All About the Animals

That's the theme this week over on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog, and it's another great challenge. Phindy has an ample supply of delightful animal images in her STORE. Please be sure to go check them out. I can promise you, you will find something you just HAVE TO HAVE!!!!

The image I've used for my challenge card is called "It's All Yours". I'm constantly needing birthday cards and this seemed like the perfect image for a birthday card for me. You know it's all about the cake. I've colored my image with Copics.

As you've probably guessed. the papers are digitals that I printed. They're from the Happy Birthday Kit from Digital Divas Designs. Oh and it was a free kit too. Aren't they fabulous? The best part for me is that everything coordinates without me having to do a lot of searching. It's everything you need for a birthday party.

I took some scrap paper from my scrap box(paper is from Summer Drigg's Sweet Cakes kit) to create my cupcake for my sentiment base. The sentiment is from Create with TLC, and I recolored it. I added the glass bead "sprinkles" for just a little more dimension, and that was the hard part. The beads came in &%#)$ plastic packaging, and in 6 different little pouches. There was no way to open it so that beads didn't end up either end up getting mixed together or flying out of the package. You'll be happy to know that each color is now in it's own little ziploc.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a fabulous day. The sun is finally shining here at many days of gloom.

Something New

Yep, the challenge this week set by Tracy/Tracey on the Sassy Cheryl's Challenge blog is to use something new. Now for some of you, that might be difficult, but for others of us, who are in serious need of an intervention(notice I'm not naming names), that's not so difficult. This week however, I'm going to shock you all.

This image from the Sassy Cheryl's store is called Nature Nap Girl. It's my NEW for the week. I actually went to Tuscaloosa last week and hit both Hobby Lobby and Michael's. I bought a lot of sale stuff, but nothing that I used for this card. The difficulty came in picking THE new image I wanted to use. Cheryl has been in overdrive creative mode in the past few weeks and is adding images faster than my poor checkbook can handle purchasing them. Be sure to go check out all the wonderful images she's added at her http://computerscrapbook.comStore. The papers for this card are from a free digital kit called "Mother May I" by Correen Silke from the ComputerScrapbook Dot Com site. I've really gotten into digital papers in a big way and now that I have them somewhat organized(whole lot better than my real paper) on the computer, I'm much more successful at finding what I need. The wonderful thing with these is that the kits have coordinating paper and I don't have to search for something that matches.

I used my Martha Stewart hydrangea punches to make my flowers and added flower soft for the centers. The sentiment is one that was in a cluster of packs of metal sentiments that I purchased from Tuesday Morning, long ago. I decided it was the perfect sentiment. Doesn't it look like she just ran out of steam and had to sit down and take a time out. Just to let you know, Sassy Cheryl has some more challenges going on over on her Sassy Cheryl Blog. On Tuesday she has a Color Me Challenge, on Thursdays there's a Show Me Challenge(this one is the one where you'll seriously get to know your fellow crafters), and on Friday there's the Guessing Game Challenge. The latter two don't even require that you make a card, and you've got a shot at a free image if you win. Check them out at Sassy Cheryl's Blog.

Picture Me

This week the Tiddly Ink DT issued a double challenge on the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog. The first part of the challenge was to make a shaped card(no square or rectangular cards) and to do it without using a die cut machine. The second part of the challenge was to use the following picture for inspiration.

For my card I chose a Spellbinder's Label Die for my shape. The gathered tissue papers reminded me of a ballerina's tutu, thus the choice of this delightful image called "Sugar Plum Fairy". She is colored with my Copics and my Spicas for some glitter. There are so many wonderuful images at the Tiddly Inks Store, and you really need to check them out.

The papers are from two sources. The gray base paper is from Summer Driggs "Dance with Me" Kit and the pink/purple/gray stained glass paper is from Rachel Dickson's "Chill" kit found at Computer Scrapbook Dot Com.

To finish off the card I added some ribbons and some bling from my stash.

