Thursday, September 29, 2011

Grow Old Along With Me

I have my third and final challenge for the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog's color opposites challenge. This time I've used Greens and Reds.

When Phindy first posted this image, I knew I had to have it. They remind me of my grandparent's on my Mother's side, Papa and Big Mama. He was tall and thin and she was short and pleasantly plump. I've colored them with Copics. There is no end to the images in the Phindy's Place Store that bring back memories of  my childhood.

The papers are from a free kit from Summer Driggs called Believe and the sketch is one I saved from way back when. The sentiment that came to mind was from Robert Browning -

“Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made. Our times are in his hand who saith, 'A whole I planned, youth shows but half; Trust God: See all, nor be afraid!'”

 

I've been fortunate to have known many couples that have seemingly been married forever including my husband's sister and her husband. They've been married for 68 years. He's 90 and she's 88, and it was love at first site. He told her he was going to marry her the first time they met. She politely responded "Today?".  4 months later they wed and the rest is history. Of course my DH and I had our first date the first week of December and were engaged on Valentines and wed in July, and we've got a 33+ years streak going. How about you?

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Another Set of Color Complements

I've really gotten into this Color Opposite challenge over on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog. This time my colors are pink and it's complement, green. Again here's the Color Wheel.


This adorable image is called Hop Bunny, and this one reminds me of a friend's little girl. Seems all little girls seem to love pink, thus the pink/green color combination. She's colored with Copics.

The papers are from a free kit called Softly Summer by Jeanine Baechtold  from Computer Scrapbook Dot Com. The sentiment is one I created in Photoshop. Feel free to grab it if you want.

Fall Colors

This week on the Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog the challenge was to use Fall Colors. I think they chose this challenge in hopes that it will bring on the Fall temperatures. After all it is officially Fall by the calendar. There's a new twist on the challenge. You don't have to use a Sassy Cheryl's image(although personally I can't imagine why you wouldn't), but if you do you get two entries in the challenge. I like better chances.

When I went looking for an image to use, I came across this one at the Sassy Cheryl's Digi Store. The image is called Day Dreamer Boy. When I saw it, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for my card. Fall conjures up images of lots and lots and lots of leaves at my house( my house sits in the middle of a forest of trees). I decided my little guy was sitting amongst a pile of leaves pondering one of life's deepest questions - to rake or not to rake.

I used my new Baby to cut out the leaves, using papers that I had printed from a digital kit and had on hand in my scrap box. The papers are from a free kit called Falling for Fall  from Summer Driggs. I created the sentiment in Photoshop and don't know whether you can use it or not, but I've posted it below if you'd like to grab it.

Color Opposites At Phindy's Place

The challenge this week on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog  is to create a  project using color opposites or complements. The DT provided us with this color wheel.

I went searching and found this wonderful site with an Interactive Color Wheel. Not only does it give you the color complement but also the RGB number so  that you can create your own complementary papers. I, however, just used this wheel to find the right papers for my cards.

For my first card, I used this image called Pumpkin Baby. I think she looks like Phindy's granddaughter, and knew I had to make a card with her. Isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen? There are more images just as cute to be found at the Phindy's Place Store.  I've colored her with Copics, and I had to give her red hair.

The papers are from a free kit called Sassy Lass from Raspberry Road Designs.  The sentiment is a rubber stamp I picked up from the $1 bin at Michaels.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Flower Power at Sassy Cheryl's

That's the challenge this week set by Sassy Jackie on the Sassy Cheryl Challenge Blog. I can't begin to tell you how happy that made me, as I got to use my new BC to cut some looped flowers and oh what fun.

The image I've selected is one of several featuring bird houses over at the Sassy Cheryl's Store and is called Bird Houses on a Hill. I think I used half my box of Copics to color this one. The papers are from my scrap box.

Off to get this one entered in the challenge before time runs out. I've been dealing with computer issues and this was a last minute effort.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Show Me #43

Looks like I might be first this week in the Show Me Challenge over on Sassy Cheryl's blog. I've got a new toy and can't wait to show it off.

