• Fresh Brewed Designs - Buttons
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Eureka Stamps - Add A Button
• The Paper Players - Cute as a Button
• Inkspirational Challenges - Use Markers or Pencils
• Alphabet Challenge - M is for Men Only

Thanks for stopping by!!  Enjoy your day!!!!  God bless you!!!