Getting Sentimental

A few years ago a friend called and asked if I wanted to come over and go through some stamps.  Her mother passed away and was a stamper - she had several boxes of stamps.  I was honored to be asked to receive some of these loved treasures and continue her cause of blessing others through this hobby we love.  One of those stamps I used for this card.

 

Continuing in my quest to use what I have, I dug into my box of scraps and found the papers used here.  The flowers are colored with pencils because I wanted to keep that soft feel.

 

I'm submitting this card into the following challenges:

• Twisted Tuesday Challenges - Use Something That Begins With "I" (ink) and Embossing Folder (folder used - Swiss Dots)
• Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Come and Get it Challenges - Color Challenge (blue, green, and yellow in light shades)
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Let's Get Wordy

Thank you for stopping by today!  Why not bless someone today with a card? 

Bright & Cheerful Birthday...and a challenge from me!

Most of us, when we start getting older, aren't that "bright and cheerful" on our Birthdays.  Oh let's face it - it's just a number.  But when that number keeps going up - UGH!  LOL!!  But why is it just that way with women?  Men can get older and still be considered a "leading man" in Hollywierd...but once a woman hits 30 it seems those motherly and grandmotherly roles kick in.  We do it to ourselves don't we? 

Well today I'm celebrating Birthdays!  No, no, no - not mine.  Just Birthday's in general.  It's just a number and with age comes a wisdom that we need to appreciate.  With age comes some really great things - like grandkids!  (I have 4!!).  And with each Birthday comes cards of course!!  Seems like I never have enough Birthday cards - always rummaging through the stash of cards to find one. 

This week several challenges had the theme of Birthday cards so of course I had to join right in!!!  The stamps are from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  The papers were just pieces parts from other projects that I can never seem to throw away.  Not only am I a paper hoarder of full size sheets - but my pieces/parts stash shows my paper hoarding as well!  Oh, and the stamps continue on my quest to ink uninked stamps.  The flower one I don't think I have ever inked and I've had it for quite some time!  (Yes, I hoard stamps too - LOL!).  And then the base of the card was embossed with an embossing folder I don't think I have every used either...but has been in my possession for quite some time.  WOW - I didn't realize how many "hoarded items" I used making this card!  So here is the final product:

 

 

I'm submitting this card for the following challenges:

• Created with Love - Birthday Red and Yellow
• Mojo Monday - Sketch #301
• Use It Tuesday - Birthdays - what was used that was hoarded?  Gee - everything!
• Loves Rubberstamps Challenges - use a hoarded item (everything used is a hoarded item - LOL!!)
• Shopping Our Stash - Summer Theme or Summer Colors (everything is from my stash - papers are scraps)

Thanks for stopping by today!!  Enjoy this beautiful Wednesday!  And here is a challenge for you from me:  go to your card stash - you know we all have them - and pick out a card.  Then open your address book and the first name you see, send that card to that person!  Don't have an address book but use the computer/cell phone for addresses?  Well then randomly pick a number - like 32 - and then count through your contacts and when you get to person #32 - get out that pen and stamp and start addressing!

{PIN}spirational #65 Challenge

Tuesday is {PIN}spirational Challenge day!!  I love being part of this group - the pictures that Deanne choses for inspiration are amazing!!!  What do you think about this weeks inspiration:

 

 

Isn't that pretty?  I love the purples!!!  And we have some amazing sponsors this week:

 

Bugaboo Stamps

 

...and...

 

Lacy Sunshine

 

 

I was able to work with an image from Bugaboo Stamps.  I cut out the image using Spellbinders Dies and colored it with Spectrum Noir markers.  The papers, ribbon, and little purple bling heart were from my stash.

 



 



I hope to see what inspires you about the picture!  Thanks for stopping by and have a very blessed day!!!

Twist of Faith Card Challenge #45 - END OF THE DAY – SUNSET COLORS

As I'm writing this it's the end of the day which is very appropriate since the Twist of Faith card challenge this week is END OF THE DAY - SUNSET COLORS.  Unfortunately, right now there aren't pretty sunset colors outside - but a storm is coming in and I just saw lightening.

Our sponsor this week is Melonheadz Illustrating.  They have such great images!!!  They have generously providing the winner of the challenge 1 image bundle of the winners choice....but beware - you'll have a very difficult time choosing just one bundle!!

The image I chose is actually a "Freebie" on the Melonheadz blog.  It's an image that was in honor of Joplin, MO after the tornado a couple years back.  I loved the image not only because of the reason behind it, but it's so sweet.  I have four granddaughters and I hope that they say their prayers every night.

For the "Sunset Colors" I decided to go with the beautiful sunsets of pinks and purples and just those light colors.  I love the patchwork quilt and it was easy to incorporate the colors into that quilt.  I colored it with pencils.

 

(inside)

 

I hope you can stop by Twist of Faith this week and play along with us.  I'd love to see your interpretation of sunset colors.  But don't forget - to be considered for the prize you must include a positive quote/phrase/sentiment or scripture. 

Thank you for stopping by today and I pray that you are blessed in a special way!!!

 

Clearly iStamp - #2 - Summer Time

Happy Sunday my friends!!  What a beautiful day it's been so far - sure, it's a bit cloudy outside...but the morning was spent in His house and this evening will be spent in His house.  How can it not be a good day when the day starts and ends with the Lord?