I have been waiting and saving for awhile for a shipment of Black Cat Cutters to come in and finally they arrived a couple of weeks ago. There was a glitch in the shipping of them to the dealer, so mine wasn't shipped until last week. It was showing a delivery from Fed Ex on Saturday. Just one problem there, it had to be signed for and I was headed out of town for my class get together. Well DH was home and was supposed to wait for it, but when the delivery didn't happen by 8:30 a.m.(who does he think is going to be there at 8:30 a.m.), he left to do  his thing. Well guess what I had to wait until Tuesday(seems Fed Ex Home delivery doesn't work on Sundays and Mondays) to receive? Needless to say those few hours cost DH a few days if you know what I mean. I hope he learned his lesson, but I doubt it.

Monday I worked on cards and cooking. I snapped this shot of the deer in the back field from my carport Monday afternoon.

Tuesday morning around 9:15, the Fed Ex man showed up with my newest gadget. Here's the box. Notice the 4' wide table behind it. I let the Fed Ex man put it  in the house instead of TM. I have no idea what I was thinking. It didn't weigh but 33 lbs., but man was it cumbersome.

I got it unboxed, and I spent Tuesday  getting it set up and watching tutorials. Wednesday was spent trying to perfect the cut. I named her Sultry Sinta(Cherokee for Cat) and cut her name out of vinyl. The table she's sitting on is over 36" wide. She's a BIG cat for sure.

These are a close up of some of the things I tried cutting. I wanted to see how well it cut small detailed stuff. I was not disappointed.
So now it's time for you to post what you have going on in your space this week. Remember, you're in the running for a chance at a FREE Sassy Cheryl image. Of course anyone can drop in for a nosey, so it's only fair that you post your space too.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

It's Still Christmas in Phindyville

There's still time for another Christmas Card, and I'm thinking a girl can never have too many Christmas cards. Christmas is the theme for the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog. For my second entry, I"ve chosen to use this Phindy's Place Image called.Miss Crissy Tree. She's just one of the fabulous Christmas images available at the Phindy's Place Store. Go check them out.

My last card was very traditional in colors, not so this time. Again these papers are from Shery K Designs and are from a kit called Christmas Days. You know that when I saw the Christmas Light paper, I HAD to use Miss Chrissy Tree for my card. The sentiment is from Create with TLC. I used my new Black Cat Cougar to cut out the Christmas lights and the scalloped circle around the sentiment. The background Christmas trees were cut with a Sissix diecut.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

SMT #42 and Weekend Get Together

It's time for a nosey in everyones life over on the Sassy Cheryl Blog. Just for posting a pic or two of what's going on in your life, you have a chance at a Sassy Cheryl image of your choice. Now how can you go wrong.

In 2008, my High School class celebrated our 40th High School Reunion. It was a lot of hard work, but soooo worth it. The weekend of our Reunion also coincided with the 300 Oaks Race. A group of us decided we'd show we were still in pretty good shape by participating in the 5K Walk portion of the race. We had so much fun that we have had a mini-reunion each year since on Race weekend. This past weekend was the weekend for out get together and for our 4th consecutive participation in the race.

Since I pretty much put myself in charge, my DH stays home and lets me do my own thing, without having to worry about him. Before I left on Friday, I made him a big pan of biscuits.


For those that came in Friday night we met for dinner. This is a picture of the group that was there. I think we all look pretty good for 60 and 61.

There were 7 of us on a team for the 5K walk, 5 were classmates and 2 were either spouses or dates. Our team came in 3rd overall which was pretty remarkable. The two of other females in my class that participated took second and third place for our age group, one of the guys came in 2nd, one girlfriend came in 3rd, one guy won his age group in the 5K Run, and I finished a respectable 4th. I only got beat in time by two 65-69 year olds and one 75 year old (racers older than me).  This last picture is a picture of me crossing the finish line, looking a little the worse for wear. Considering that this was only the third time I'd walked this distance in 6 weeks with a month off of no walking, I think I did pretty well.

The group met for lunch at a favorite restaurant and then met at a classmates house Saturday night for a Barbecue(catered) and just visiting. It was a fabulous weekend.

It's not too late to post what you have going on in your space or life. You have until Thursday at 5 p.m. EST to make it. 

Monday, September 19, 2011

We Need A Little Christmas

Or at least that's what the Phindy's Place DT are saying over on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog for this week. If you hang out over on the Phindy's Place Papercraft Planet site, you'd know we're a Phamily over there and are very close. As a result Phindy has created a series of images of Phindyville, our imaginary town.

This image is of the Post Office and is called Phindyville Winter, and the perfect image for a Christmas card. Please check out all the fabulous scenes at the Phindy's Place Store for all of her delightful scene perfect for a Christmas card. I've colored Phindyville with a combinations of Copics and Prisma Pencils.

The  papers are from a digital pack called Christmas Mega Pack 2 by Shery K Designs. I used some white Flower Soft for the snow.

This card is far more traditional than the next one I have planned. Come back tomorrow and see.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Stripes Again

I never fail of tiring of participating in the Phindy's Place Challenges on the Challenge blog. I especially like the fact that if you use a Phindy Image in your creation, you get two entries in the challenge, and that you can enter more than one creation. I always have at least two ideas for card creations for most challenges and sometimes, I find myself having a hard time limiting myself to 3 choices. Phindy's images are just so REAL to me. Just go out and check the Phindy's Place Store and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about.

When I was picking papers for my first challenge card, I came across this digital paper from a kit called Ho-Ho-Ho designed for Pickleberry Pop by CRK. When I saw the musical note paper, I KNEW exactly which image I was going to use. She's called "Sweet Carol", and she brings back such sweet memories of my childhood as well as my children's. Can't you remember the Children's Christmas program from church where you were dressed in a white choir robe with the gold trim, the wings and the gold halo that refused to sit straight on your head(just making the performance that much more adorable). There's little coloring to her, but what there is is done with Copics. I added gold glitter for her robe and halo and then clear glitter for her wings.

The sentiment was created in Make the Cut and exported as a  JPG file. I LOVE this program, that was primarily designed to be used with die cutting machines, but Andy has made it so much more versatile than that. The best thing is that it allows me to open tons of fonts without putting them into my Windows Fonts folder and slowing down my machine. Sometimes it's just so much faster for me than Photoshop.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Show Us Something Good To Eat

Now what kind of cruel challenge is this? It's the one set by Miz Sassy Jackie on the Sassy Cheryls Challenge Blog. I didn't become a Weight Watcher member because I couldn't find much that was good to eat. Obviously Cheryl likes food too, because there are many images in the Sassy Cheryl's Store, that have good things to eat in the image.

When I went searching through my Sassy Cheryls folder of images, I found this cutie holding a Candy Cane. Hello, I really like sweets, so Christmas Candy Cane Girl was just the ticket. I have to stay away from cakes and cookies, even if they are on paper.LOL She's colored with Copics and in colors to coordinate with these digital papers from a free kit from Summer Driggs called Old Fashioned Christmas.

I used my Make the Cut software to create the sentiment, and isn't Christmas definitely the Sweet Season? Feel free to grab it. The flowers are a combination of the Daisy Flowers Spellbinders die, the Cuttlebug Asterick flower and some buttons, I recently bought.

Stripes Somewhere Please

This week over on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog, the theme is Stripes Somewhere. Needless to say that doesn't present much of a challenge for someone that's as addicted to papers both real and digital as me. As always my challenge is in picking the image that I want to use and then finding the perfect papers to go with it.

If you read my blog, you know I have a grandson that I call MonkeyMoo. He LOVES Halloween. He loves dressing up and is constantly "in costume". The other night when we SKYPED with him he was a black ghost with glowing red eyes. He totally impressed his Great Aunt Boo, on his last visit because he could read her name. We didn't tell her about his thing for Halloween. We just let her think he's very smart(which he is).LOL

This card uses the Phindy's Place image called appropriately enough BOO. I think it will be perfect for his Halloween card this year, don't you? I've colored it with my Copics. Please go check out the Phindy's Place Store for some more delightful images.