Flying High

It seems that the DT members over on the Phindy's Place Challenge blog are as fed up with winter as the rest of us. This week's challenge was to create a card with the theme Hot Stuff/Warm Colors Sunshine. No problems with that theme for me, even though here in the South we've actually been getting some pretty warm days.

The image I've chosen is called "High Hopes". I cannot tell you all how wonderful all of these Wee Babby images are, and you should seriously go check them out at the Phindy's Place Store. You'll fall in love and remember your own children at that precious toddler age. I have colored him with my Copics.

As you all know, I love finding digital papers and printing them to use for my cards. This paper comes from two different kits from The Sprouting Seeds Studio. One is from the Boy Oh Boy kit, and the kite paper is from the Spring Favorites Freebie collection. Both kits were free. This site has some paper that is perfect for several of Phindy's images, and if time hadn't gotten away from me, you would have seen just what I mean.

I decided on an easel card and to use the tail of the kite as my prop. I took floral wire, tripled it and twisted it to make the tail and then tied on some 1/8" grosgrain ribbon. I cut some popsicle sticks to make the frame for my kite, and then tied some string on. I used a remnant of popsicle stick to wrap my "string" around. Haven't decided on the sentiment yet, so I might just leave it without one.

At any rate it was a fun card to create, and I'd like it just because of that cute babby. I may even go fly a kite this weekend.

Gone Fishing

The true indicator of spring around my parts is seeing folks fishing on the edges of ponds and along creek banks. My mother was an avid fisherwoman, while I on the other hand haven't got the patience for it(I'm sure all having a hard time buying into that NOT!!!!), and she couldn't wait each year for it to get warm enough to go drop a line.




This week the Sassy Cheryls Challenge Blog theme is "Inspired by Nature". What is more about nature than fishing? This is an image Cheryl drew as one of the contributing artists to the Help For Katie fund. You can read about Katie HERE and purchase this image with several others. Of course you really need to check out the Sassy Cheryl Store for all the wonderful images she has. She's into Easter big time right now.

I've colored this little fisherman with Copics. The papers are from a free digital kit called Seaswept by Rachel Dickson from ComputerScrapbook.Com. I love the ocean scene. A friend gave me the snake brads(there's a story there for another day), but I decided this one looked enough like a worm to work with this card. I created the sentiment in Word.

Two cards and two blogs posts in one day. I am having a good day. Now I'm off to do my coloring homework and then fix dinner(as say in the South). Thanks for stopping by.

Going Green

That's the challenge this week over on the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog. Since last week had St. Patrick's day in it, your options for going green could have been for the Irish or for saving the earth. I opted for saving the earty, since I'm a wee bit late or a whole lot early for St. Patty's.

This image from the Tiddly Inks Store is "Let's Be Friends". We need to take card of our planet for our animal friends. I decided to take some artistic license and color my little hedgie friend with my Green Copics.

This awesome paper is from the Funky Hand "Color Me Happy" CD and is from the Seaweed Smiler pallette of colors. I used a flower from the Mother's Day Bouquet cartridge to cut my flower/sentiment.

This is a true CAS card, but it works for me.

Show Me Thursday #16

If you're nosey and you know it, come on in. Every week Sassy Cheryl sponsors a Show Me Thursday on the Sassy Cheryl Blog. What's in it for you, you ask? How about a chance at a free image. It doesn't require that you make a card, or for that matter show an image. Cheryl and the rest of us just want to know what you have going on in your workspace. It's funny, but since we started this, I've made some new friends, and we've had some fun. Just post pics of your workspace HERE.
This week, I've been furiously working on Get Well and Thinking of You cards for another challenge. Since I never have any of these on hand when I need them, I decided I'd make two instead of one card for each challenge entry.What you're seeing here is my cards with one more image to color. I'll have 6 in my stash when I finish, and I'm smiling here. You will also notice(Linda C in particular) that I use half a box of Copics to color with, so I need them all. You're welcome to come to TM and color with me, but I'm not sending you any.LOL Please also note that I actually cleaned up, filing all my scraps and cleaning off my tall table. If you aren't impressed, let me just tell you, YOU SHOULD BE! I try hard, but it never seems to stay neat.

