1, 2 ,3 Times Two at Phindy's Place

I went out to TM yesterday to straighten it up. I really did. However while I was going through all the stuff on my table, this image surfaced. The next thing I knew I was sitting and coloring it. Once that was done it just had to go on a card. I found the green plaid paper on my desk, left over from another card I'd done, and it just happened to match the green of the shirt, so I was off and running.

The image is from the Phindy's Place Store and is called Sweet Hugs. I've colored with Copics.

The green plaid paper is from a digital kit by Shery K Designs called Summer(just used some of the other papers on another card and this was left over). The blue paper is out of my scrapbox. My 3 embellishments are ribbon, metal flower and the metal friend plate.

And that's how there came to be a second entry in the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog this week. I still have a major cleaning to do in TM. Who knows, I might get sidetracked and there'll be a third card.

A Before and After SMT

It's that time again where just for showing what you have going on in your part of the universe, you're eligible for a chance for a Sassy Cheryl image. Just take a snapshot and post in on Sassy Cheryls Blog, and you're good to go. You also might want to take the time to check out the other entrants. You never know what inspiration you might receive.

In fact, this post is in honor of Tootsie who inspired me try my hand at bicycle makeovers. My DH would tear it down to the point that Tootsie did, but since end theme is camouflage, the rust that's still on the tires is okay.

Our grandson arrives this Saturday along with his parents to spend the summer. He starts kindergarten in August, so the days of being able to come on a whim(they live in Phoenix which is a long way from his Grandpa and me). His parents decided that since they can work from anywhere, they'd make use of our camphouse and come for the summer.

One of the things his Grandpa and I plan to do is teach him to ride a bike without training wheels, but a bike is a requirement. We were going to buy  one, but do you know they don't put fenders on bikes anymore? DH pointed out to me that without fenders riding through water puddles will get your back soaked(believe me if he sees water, he's going through it). We also know that he probably will only be able to use the bike for this summer as he's growing too fast, so what to do?

 We have a barn, that seems to be the catchall for anything that anyone on the hill(area around where we live and no hill at all) really should get rid of, but can't seem to part with. My DH found this bicycle in the barn. It belonged to a nephew who recently turned 40(see we don't throw anything away). The banana seat and the no bar are perfect for  being able to get on and off easily. So here's the before picture.

DH took the bike apart. and I went shopping for paint. It really needed to be sandblasted, but had to make do with emery cloth and sanding it as best I could. As many of you know, MM(MonkeyMoo) is all about two things, cowboys and camouflage. I sprayed the whole bike with a dark brown paint, and then cut out leaf patterns to use as stencils to create the camouflage. I also found some faux leather to recover the seat. So here's the after with a close up of the camouflage. Do you think it's going to meet with his approval?

Thanks again Tootsie!

1, 2, 3 Recipe at Phindy's Place

Wow, can you believe it's only Saturday, and I have a card to enter in this week's challenge on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog. It's a 1, 2, 3 Recipe Challenge, one image, two papers and three embellishments.

For this challenge I chose this image from the Phindy's Place Store called Love Cycle. I decided she was just out having fun. She's colored with Copics.

This is a variation of the sketch from Deconstructing Sketches. The papers are from a kit called Lipstick Jungle by Crazy 4 Monograms from Just So Scrappy 2. This card came together so quickly it amazed me.

Favorite Color Combination at Sassy Cheryls

That's the theme on the Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog this week. I have way to many favorite color combinations, but for today it's lime and purple. Most of my favorite combos are bright and colorful and happy. Who needs black and white, when life is all about color?

This adorable image is one of Sassy Cherly's newest and is called appropriately enough Sassy Sally's Funky Dance Routine. When I saw this, I immediately thought of my grandson MonkeyMoo, who loves to dance. And his dancing is all about funky.