The papers are from a freebie that I found at Sherry K Designs. Notice that even the bat paper has a background of stripes. I added some felt Halloween embellishments that I had left over from making Halloween cards for OWH last year.

It's ALL about the BOO!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Falling for Fall

The theme for this week's challenge on the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog is Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall. Quite honestly I'm ready for fall and in the past weeks, we've actual had a few decent days with fall like temperatures.

I think the squirrels at my house are thinking that it may be a cold winter. because they've already stripped our pecan trees and long before the nuts are ready to fall from the trees. When I head out to TM, you can hear them in the trees jumping from limb to limb. My squirrels were the reason I chose this image called Nuts for You,  but it's certainly not the only image in the Tiddly Inks Store that are appropriate for a fall themed card.

My image is colored with Copics. The papers as well as the sentiment are all from a free digital kit from Summer Driggs called Falling for Fall.

Well, again I've waited to almost the last minute to enter the challenge, but I did make it.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Bag It, Wrap It, Box It or maybe a Combination

Sassy Judy is in charge of the theme for this week's Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog. The theme is decorate a candy wrapper, a box or a bag. I opted to create a treat box/bag using my Make The Cut software and my Cricut. I found a template for a purse and then started changing things up and then along with a pumpkin clip art that was free, I created a pumpkin treat box/bag(when you say treat in September, my mind immediately jumps to Halloween). I love building things, so being able to design and construct a paper project isn't so much a challenge as just plain fun.

For the image side, I chose this Sassy Cheryl image called Funky Scarecrow. There are some really great Halloween Images over at the Sassy Cheryls Store. You really need to check them out. I've colored the image with Copics. I cut out the Boo sentiment again using my Cricut, and the bats were a free SVG file that I can't find the blog link for. They came in multiple sizes, so it was an easy cut. On the back side of the pumpkin, I just gave him a Jack O' Lantern face.

I filled the box with crinkled khaki papers(someone gave me something that was packed with this and I saved it), and filled it with Tootsie Roll Pops and caramels(the only candies in my house). My final touch was the pipe cleaner cork screws that I love.

Another fun challenge. Can't wait to see what the next challenge is going to be. Bring it on!

Friday, September 9, 2011

SMT #41

Well, thought I'd post a fun SMT this week. I'm an avid walker, but a 4 week hiatus of resting my foot and hoping to make the plantar's fasciitis issue better(NOT), has me looking for alternative forms of exercise.  My walking buddy suggested that we might try bike riding.

 I refuse to buy a new bike when I don't know how long I'll stick with it. In our barn is one if not both of the bikes our children had as children. Keep in mind my oldest is 42 and my youngest is 40, so the bikes are about 30 years old. About 3 years ago, we put new tires and a padded seat on one of them so I could ride some(I didn't stick with it long-reason below). Well the other day, DH aired up the tires, and so far so good with them holding air. The bike HAS been in the barn, but remember I live in a very humid place so some oxidation(rusting) has occurred.

Reason for not sticking with it - I grew up in the Mississippi Delta where the terrain is totally flat(think Holland), so hopping on a bike and riding for hours even when you're out of shape isn't difficult. However even though we don't   have  a real hill here in Lowndes County, we do have inclines, so I'm having to build up gradually. I mean who knew that my driveway that I thought was flat actually has about a 2 degree slope to it(my thigh muscles that's who). The bike has NO gears just me, so I decided before I start riding with my walking buddy(she has 7 gears on her bike and she's 6 years younger than me), I better start getting the old legs in shape. I've been taking short rides(no more than a mile) several times a day. Today, I rode a mile away from the house and then had to ride the mile back. There was one incline(maybe 6 degrees) that had my muscles screaming. I thought I was going to have to get off and walk the bike, but I persevered(read that I could walk faster than I was pedalling). I made it home, so I'm feeling pretty proud of myself. I'll do another run after lunch and then I'm calling it quits on exercise for the day.