Now that I've got this done, I'm off to work on my card for the Sassy Cheryl Challenge Blog, and maybe one for the Color Me Challenge. Oh and Friday's Cheryl has a Guessing Game Challenge . You pick the image that you think had the most sales for the previous week out of a group she posts. She does a drawing and another free image is given. You gotta love her generous spirit, because two of these require almost no effort on your part, just participate.

Thinking of You Two

Yep, that's right, I've finished a third card for this week's Phindy's Place Challenge Blog. Now I'm sitting here feeling pretty smug because I have 4, Thinking of You cards and 2, Get Well cards in my stash just waiting until I need them.

Today's card is made using this incredibly adorable Wee Babby image called "Honey Sandwich" from Phindy's Place Store. You really need to check all her Wee Babbies out and today, Phindy and Paulette of Create with TLC released a new collaboration. All I can say is if you have a girl that likes to talk on the phone, you don't want to miss this image and the Word Art.

I have a friend whose family raised and sold honeybees and although we live fairly close together, we don't see much of each other. Bees play a huge part in her life, so I'm thinking she'll be getting one of these cards for a non-occasion pretty soon. He's colored with Copics, and you'll notice his Mama is bringing him up right by having him eat wheat bread instead of white.

These papers are from a free download, but I have no idea where. I just know that they were all coordinating. The bee buttons are some I saw and picked up with my friend in mine. They worked perfect for this card. The Sentiment is actually a Rubber stamp that I had in my stamp box.

Thanks for stopping by.

Thinking of You This Time

I'm trying to get ahead with my stash of Thinking of You cards, so thankfully the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog DT is giving me that opportunity while getting my card in the draw for a coupon for some shopping at the Phindy's Place Store.

For this card I had to use one of the Wee Babby images. This adorable image is called "Flying", and of course it's colored with Copics. I found this delightful paper that was just perfect with this image on the ComputerScrapbook.com for free. It's from the Wanderlust Paper Kit.

Again I used my MTC software and the shape to path option to create my curved Word Art. I then cut it in the shape of a banner and added an airplane button.

Get Well Soon or Thinking of You

It seems that there are always occasions where we need a Get Well card or a Thinking of You cards. Thankfully this week on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog, they've given us the opportunity to get ahead by making either a Get Well or a Thinking of You card.

My first card is a Get Well card, and I used this adorable image from Phindy's Place called "Hang In There". I colored him with my Copics, and then used my MTC software to create the Word Art and printed it. The balloons were cut using one of the balloons from the Celebrations cartridge.

These wonderful papers are from a digital kit called Simple Pleasures from Sweet Shoppe Designs.

It's Pink and White

This week over on the Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog. I wasn't sure I was going to have enough time to play, but if I hurry and make this post short; I might just squeeze in before the final toll of the clock.This week I chose for my challenge this image, The Thinking Spot, that's on the Color Me Challenge on Sassy Cheryl's Blog this week. The main reason is just because I love the image. The back of that little girl just standing there makes you wonder just what she's pondering. She's colored with Copics with lots of pinks.

My papers are some digital ones that I printed. I'm in the shop and the papers are on my hard drive in the house, so I'll come back and give credit where credit is due. The sentiment is from Raindrop Echo. I created the scallop frame with my MTC software, and then added a big white grosgrain ribbon bow.

Guess I can enter this one in both challenges this week.

Hopefully with no weddings or baptisms on tap for this week, I'll have more crafting time. Oh and be sure and go check out the Sassy Cheryls Store as she's just added new images along with $1 and $2 bins. You don't want to miss out on a bargain.

Show Me Thursday #15

It's that time of the week again. You know the time I mean, when all us nosey parkers are wanting to see what everyone's working on. There's a definite reason for doing it. Sassy Cheryl over on her blog gives a free image away every Thursday, to someone whose willing to share their space with the rest of us. How much easier can it get to qualify. You don't even have to make anything, just show a picture of your workspace. I have to say that yesterday at one point my space was a total disaster. I've picked it up somewhat, but I'm not showing you a picture of that. Instead, I'm going to show you what I'm working on today. This is a big family weekend for us. The last of our 26 nieces and nephews is getting married for the first time tomorrow. One of my last assignments for the wedding was to bake icebox cookies. This is a great recipe because you make the dough, put in a loaf pan and freeze. Then you slice and bake. So here's a picture of my cooking baking this morning.

When we do family we do it in a big way(seriously big as DH is one of 14 children, 26 nieces and nephews and the greats are too numerous to mention), so my niece and nephews and their spouses decided that with all the family together, this would be a perfect time to baptize their babies. Sunday morning is when this event is going to occur. Of course, you know I'm right in the thick of it. The boys, Coleman and Corbin, are first cousins. Coleman is going to wear MM's christening gown that was made from a skirt and blouse I made for my daughter in 1988. Corbin is going to wear the first christening gown I ever made. I made it for my BFF's oldest grandaughter in 1987. Along with baking cookies, I also had to iron the gowns and slips. Here are the two gowns first unironed.

There's a joke that I love about a little girl on Easter Sunday at Children's Church. The preacher comments on what a beautiful dress she has on. She thanks him but then adds "my mom says it's a bitch to iron." She isn't kidding. I love to make these clothes and give them away, because ironing is such a pain. You get all the way around and you need to start over again because it wrinkles if you look at it.

The next picture is of my BFF's gown ironed and ready to go. I decided I needed to wash MM's in the miracle cleaner to get it a little whiter, so it's drying. Oh and you can't dress the babies until you get them to the church.

Do Cupids Count for Babies?

I sure hope so, because I'm entering it in the Oh Baby! challenge over on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog. I hadn't planned on another entry this week, as lots happening around here this week. My niece is getting married on Saturday, and the two newest great nephews are being baptized at church on Sunday. I have programs to print for the wedding along with some cookies to bake for the reception, and I have two LONG christening gowns and slips that I have to iron. We won't even discuss the Weight Watcher meeting I've got to lead tonight.

I'm taking a Copics coloring class online over on the Simply Scrapping Crafts ning website, in hopes of improving my coloring skills. It's taught by Lisa Futch, and it is wonderful. This week's lesson is on coloring bodies. They provide an image to color or you can supply your own. Since I need lots of practice, and I knew that I had this adorable image from Phindy's Place Store called Cupid Bubbles would give me plenty of body to color. I actually had to color two images showing the light source from two directions. I opted to color the same image twice, figuring that would be great practice on understanding light and shadow. When I finished the assignment yesterday afternoon, I had not one, but two colored baby images. What's a girl to do, but make a card for a challenge, right?

So last night I went searching through my paper files, and found this paper that I had purchased from Peppermint Creative called appropriately enought "Sweet Cheeks". I printed my papers off and then found this sketch from Mojo Monday for this week. So after I got the camphouse ready for the incoming guests, and instead of working on my Weight Watchers lesson for tonight, I headed out to TazMania and assembled my card.

I'm pretty happy with it. I love the way the bubbles are floating across the card. OK, now I really have to get busy with my real TO DO list.

Tea with A Wee Babby

Oh Baby! is the theme of this week's Phindy's Place Challenge Blog. Talk about a challenge, try to pick out just one Phindy's Place baby image(thanks goodness you can enter the challenge up to three times). You have to go check out all the Wee Babbies along with all the other Cute kids at the Phindy's Place Store. I promise you, you won't be disappointed.

This image is called Tea Bird, and isn't she the sweetest thing you've ever seen? I colored her with Copics. I love those barely there pig tails. Both of my girls and my granddaughter took forever to grow hair, so I can really identify with this little beauty.

As most of you know, I love printing digital paper. Some I've bought, and some have been free. For those that so generously freely share their designs I give thanks. I went looking for some tea party paper for this card,and found several new free paper kits. This paper is from Digital Diva Designs and is from the Reminder of Spring Kit.

I finished off this card by using the branch edge punch by Martha Stewart and Martha's bird bunch. I colored the birds with my Copics and my Zig pens. My Copics got a work out on this project as I also colored the ribbon. Final touches were the pearls.