 Be sure to check out the Sassy Cheryls store where there are several new images and even better, not one but TWO SALES. Yep, you read it right. Sassy Cheryl has two sales going on for Memorial Day weekend. There's a 30% off all Bargain Bin images and 15% off all remaining images. Now how many artists do you know that do sales. You might want to sign up for her newsletter at the store, so you'll know when the next sale is(and she has sales pretty frequently).

The papers for my lime and purple color combination are from the digital kit called Summer from Shery K Designs. By the way, she's great about sales too along with some great giveaways of SVG files. I don't think I can tell you enough how much I love digital papers. For each set I print out the preview page and have them all filed in a notebook. Believe me, I can find color combinations and coordinating papers a whole lot faster.

It's Time for Summer at Phindy's Place

This week on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog the theme is Summer is Coming. I was terribly afraid that a project I have been working on was going to keep me from getting  a card in the challenge.Thankfully I finished the project last night, so I had a good portion of the day today to get my card made.

Phindy just added a new image to the Phindy's Place Store called Bathing Beauty, and she was perfect for a Summer card. After all isn't a trip to the beach a favorite vacation? Doesn't she remind you of  a girl from the fifties or sixties, when two piece suits left more to the imagination, instead of exposing every flaw?

The papers are from the Aloha Kit from Just So Scrappy 2, and the wave borders and frame along with the sentiment are from the Silhouette store. The sketch is from this week's CAS Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by.

My Own Challenge and SMT76

Well it's that time of the week again. You know when I mean, The time where you show Sassy Cheryl on the Sassy Cheryl Blog what you've got going on in your life for a chance at a free Sassy Cheryl's image. It doesn't get any easier than this. Hey if all you're doing is lying around eating bonbons, it qualifies.

Some of you know that I've been a Weight Watcher since 2003 and a Weight Watcher leader for about the 8 years. Well next Thursday is my last day of employment, as I've tendered my resignation. There are many reasons for giving up the job. Let me just say, that I'm ready to be fully retired and being able to set my own schedule.

At any rate, I'm very attached to the members in the two classes I lead, and I decided to that I wanted to do something for them as a parting gift. Motivation is the hardest part of doing the Program. Several weeks ago I assigned my members to give me a quote that keeps them motivated. I've taken those quotes, used my MTC software and my Black Cat to print and cut the quotes out as well as open topped envelopes to insert the quote cards into. So here are pictures of the process starting with the envelopes. I still need to design a folding box to put the finished sets of quotes into.

Starting the process with cutting out the envelopes

775 envelopes folded and glued

The cut and print of the quotes

25 sets of 33 quotes

 

 

 

775 envelopes stuffed with quotes

Don't Be Square

Or at least don't be square with your card this week at the Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog. First off I want you all to note that this is just Thursday and the Challenge started Tuesday. I'm on the front end instead of dragging up the rear. I think it has more to do with needing to get this done, so I can concentrate on the 900+ envelopes and quote cards I have to make, than just being ahead of the game.

Since I rarely do a square card because it isn't the preferred size for OWH, the not square part wasn't so hard. However, Sketch Saturday had this great sketch using trapezoid shapes, and I knew it would be perfect for this challenge.

The image is the adorable and ever so cute Avery and is called Sweet Little Avery. You've got to admit she does look like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. She's one of the twins over at the Sassy Cheryl Digi Store. Avery is the GG or  girly girl while her sister Samantha, aka Sam, is the tomboy.

The papers are from the scrap box or the scraps on the top of my work table. I do know that at least one was from Just So Scrappy 2's kit Fresh Squeezed Lemonade.

Now that I've got that done, I guess I better go do some cleaning up in TM so I can focus on those envelopes and quotes. I'm thinking you'll probably be seeing them on my SMT post before the week is over.

Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas in May

No, I haven't lost my mind. That's the challenge this week on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog. I have to admit with having had a mild winter, a really early spring, and an even earlier summer, it could be Christmas in July here by the temps so the challenge works for me.

For this challenge I used this adorable image from the Phindy's Place Store called It's All Downhill From Here. I've colored her with Copics. This is one of Phindy's Winter Cuties images. I can't say I have a favorite, because I love them all.

The papers I used are from a digital kit from Shery K Designs called Winter. I thought the mitten banner paper was a perfect companion to our snow suited and mittened (so I make up words) little cutie.

Thanks for stopping by.

OMMMMMMMM SMT

Well time is fast running out if I want an entry in this week's SMT on Sassy Cheryls Blog. The bad thing is that I've had the pictures since Saturday, but just didn't get her to create my post.

This past weekend we had a Yoga Retreat at the Camp House. I started doing Yoga back in October, and I have to say that I love it. Our yoga instructor has been wonderful, and sadly she's quitting at the studio where I go for my class. At any rate we planned a yoga retreat for last weekend. It was supposed to be 6 of us for Friday through Sunday. It turned out to be Friday and Saturday with just 4, but we still had a great time.

The yoga instructor is in her 30's, so very young. The other two ladies are closer to me in age. I'll just say in their 50s and leave it at that. Friday night we talked until the wee hours of Saturday morning. On Saturday, I took them kayaking. It was the first time for Sylvia and Becky, but not for Kate, the instructor. Doesn't it look like they're doing synchronized paddling?

The water hyacinths are in full bloom. They're beautiful flowers, but they're parasites and completely take over, not to mention being impossible to paddle through.

We finished off Saturday afternoon with a great yoga session. Can I just say Ommmmmm and Namaste!

A Stitch in Time or Stitches in Time?

It's funny that "A Stitch In Time" is the theme this week over on the Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog, because I actually have a business called Stitches In Time for my heirloom sewing. Sassy Judy set the challenge, and I know it's because ever since she got that Janome, she just can't stay away from it.

For the challenge this week I decided to use this image from the Sassy Cheryl's Digi Store called "Samantha Cops an Attitude". Sam is the tomboy twin to Avery whose all girl. This sentiment was in a package I bought from Walmart and was attached to a journal box. I just cut it off and deemed it perfect for her expression.

Now as many of you know, last week Just So Scrappy 2 had a humongous sale on digital kits, and I went wild. The papers for this creation are from the Fresh Squeezed Lemonade kit from Just So Scrappy 2. I sort of cheated and snipped strips of different papers, copied and pasted them side by side in WORD, so that I wasn't really piecing strips of paper. I did go all out(pushed a button on my sewing machine) and feather stitched the "strips" together. I then straight stitched the pieced piece to the card base, which necessitated me decorating the inside of the card to hide the stitching.

I used a Martha Stewart Daisy Edge punch and then used a sewing trick to zigzag a casing over the ribbon(this is a great trick for putting 1/4' elastic in the sleeves or legs of children's clothes without bulking them up with bias tape plus being able to adjust the tightness of the elastic).

Now I really have to go clean the camp house for my yoga retreat this weekend. You can see where my priorities are. I had to get this done, so as not to be stressed on Sunday afternoon.

Vintage Phindy

This week's challenge over on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog was to create a vintage project. I have to say that I can find vintage very hard to do. Thank to Lou, for some inspiration from her blog this week, and sending me in the right direction.

I have to say that the image reminded me of a Phindy DT member and  online crafting buddy, Cec, whose babysitting both of her grandchildren for 9 days. The image is called Weary Ones and can be found in the Phindy's Place Store.

The papers are digital and from a kit called Counting Sheep by Carrie Stephens from Fishscraps. The kit even included the sentiment that was perfect. The lace is a piece of antique lace in my lace box. The flowers are actually crocheted onto the lace. If it had been any longer piece, I would have saved it for a little girl's dress.

Thanks for stopping by. I love hearing from you.

Bring On Spring Flowers

Unfortunately for us, we had our spring flower back in early March. We've moved over to summer. However, this week on the Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog, Sassy Jenny has set the challenge for May Flowers. It follows really well from last week's April Showers theme.