This week is VACATION!  My hubby is off work this week too and we have all sorts of exciting things planned:  washing screens/windows, spring/winter/fall/summer cleaning, trying to find homes for some of the stray cats around here.....doesn't it all sound like it's such fun?  But I'm sure there will be lots of time in the craft room too.

My first "vacation" card is one that reminds me of the simple joys of summer.  I love watermelon!!!  It's so quintessential "summer" to me.  Of course these days I buy the seedless ones, but I remember being a little girl and picking out all those seeds.  Hmm, I wonder how many I actually ate? 

When I saw this image in my stash, I knew I had to use it for the Clearly iStamp challenge this week - "Summer Time".  Everything I used for this card came from my stash - the image, papers, bling, even the cardstock used were pieces rom previous projects.

 

Thanks for stopping by today!  May God bless you and your family today!!

Inkspirational - Challenge #27

Purple hearts.  No, not the ones the military gives out....but purple hearts that are on paper and colored in!   Yes, it's a color challenge this week at Inkspirational Challenges - and what a color challenge it was!!!  Take a look:

 

 

The green I used for the base and to layer....and also used for the image a bit - it sparkles!  Then I had a purple explosion this morning!  Yes, one of my Spectrum Noir purple markers leaked and I had purple ink spilling out of the cap when I took the lid off....I had purple ink all over my hand too!  What a sight to be behold!  LOL!!!  So after the clean- up....this is what I made:

 

 

The purples didn't photograph very well...not sure why. 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Blessings to you!!!!



It's July 5th - CRAFTY GAL Time!

If you read my blog regularly - and thank you if you do! - you have read about the Crafty Gals over at SCS.  Crafty Gals is a blog group where I'm privileged to be a member.  These ladies are amazing!  Each month our group leader selects a member - and we scour their blog for inspiration...because on the 5th of the month we post a project in honor of that person.  The project can be a CASE of a project on her blog, or it can be something that reminds us of her.  Well guess what?  July 5th is here and the Crafty Gal of the month is ME!  Shocking huh?  I was very shocked!!!  These ladies are amazing and I can't believe they could be inspired by anything that I create.  But alas, they had the challenge this month.  Their blogs are listed to the left - go check them out!  (And not just a post about me...but go through their blogs and you'll understand why I am so humbled to be part of this amazing group).

 

Since I can't really CASE myself, I thought I would make a card that reminded of the group as a whole.  But you'll have to wait for that because first I want to tell you a bit about the Crafty Gals.....

 

Melina - Queen of the Crafty Gals

Melina is our group owner.  She does so much to keep this group running smoothly.  I'm sure more than we even can begin to know.  She's always so upbeat and if I had to sum up Melina in a word it would "gracious".  Oh - and she makes the most AMAZING CAS cards!!!

 

Barb - owner of the Wednesday Camel

Yep, Barb has this Wednesday hump day camel that comes out every week and gives us smooches!  It doesn't seem like the day is complete with him.  Now something else about Barb - I believe she must have two homes.  One she lives in...and one with all the DSP she has in her collection!  LOL!  Look at her cards - they always have the perfect paper!

 

Jeanette - aka Forest Ranger on SCS

Jeanette is quite the woman!  She must be a morning person because every morning the Crafty Gals get a GOOD MORNING from Jeanette!  She is another expert card maker and always has the perfect paper too (but I still think Barb's collection must be larger!).  Jeanette's cards are always extra special because the insides look as lovely too!

 

Joan - aka Sassy

Sassy is the queen of altered art!  She is amazing!!!!  I even have something she made just for me - it holds my Christmas cards every year and I love it!!  Sassy is just like her name - sassy - a bundle of online energy!  But here's the thing - I don't think she realizes just how talented she is!!!  She could open her own store with the things she designs!!!  Oh - and she always shares amazing glittery blinkies and pictures/graphics in our group!!!  (Jeanette does too!)

 

Diane - one very brave soul!

Now why would I say that Diane is a brave soul?  Because right now she is spending time with a teenagers!  LOL!!!  Diane is a kind soul and caring too!  Have you ever heard of "Operation Write Home"?  If you ever have extra cards you don't know what to do with - contact Diane - she can find a good home for them!!

 

Sharon - one busy lady!

Sharon is not only a SU Demo, but also does Avon and is a mom!  WOW!  Now one thing that Sharon doesn't know is that I'm VERY envious of her.  (Ah, I know - it's a sin to covet your neighbors stuff....).  So what do I covet?  HER STAMP ROOM!!  Go to her blog and check it out - she has a virtual tour in her April 3, 2013 post.  You'll be jealous too!  Plus you'll see all her amazing cards along the way.  She did a marathon card session to finish the 100 cards in 100 days challenge!  WOWzers!

 

and last, but certainly not least.....

 

Lela - my coffee buddy!

I have been blessed to not only know Lela in the virtual world of blogland and SCS - but also in person!  We live about 30 minutes apart and so we try to meet up for coffee every so often.  Lela is such a great person - she doesn't even mind that my hubby comes along too!  Now talk about another busy person - not only does Lela work full time (or even more than full time as her hours are long and she travels a lot), but she is also going back to school too!  She is one of the most kind-hearted people I know!  When we get together it's a great time of sharing and relaxing....and Lela, I'm looking forward to this Saturday! 

 

So there you have it - the Crafty Gals.  Each woman is unique, talented, encouraging, and holds a special place in my heart.  I love you my friends!  And in honor of you, I made this card because your smiles and laughter and fun are a very important part of my life: