Just Say Thanks

The challenge over at the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog is to create a thank you project. I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't think there's a chance that I would ever have more thank you cards than I needed.

For my card, I chose this Wryn image from the Tiddly Inks Store called Wryn - Grow A Little Love. I've colored her with Copics.

I got the papers from my scrap box, but I did identify the papers used. One is from the digital kit called Of the Essence by Fei-Fei's Stuff from Oscraps and the other is from a digital kit called Charming by Shery K Designs.

The sentiment is from an acrylic stamp set from Waltzing Mouse.

April Showers at Sassy Cheryls

The challenge this week on the Sassy Cheryls Challenge Blog is to create a project with an April Showers theme. Now Sassy Cheryl doesn't require that you use a Sassy Cheryl's image, BUT if you do, you get two entries in the challenge. So, with so many perfect images to use at the Sassy Cheryls Digi Store and a double entry to boot, WHY wouldn't you use an SC image. I just can't figure that one out.

At any rate Cheryl has been on a creative roller coaster this past week, and it's all been downhill at the speed of light. She's just added 11 new images to the store, and several were perfect for this challenge. I chose this image called Sam's Rainy Day for my card, but it wasn't the only one I bought. Thank goodness I have a credit on Pay Pal, so the DH won't be noticing I'm paying my friend Pay Pal so much money.LOL I've colored her with Copics, and double colored the umbrella so that it stands off the page.

This sketch is called Starburst and can be found on this POST from Operation Write Home. It's a method of using up scraps. I didn't however use scraps to make this card. What I did however, was to use small squares from several digital paper kits thus not creating any more scraps. The kits I used are
Aloha, Stolling Thru The Park and April Showers from Just So Scrappy Too and Summer Fun from Shery K Designs.

The Word Art was created in Photoshop using design elements from the kits above. I used the inverse scallop punch from Spellbinders to create a layered look of the sun behind my image and finished off with some glossy accents on all the raindrops. Here's a side shot to show you the dimension that the card has.

I love it when a plan comes together. Thanks for stopping by.

A Second Squares and Stitching for Phindy's Place

Well, here it is only Wednesday evening and I've got a second card for the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog where the challenge is squares and stitching.

This adorable image called "Summer is Here" is the latest addition to the Phindy's Place Store.  I've colored her with Copics.

The papers are from a digital kit from Shery K Designs called Cherry Blossom. I obviously have a thing for pink and green this week. I think they call the stitching string art today, but I have to tell you it was something that I learned to do in 8th grade math(and that was 50 years ago or thereabouts) when we were studying geometry. You should have seen the projects we all did including the guys. I loved it so much that when I taught 8th grade Math, I had my students do the same thing.

Stitches and Squares

The challenge this week on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog is Stitches and Squares. Simply enough don't you think?

For what I hope is just my first card for the challenge, I've used this precious image called " Tea Bird". She along with lots of her friends can be found at the Phindy's Place shop. I paper pieced her outfit and colored the rest of her with Copics.

I actually had planned to use her with these digital papers from a kit called Tea Party from Shery K Designs for the challenge last week, but time caught up with me and that didn't happen. Thankfully she and the papers worked just fine for this week's challenge.

Thanks for stopping by. I'm always glad to see you stopping by.

A Garden Delight SMT

This past Sunday was the Tea Party that my walking buddy hosts each year for all us ladies that live in the Prairie. It's a fun time with lots of talking and some delightful food. What's really special is to be able to enjoy Shannon's yard and garden. Where my thumbs are completely brown, hers are definitely all green. I just wanted to share some pictures from her garden with you, and hope you'll enjoy seeing them as much as I did.

Entering the Perennial Garden with her Green House on the right

Inside her Perennial Garden. The Shasta daisies were still beautiful even though they had peaked.

Close-up of clematis blooms on the trellis at the gate.

Close up of Iris

This is a tomato plant that's been growing and producing all winter in her greenhouse. She needs a 10 foot ladder to pick those top tomatoes.

My contribution to the tea party was to make English Scones. We even had REAL Devonshire clotted cream and Lemon Curd(given to me by our Yoga Instructor who found it at the PX on base). These are deadly on the hips, but oh so good.

I'm posting this early enough that you still have time to get your SHOW ME post in on Sassy Cheryl's blog for a chance at a free Sassy Cheryl image AND a chance to meet and see what fellow crafters have going on in their lives.

Butterflies At Sassy Cheryls

This week's challenge(and notice I'm playing it so close to the wire, that you don't have time to enter this week ) at the Sassy Cheryls Challenge Blog is Butterflies. Now the sad thing about this is that I found and downloaded these papers last week from Shery K Designs. The kit is called This Summer, and again, I'm letting you all down, as Shery had a 50% off sale.

This adorable image is called Precious Callie and can be purchased at the Sassy Cheryl's store. You really want to go check out the store as Cheryl as been adding images fast and furiously. She's also introduced some delightful new characters. She also told us she's done 11 sketches yesterday which means we're all in for some treats.

Thanks for stopping by. Need to get this entered before the timer bings on the challenge blog. Can't wait to see what the ladies have in store for us tomorrow.