A Satin and Pearls Anniversary Celebration

It's been a very big week over on the Sassy Cheryls Challenge Blog. It's the one year Anniverary of the Challenge Blog. In celebration of the event, the DT had a blog hop that ended yesterday(sorry I was slow on getting my card in). However, you still have time to get an entry into the Satin and Pearls challenge for a chance at a $25 coupon to the Sassy Cheryl's store. Can I just tell you I would love to win this, as she's recently released some fantastic images and 10 more new ones are on tap for tomorrow. Can you see me happy dancing?

In case you aren't aware, Cheryl is always wonderful in wanting to give away images. She has two more challenges over on the Sassy Cheryl Blog. One is the Color Me Image, where she offers up a new image or two at a discounted price. You color it and turn it into a card. If her son picks it as the best, then you win an image, plus SC uses your colored version to do her colored image. The second give away is called Show Me Thursday. Seems there are some nosey parkers(I of course wouldn't know anything about being nosey) among us that like to see what other crafters space looks like, as well as what you have going on. All you have to do is enter a picture of your crafting space, and you're in for a random drawing for a free image.

So now to my version of a Satin and Pearls Anniversary Edition card. For my card, I chose this image called Bunny Chit Chat. Isn't she adorable. I'm certain she's carrying on a great conversation with these two bunnies, even if they can't really talk to each other. You just need to listen with your heart. I've colored the image with my Copics.

The papers from a kit called Yellow is for Spring that I purchased from Create with TLC's store. Paulette's not just about free sentiments. She's got some great papers in her store. This paper just screams SPRING to me, and even though things are blooming like crazy here in Mississippi, winter is still hanging on. I created the sentiment in Photoshop. I added some narrow satin ribbon and some pearls along with some daisies to "spring" it up a bit more(and also to comply with the challenge requirements). I have to say everything about this card makes me happy.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you're seeing some signs of spring.

Show Me Thursday #14

Well, it's that time again. You know, the time to get nosey and go scoping out what everyone is working on in their crafting space. Come on, admit, you're just as nosey as Sassy Cheryl. Hey for the chance at a free Sassy Cheryl image, what have you got to lose. All you have to do is go to Sassy Cheryl's Blog and post a picture of your workspace.

Every week someone comments on wanting me to share my copics. As you can see from this shot, I NEED them all. I think I used half of them on my Sassy Cheryl's challenge card and what didn't get used on this card, got used on my COLOR me challenge. Do you see my Army cup? It's holding my afternoon Venti Skinny Sugar Free Caramel Latte.

Just so you know, I had a great day out in TM today, and I actually got three cards made. I also want you to know that I went back out there after supper and cleaned up my mess. I put all those Copics back where they belong and filed my paper scraps. Maybe I've turned over a new leaf, but than again probably not.

Color Me a Rainbow

This week on the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog, it's a COLOR me challenge. I love color and lots of it so it was right up my alley. I am always behind on birthday cards, and birthday cards are by definition bright and colorful.

This image called "Hip to Be Square" has been a favorite of mine since I first saw it in the http://tiddlyinks.comTiddly Inks Store. It is of course perfect for a world of color. I have to say, if you'd seen my tabletop when I finished coloring you would have thought I had used every Copic I own.

The papers are from Summer Drigg's Baby Cake's Kit(one of my all time favorite set of Digital papers), and the sentiment is courtesy of Create with TLC. I used my Martha Stewart Cupcake punch to make my cupcake embellishments and pop dots to give them some dimension.

The good news is I didn't make one card, I made two, so I've building my birthday card stash. WOOHOO!

I'd Rather Be Eating Chocolate

When I first started thinking about the Phindy's Place Challenge this week(it's a great sketch by Anne-Marije), I selected two images that I thought I could really do something with. Yesterday I completed the first card using the image "Giddy Up". In the back of my mind I had a plan with the second image, but a lot was going to depend on whether I could find the right papers and create the right embellishments.