This is a picture of me on the bike, but not after the 2 mile run(I wasn't grinning but grimacing then). I just went up the drive a little ways and back so DH could take the picture before he got on with his day. You will notice that I am wearing a helmet and have on a reflective vest. I'm old enough to know I'm not invincible.

Tootsie if you see these pictures, I know you're horrified. Too bad you don't live closer, because, I'd let you repaint it(see I haven't forgotten the pink tricycle).

So come on everyone, post a picture of either your craft space or what you have going on and enter it on Sassy Cheryls Blog in the Show Me Thursday Challenge. You not only get to nosey around in other people's lives(and admit it you know you love to do that), but you also have a chance of winning a Sassy Cheryl image. There's no way to lose.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Phindy's Place Anything Goes Gingerbread Hugs

For my third and final challenge card for this month's Anything Goes as long as it's a Phindy's image on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog, I chose to use this Winter Cutie called Gingerbread Delight. I told you picking the image to use for the challenge was the hard part. Good thing I'm not limited to only one entry.  If you haven't discovered Phindy's Place Store, may I encourage you to head on over. Her images are so real life, and I simply adore her children's images and let me tell you, her Plump 'Uns hit real close to home
.

For this one, I again hit Raspberry Road Designs for the papers I used. This kit is called the Gingerbread Memories Collection and could anything be more perfect to use with this image?  This time the sketch is from last week's challenge over on Sketch Saturday. I seem to always be a week behind on these. I've colored her with my Copics, and again I used my Make The Cut  to create my Word Art.

Thanks for stopping by and hope I've sent you on a shopping excursion.

Show Me #40

Can you believe this is the 40th week of noseying(my very own word) around in our crafting friends lives drooling over creations, commiserating over calamities, laughing and sympathizing over craft messes, and just supporting each other. I'm so glad Sassy Cheryl started this challenge, and it would be fun to do even if there weren't a chance to win a Sassy Cheryl image. I've made some great new friends by venturing out and sharing. Thank you Cheryl.
 check out the Sassy Cheryl Rubber stamp from Kraftin Kimmie in the bottom left corner-it stamped beautifully)

 So this week, it's a total disaster in TazMania. It looked pretty good until I went over yesterday afternoon and started on 2 of 3 cards for a challenge. I got two of them made, but didn't stop between to do any picking up. I normally at least put the Copics back after I finish coloring an image, but not yesterday. I will put them up before I start on the third card, but sorting paper scraps is going to wait until I'm finished. I left the mess because I had to come in and fix hubby some dinner(that's my story and I'm sticking to it).

It's only Wednesday so you've got some time to share what's happening in your life with us before the 5 p.m. EST deadline tomorrow afternoon.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Anything Goes With A Phind Image Card #2

I'm back with my second card for the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog. I love the first week of the month, because it's all about using Phindy's Place images, which I personally think is the only way to go. Phindy's Place is hosting the Outlawz Color Challenge over on the The Outlawz.

For my second card, I chose this image called Spools. I love to sew, so the image was one I had to have. I have colored them with Copics. Raspberry Road Designs had this wonderful free digital kits called Fitting Room Collection. How perfect is this paper with the  Clarks spool labels, and the best part is that it was the right colors for the challenge, or I hope close enough.


I modified a sketch from Card Patterns to design the card. I actually created the sentiment in Make The Cut and exported it to a .jpg file. I love this program. It's so much easier to put a sentiment in a circle compared to Photoshop. Please feel free to grab it if you like it.

Anything Goes Phindy Challenge Card #1

It's the first full week of the month, and you know what that means don't you?That's right, it means that over on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog, it's anything goes as long as you use a Phindy's Place image. The only problem is WHICH Phindy Image to use. Well I quickly picked out 3 images and the papers for all of them. I've actually got two made and even have the sketch for the 3rd one chosen. Now to get the first two blogged and the third one made and blogged.