Show Me #71 Just Under the Wire

I am definitely a procrastinator, but I actually took these pictures last week before I finished my card for the Sassy Cheryls Challenge Blog Challenge, meaning to do a before and an after. Life caught up with me and it didn't happen, so we're going at it slap backwards today, so I can still get my entry in.

These are pictures of my table top in creative mode. The only thing that's changed since I made these pictures is that  the card is finished and the Copics are back in their case.

Since I've played it so late with my post, you might not have time to get a post in this week on the Show Me Thursday post at Sassy Cheryls Blog, but there's always next week. It's a random draw winner of a free image and a chance to hang around and see how others craft and what they're up to. I promise you it's a good time for all.

It's Anything Goes with Sassy Cheryl

Yea for Anything Goes Challenges, as I simply love them. It's so much less stressful for my poor brain. Thank you Sassy Peggy for making my transition back into crafting easier after what seems like too long. So everyone come on and join the Anything Goes at the Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog.

Now they talk about new techniques and doing fancy folds, for me it's just making a fun card. This image is called Sally Sits in Wonder, and she's quite available at the Sassy Cheryls Store along with many other fantastic images. She is colored with Copics.

I'm quite proud of myself this week, because I've made 4 cards and used scrap paper on each and every one of them. Unfortunately you can't tell from my scrap box that any sheets are missing. Oh well that's the way it works sometimes.

The sketch is this week's Sketch Saturday Challenge, so I'll be entering my creation there too. The sentiment was a clear acrylic sentiment and thought about the fun of sitting and watching clouds on a beautiful spring day.

Thanks for stopping by. Off to work on my SMT blog post next. I know you're eager to see my mess.

My Final Entry for the Phindy's Place 100th Challenge Celebration

For some of you this may be getting old, but I have to tell you, for me it's been a blast. 100th Challenges don't happen everyday, and I'm happy to be able to do my part. The Phindy's Place Challenge Blog and her DT have lots of good stuff going on(read giving away) for this Celebration Challenge. The DT has a Blog Hop going and if you'll take a few minutes(doesn't take long at all) and leave a comment on each of their blogs and then come back to the Challenge Blog and enter an Anything Goes as long as it's a Phindy's image, you're in the running for some fabulous Blog Candy. You really want to go take part in the blog hop because several of the DT have their own blog candy going on. If you haven't found Phindy's Place and her wonderful images, may I encourage you to run, not walk immediately to the Phindy's Place Store. You won't be disappointed, I promise. Phindy has something to please everyone.

I had another image printed to color, but when I got into the scrap box, the cupcake papers just called my name(could be because it's food). The perfect image for the papers is this one from the Phindy's Place Store called It's All Yours.

The sketch is one I found at Card Patterns, and the sentiment(perfect don't you think for the papers and the image) is an acrylic stamp from the $1 bin at Michaels.

Sorry to see this challenge end. I love it when the DT does an Anything Goes with a Phindy's Image. Please come join in the fun. You still have plenty of time to make a card.

100th Challenge at Phindy's Place Times Two

If you've been here once today, you know that it's the 100th Challenge at the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog. If this is your first time here, you need to know that there is FABULOUS Blog Candy up for Grabs at the Challenge Blog. In order to qualify, you have to go to the Challenge Blog and follow the Blog Hop  of the DT and leave a comment on each blog(in the interest of full disclosure, I need to tell you that some of them are offering their own Blog candy) AND YOU MUST also enter the challenge using a Phindy's Place Image(any other images will be disqualified). Now it's a personal thing with me, but I think it's only good manners to use the image of the artist giving the prize and when you're talking about Phindy's images, you can't go wrong.

For this card I chose this image from the Phindy's Place Store called Potted Primroses. Can I just tell you that this image is one I adore. I love this little girl in her pinafore and straw hat. She looks like a little girl and not a little girl trying to look grown. I've colored her with Copics.

I'm still working out of my scrap box, and believe me I haven't put a dent in it or probably won't any time soon. The sketch is one I found at Deconstructing Jen, and the sentiment is an acrylic stamp I have.

I've got my third card base made. I had to reconsider my image after I went with birthday paper, but no problem. Phindy has an image  for any paper you pick.

Thanks for stopping by.

100th Challenge Celebration at Phindy's Place

This week is the 100th Challenge for the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog, and there's a party and a give-a-way going on. To enter for some great Blog Candy, you need to go to the Challenge Blog and participate in the Blog Hop put on by the DT(some of them are also giving away candy, so you really don't want to miss out). Leave a comment on all the Blogs, and then enter a creation using a Phindy's Place image, and you're good to go. This is just my first entry. I have time, and materials, so I plan on maxing out with entries.:)

When I first saw this image from the Phindy's Place Store called Springy Lamb, I fell in love. I had to have it, and after finally having life slow down a little, I went shopping for it and several other new images that Phindy has added. I actually took the lamb off the background so that I could just have the flowers. Then I printed the lamb by itself and cut it out. I've colored both with Copics. The papers are from my scrap box(I'm determined to make a dent in the pile).

Now the fun part of this was that since it was a Springy  lamb, I  made a Sproing to mount it to, so that when you push it, it springs back into place.