For this card, I used this delightful image from Sassy Cheryl, that was a freebie for 500 members on the PCP group. I've colored him with Copics to match the colors in the papers.

For this card I used my Make the Cut software and the texture feature to create the card shapes and then fill them with the papers from a digital kit from Just So Scrappy 2 called Denim and Daisies. The really cool thing about this print and cut is there's no leftover scraps of anything but white cardstock. Sure made cutting all the parts easier and I only had two sheets of paper instead of one for each patterned paper.

Off to get it entered in the challenge before time runs out.  I'm back to my old ways.LOL Thanks for stopping by.

Showing Charles Prowell Glenn

I was wondering what I would be showing for this week's SMT #74 challenge on the Sassy Cheryls Blog, when my niece came through for me. She was expecting our next great nephew whose being named for my DH, a very special blessing for DH and myself since their whole family picked the name. We saw her Monday night, and she'd been to the Doctor that day. He'd assured her that the baby wasn't coming soon. Well low and behold, Charles Prowell Glenn decided he was ready to meet his parents and his big brothers, and arrived Wednesday morning at 9:06 a.m.(they got to the hospital a little before 7 a.m.). Being early is nothing like his Great Uncle Charles. So here is a picture of Charles Prowell Glenn meeting his namesake and Great Uncle Charles McDowell Swoope.

My niece and her husband already have 4 boys so this rounds out their basketball team. Their oldest will be 22 in June, the next will be 19 in July, the third will be 16 this month, and the fourth and the once was little brother will be 14 in August. They told the boys what the sex of the baby was in a Christmas present. Each boy opened a box that had a blue golf shirt and a button that said "I am the Big Brother." Yesterday the three boys that were local donned their shirts and buttons and hung out at the hospital. The 4th brother goes to college out of state.

Here is a delightful picture of Charles Prowell Glenn in his I'm the Little Brother onesie.

This is a pic of baby with Mom. Doesn't she look fabulous even without makeup?

Here's a pic of me with Charles. Since only one grandmother lives in town, I'm counting on getting my fair share of babysitting time in with him.

Finally here's a close up of Charles Prowell Glenn. He's already a good baby, because it had been 5 hours since his last feeding when these pictures were made.

I'm way ahead of the game with my this week's SMT post, but I couldn't wait to show him off.

Clean and Simple, But Not So Easy

You would think that Clean and Simple would also mean easy, but unfortunately for me, that is SO NOT true. So why do a CAS card, you ask? Because it's the challenge this week on the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog, that's why.

I went to my scrap box and found the purple polka dot papers. I didn't have enough of the darker to use as a shadow for the image, so decided to just accent the corners. The image is called Spring Bonnet, and I had to color the bonnet green in honor of Phindy's granddaughter who has a big bonnet made out of a green John Deere print. She was one of last year's Summer Cuties, and she along with several of her friends can be found at the Phindy's Place Store.

The sentiment is an acrylic stamp that I'm sure I purchased in the dollar bin at Michaels. It seemed appropriate with her peeking out from behind that sun bonnet.

Thanks for stopping by. I have lots to get done, including straightening up the mess I have going in Tazmania.

SMT 73

Well I got so involved in a book, that I almost forgot to do my post for the Sassy Cheryl Blog SMT challenge.  How can you not participate in a challenge that doesn't require that you make anything and be entered for a free image from the Sassy Cheryl Store. Now you might be too  late to make it for SMT73, but SMT 74 will crank up first thing in the morning.

I actually took this series of pictures last week when I was working on my Sassy Cheryls Challenge Blog card. This series of pictures is a pretty good indication of the creative process for me.

Things started out looking pretty neat Not that cup of latte that I need for energy.

Little messy with the base of the card finished.

And then I drag out the Copics and it's all downhill from there.

And this is neat to what it usually looks like at card completion. I would have taken a picture of how it looks when I'm working on a set of cards, but I'm not sure some of your hearts could have taken it.