For my first card I chose this image called Hyacinth and Ivy from the Phindy's Place Store. I've had this image for awhile, but this is the first card I've made with it. I think hyacinths may be one of my all time favorite flowers. They just smell soooooo good. I've colored the image with my Copics. Not much shading because the leaves were really small.

I found this delightful sketch over on Card Patterns. It was last week's sketch, but that didn't bother me. I found this delightful paper on the Raspberry Road Designs digital paper site, from the Moving Day Collection. It was a freebie, but  I have to tell you they have a whole bunch of Dollar sets and a great sale going on right now. Just followed the sketch and finished up with some pearls. 

Now off to blog card number 2.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Reading is FUN!

The challenge this week on the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog is Reading Is Fun. Since I'm a great believer in reading and an avid reader, I knew I didn't want to miss out on participating in the challenge. I am a firm believer that it doesn't matter what you read as long as you do, and that if you can read you can do anything you want.

When I got ready to start my project, I first went to my Tiddly Inks digital folder, and I had a bunch of free book images, plus there's one at the Tiddly Inks Store right now. Now how can you be a proper Wizardess if you can't read and understand the creation of making magic potions so of course I had to have the image called Wizardette? I got the title of my book from the Harry Potter Lexicon. I used Photoshop to create my scene, with Wizardette casting a spell from the top of a stack of books. For the most part everything is colored with Copics, buy I did use some Tim Holtz ink pads to color the book pages.

The papers are from a free kit created by Jen Reed for Computer Scrapbook.Com. I also used Photoshop to create my sentiment. I can't give you the book sentiment, since the book is a Tiddly Inks image, but I did create some word art without the book. Feel free to grab either or both.


Sunday, September 4, 2011

Happy Birthday Challenge

This week the challenge over on the Sassy Cheryls Challenge Blog was to create a Birthday Card. Since there is never a time we don't all need a birthday card, this is a perfect challenge in which to participate.

Needless to say that the Sassy Cheryls Digi Store has no lack of images perfect for a birthday celebration. I had to use this delightful image called  "Momma's Little Clown," and you have to admit he doesn't look scary like most clowns do. He obviously had a great Momma, because she's put together the perfect clown ensemble for him. Mostly he's colored with Copics, but there's some paper piecing for his suit of clothes. I want to thank Kathy Curry for the idea on the polka dotted shoes. How perfect are they for a clown?

All the papers are from a free kit created by Susan Darter for  Raspberry Road Designs called Clovis the Clown. The do remind me of the circus. The sentiment is an acrylic stamp I picked up in the dollar bin at Michael's, and the curly-cues are made with a punch that I recently bought on clearance at Tuesday morning. I punched and layered about 8 for each one to give it a real 3D effect.

I'm off to get this posted on the Blog Challenge, and I'm not even last minute. How about that?

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Make Your Own Embellishments

Have you noticed that with me it seems to be all about waiting until the last minute? I promise, it's not intentional, and tonight I'm really placing it close to the wire. Thankfully, I came up with a plan quickly when I got home to make a card with my own embellishments. That's the challenge this week over on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog.

This image from the Phindy's Place Store is called Giddyup.  He is colored with Copics.The papers are from a digital kit also called Giddyup from Nitwit Collections.  My embellishment is a cowboy hat I cut with my Cricut from a  free svg file from Images by Heather.

If you read my blog, you know I have a 4 1/2 year old grandson that I call MonkeyMoo, aka MM for short who is ALL about being a cowboy. He knows every word to Toby Keith's "I Should've Been a Cowboy". He recently told his parents he wasn't going to work. When his dad mentioned the fact that he would need a car, MM told him he was riding a horse. When his Dad mentioned he would need to pay for a house, MM replied that he would build his own. When I created the sentiment, I couldn't do Should've Been a Cowboy, but I'm Gonna Be a Cowboy. Please feel free to grab the sentiment.