The Sketch is this week's Sketch Challenge at Operation Write Home. Check it out.

This one called for a special sentiment, so I spent a part of my morning creating this sentiment in Photoshop. I found some clip art of springs to use to mount the letters of SPRING upon. Please feel free to grab it, by right clicking on it and saving it.

You've still got plenty of time to get an entry or two into the challenge, but if you don't, you just improved my odds of winning.

It's A Birthday Bash At TIddly Inks

Tiddly Inks is celebrating it's 2 year Birthday with fantastic new Wryn images and a Birthday Challenge on the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog.

I've been tied up with commitments for the last two weeks, so I'm getting this card in just under the wire. A Birthday Challenge is perfect as my oldest grandchild will be celebrating her 18th birthday, this Friday, and I needed a card to send to her.

This image from the Tiddly Inks Store is called Wrynn Birthday. I've had a lot of fun coloring all those packages, although, my granddaughter is getting money. I'm a smart enough Gran to know that she prefers money to what I'd send.

The papers are from my scrap box( I really need to work out of that box for the next two years to deplete my abundant scrap supply. The sketch is from Tuesday Morning Sketches, and I may even squeak it in under the wire there too.

I'm so happy to be back creating fun things. Thanks for stopping by.

Soft Pastels at Sassy Cheryl's

This week it was Sassy Judy's turn in the barrel to pick the challenge for the Sassy Cheryl Challenge Blog and she chose soft pastels. It wouldn't have mattered what the challenge was, because after I know 2 weeks of no challenge card and possibly 3, I was getting a card in the challenge regardless.

I've gotten most of my obligations done(still need to print a few more thank you notes), and I got out to TM early today and got busy. This adorable image from the Sassy Cheryl Digi Store is called Polly and Butterscotch. Do you think he was supposed to be yellow, or do you think butterscotch is a favorite flavor? At any rate, the image is colored with Copics in what is about as pastel as I wanted to go.

The papers are from my scrap box, and the sketch, which is fabulous, is from Sketches by Carly. This card came together so fast, it even surprised me. Now I'm off to get it entered in the challenge and get to work on another challenge card for which I have a 9 p.m. deadline tonight.

Oh and it's GREAT to be back having fun.

Tea Time and SMT 70

As Sassy Cheryl says, it's that time of the week again. It's Show Me Thursday and the chance for a free SC image, just for posting  a picture of what you've got going on in your life this week. I'm even posting this early enough in the challenge week for anyone reading this to participate. Just add your link to the Sassy Cheryl Blog.

A couple of years ago my walking buddy, decided to have a block party to meet her country neighbors. You see, she's only been married to her husband for 4 years, so she hasn't been out here that long and wanted to meet the neighbors. We laugh, because she got her DH to help her with the list. Needless to say that several folks got left off the original party list(including me, but I'm not holding that against her). Her DH remembered me when she wanted a walking buddy. We've had a good laugh over that. Well last year I got in on the tea party, by creating an invitation. We've had a good laugh over me doing the invitations, just so I know I'm invited. At any rate my SMT post this week is the Tea Party invitation.

This is a picture of the outside of the invitation with the cup tucked into the saucer to hold it closed.

This picture shows the cup out of the saucer.

And finally this picture is the inside of the invitation. The papers are from a digital kit from Shery K Designs called appropriately enough Tea Party. I used an idea from a free kit from Shery K Designs for the invitation itself.

Now I just need to get 150 thank you notes printed, and it's then it's back to crafting for fun for me. Thanks for stopping by.

Camp Taz SMT 69

Well, it's been a very busy week for me. This past week was the 8th annual spring Camp Taz. As many of you know, I have a group of  friends that I met online on the Weight Watchers site that come for a week each spring and fall. This year was one of the smallest groups, but it didn't stop us from having a fabulous time. We were able to kayak every day, so I thought I'd share the pics that were taken on the creek on our kayak runs. I'm going to caption the pictures for you.

This is a nutria, a  beaver like rodent that lives in the creek.

Obviously a turtle on a log. They usually jump off the log before you can get close enough to get a picture of them.

Canada Geese on a sandbar in the shallows

Geese in Flight. I think we made them mad.

Beaver dam

3 of nine deer that were standing in a field (see the white flag of the tail on the right) when we left to go kayaking on a long run.

Great White Egrets

Irises along the creek. I love these flowers.

The other three campers

These osprey are building a nest in a tree right across from our boat ramp and dock. If you look, you can see the stick in the talons of the bird in flight.

This pollen on the water. It looked like it had snowed.

A wisteria along the banks of the creek. It wasn't a deep purple this year like it usually it, but still beautiful

The four campers on our final morning, shortly after returning from our last kayaking trip for this camp with our lattes. Don't we look relaxed and happy? Time to get back to crafting.

 Hope you enjoyed the pictures. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed the week. Spending a week with 3 good friends, laughing and solving the problems of the universe or at least our small portion of it PRICELESS.

This blog is for the Sassy Cheryl Show Me Thursday Post. You should all  think about sharing a little bit of yourself and posting a link on her blog. You never know, you might just win a free image. Thanks for stopping by.