I truly am a Chocoholic, so this Phindy's Place image called "Chocomonster" really speaks to me. I also found a Word Art that would have been perfect for an anniversary card. However, the friend to whom I'm sending this card is a chocolate lover also and facing some major recovery from an undiagnosed stroke. I knew this sentiment woud be more appropriate, and make her smile. Maybe I'll do the card again with the other sentiment and use it for my anniversary card. My husband would truly appreciate the other sentiment, but would question the validity of the statement "I love chocolate, but I love you more." What do you think?

At any rate this morning, I went on a quest for the perfect paper, and found it at a site called Rosehaven Cottage Digital Downloads. The striped paper was even free. I created the Chocolate bonbon cut file with my MTC software and then welded a bunch of them together to make my border. I colored my adorable image with my Copics, and you'll notice that her clothes are neat, but not her fingers or her mouth. The sentiment was created in Photoshop.

This card makes me smile everytime I look at it. It also makes me want chocolate. Now I really have to work on the WeightWatchers meeting I have to deliver later today.

Giddy Up!

This week's challenge over at the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog is a wonderful sketch furnished by Anne-Marije. I absolutely love working from a sketch and especially hers. I am always amazed how the same sketch can produce cards that truly are different. The difficulty for me is always narrowing down my choice of images. All of Phindy's images are fabulous, and I can't imagine not using one for the challenge. My problem is finding enough time to enter more than one card. Possibilities are endless.

For this card, I chose this adorable image called "Giddy Up". My grandson is all about cowboys, but he has a huge stuffed horse that he rides. When I see this image, I see one of my nephews. His parents own a riding stable, and he didn't much care for real horses. He did have a stick horse whose name was Broomtail, a most appropriate name, and he rode that horse all the time.

Image: Phindys Place - Giddy Up

Senitment: mine created in Word

Papers: Nitwit Collections Giddy Up Kit and

Embellishments: Iron on Stars and metals

Thanks for stopping by and I love hearing from you.

Show Me Thursday #13 and OWH

Each week Sassy Cheryl sponsors this wonderful Show Me Thursday Challenge on her Blog and offers a free image to the winner of a random drawing. All you have to do is post a picture of your workspace. Reasons behind this are pretty basic, she's nosey, and so are the rest of us. I love going and checking out what's going on in everybody's crafting area. Hey and for a free image, you show me yours and I'll sure show you mine.

I actually took a picture on Sunday of the purchases I'd made at Hobby Lobby on Saturday that I had tossed on my table top. However, Barbara, the inveterate shopper, had been to a Scrap Expo and my few purchases were just a pittance in comparison to hers. I willing concede that she is the Queen of Crafty Shopping.LOL

I have fallen sadly behind on my OWH cards and decided on Monday that I had to get busy, to get enough to send in a box in order to make the Easter deadline. I typically put any cards that I make for challenges into the box for one of a kinds, but I also like to make multiples. They sort in 8 stacks, so I usually make 8 cards. Since, coloring takes me so long, I try to go for fast(doesn't always happen, but I try). These stacks of cards are the fruits of my labors.

The card on the far right is an I love you card. I cut the fish, wave and hook out with my cricut, embossed the fins, added the colored googly eyes, and printed the sentiment straight to the card. In case you can't read it says, "You caught me.... Hook Line Sinker. The next card is a princess card. I found those cute scepters for practically nothing at HL and then designed and cut the crown out, added the jewels and the word sentiment. The sentiment says "Daddy's Precious Princess".

Next card over is a CAS card with the John 3:16 verse. I actually created the tabbed oval using my Make The Cut Software in about 2 minutes. The next are birthday cards using the same fish and changing the sentiment(Birthday Fishes). I'm keeping these to have on hand for the gazillion birthday cards I send out every year. The remaining cards are some I created for challenges, and they were still on the desk.

This picture is the opposite end of the table, after I have somewhat cleaned up from the OWH frenzy.

Hope you've had a good nosey round and look forward to seeing you next week. Now I'm off to do a little neatening up and get busy on some challenge cards.