I'm a fulltime ladybug!

Hey everyone! I got some exciting news last night, Kerry from the fabulous Ladybug Crafts asked me if I would stay on as a permanent team member and it took me only seconds to write her back with a huge yes! I am so pleased they consider me "ladybug worthy" and hope I can live up to their standards. Be sure to check out the challenge this week, it is handmade flowers and there is a free stamp up for grabs plus the chance to get a banner for your blog. Why are you still reading this? Git on over to your stamping table and make some flowers!

Handmade flower day at ladybug crafts

Well everyone, today is my last day as the March guest dt member for ladybug crafts and I have to say they have been wonderful! Kerry and Lisa, thanks so much for holding my hand and helping me out this past month, your comments (and nagging Kerry!) have made this a great experience for me and I truly appreciate it! I was able to pick this weeks challenge and since I love to see all the handmade flowers out there, this is the theme I chose. My flowers started out as white single hydrangea petals that I glimmer misted with star fish and then hot glued together, scrunching them up as I went. I added some stickles to some of the edges and voila! some pretty flowers for on my card.

Now it is your turn to show us whatcha got! Get busy making those flowers for your chance to win a ladybug stamp or be chosen as one of the top three and get to put a ladybug banner on your blog. Remember, you can use a stamp from any company as long as you follow the challenge. 

A belated birthday card

Happy Thursday fellow cardmakers! This is a belated birthday card I had to whip up tonite for a friend at work. I get a little newsletter every month telling me of the upcoming birthdays but for some reason, Lacie's name wasn't on it. I saw this saying on a card the other day by Diana Gibbs. I don't remember what the inside said but mine says "I didn't know you had a birthday this month!" I thought that was just darn funny! Very simple card so I could get it done. The image is by http://www.squigglefly.com/, it is a digi so instant gratification and the paper is Modern Homemaker by October Afternoon, ribbon from my stash. This is about as simple as I get cause I'm thinking it needs something in the upper corners, but frankly I am too tired to dwell on it right now. Enjoy your evening and upcoming weekend!

What a life!

Just a quick little post to show you what livin the good life is like around my home. This is Lucy sunning herself on the porch over the weekend. She only looks fat in this picture because of the way she is laying, trust me, she runs like a maniac a good portion of the day so she cannot possibly be fat! Oh, to come back as a spoiled housecat in my next life...

A monochromatic ladybug challenge

Well, today I am trying to see if I can set up my post to post at a certain time so I don't forget again like I did last week. But just in case there is a sticky note on my computer reminding me! Our challenge this week was a monochromatic card and I have to say I have never done this before but it wasn't nearly as complicated as I thought it would be. Sort of figured Ruby the fairy would look like she rolled in the mud but I think it came out alright. Luckily these clear stamps are some of the best I have ever worked with and the detail when you stamp with them is great so even a little mud might have been okay. Really, I hate clear stamps that smear or miss spots but I have never had that problem with the ladybug stamps. The worst part of the card is I missed a spot on my flower when I glimmermisted it. But you don't see that, even though I told ya! And now you are gonna look for it I bet!

I'm sorry but I don't remember who the paper is by but the butterfly is a MS punch that I glittered the heck out of. There is a bit of crocheted lace at the bottom, some viva decor pearls on the saying and a MFT die for the background of the image. Not too shabby if I do say so myself... Ok, now it is your turn to hop on over to http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ and enter for your chance to win a free stamp. Good luck!

C"mon Spring!!!

Happy Saturday guys! I have to work this weekend but it was so nice out that I guess patients didn't want seen today cause we are slow so that gave me time to make up a card. Lucky me! This is a cc designs image and the paper is by kaisercraft called La di da (I think that is correct). Wish I could capture the glimmer better but all of the flowers on the background paper have glitter on them. The lace border is a new punch I just bought by ek success, very pretty although the purple is sort of blending in a bit. Are we ever happy with our projects? I did some faux stitching around the card. My new Janome sew mini should be here the beginning of the week and I am very excited and also crossing my fingers that it works well. I love the look of stitching on cards so hopefully this will be my answer.

I am entering this into http://atsblog.typepad.com/wednesdayschallenge/ and http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/. They are both birthday card challenges so I am good to go. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and Elaine, hope you had a great time at the show!

Stamping Bella time!

Well, I had the entire day off today and this is the only card I managed to get done. Now granted I did other stuff, you know cleaning, paperwork etc but I really had planned to be busy in my craft area. Didn't happen but I did clean up my counter this evening so maybe tomorrow since I have a nice clean area to work with. This is Mavis from Stamping Bella, isn't she adorable? And the paper is a new stack from Susan Winget. Half of the papers I probably won't use so I gave them away but the purples and the flowers in this sheet is gorgeous. I am not sure if you can tell but the baubles I used in each corner are faceted and change color a bit as you move the card. I found these in the fabric paint section at Joanns and grabbed several colors. They are very intense and I will probably have to do some hoarding. So what else is new! Oh, I used viva decor pearl pens to color in the flower in her hair and that she is holding cause I just couldn't find one in my stash that worked. Not wild about the one in her hair but once the pearl pen dries, that is it.

I'm late late late!

Good Evening everyone! First I have to apologize, I totally forgot to post my ladybug crafts challenge card for this week. Too many things on the brain I guess! This weeks challenge is a white on white card, only color allowed for the main image. I have never made one before but they always look so elegant and I believe I will probably do this again. My main image is Robyn and I have used a white shimmery cardstock called Pearls by coredinations to add a little contrast. I also cut out some flourishes with a spellbinders die and my slice machine then added some viva decor pearls on each corner. Her umbrealla is paper pieced and I added glossy accents to the raindrops and the puddle. Whew, all that work and I forgot to post. Thanks Kerry for the reminder! Please hop on over to http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/totally-ladybug-tuesday-challenge-19.html to enter to win a free stamp and remember you can use any image now so what are you waiting for?

Paper Sundaes Challenge

Well, Monday again but at least we had a nice sunny day here, hopefully you did also wherever you may be. Isn't amazing that someone in an entirely different country can be reading this and relating to my post? Still just boggles my mind. Ok, enough babbling. This is a pure innocence image I got from etsy and it reminded me that spring is trying to make an appearance and the challenge at Paper Sundaes this week is to keep it simple so ta da! This is about as simple as I get and let me tell you I was really wanting to do something more. I did do some stitching around the edges but am not pleased with how my big sewing maching is sewing on paper and because it is so big and heavy I bought a Singer Pixie. I will tell you right now, it is a piece of junk and going back in the morning. I use to quilt and wasn't expecting anything fancy but I know enough to know a piece of junk when I see one. I ordered a Janome sew mini after seeing it previewed on Gina K and it seems to be a much better quality so hopefully that was the better choice. I will let you know when it arrives.

Ok, supper is just about ready so I will sign off. Thanks everyone for caring enough while I wasn't feeling well to send me well wishes. Just tired today but definately on the upswing!

kraftin kimmie thread challenge

TGIF everyone! I have this darn head cold so didn't think I would get a chance to do my kraftin kimmie for the week but love to participate in her challenges and really wanted to use my idea for this particular challenge. This week we are to use string or twine and I chose twine and this particular image called Natalie the knitter. You can buy all of the kraftin kimmie stamps at http://www.kraftinkimmiestamps.com.  I wanted to be able to wrap the twine around the spool to make it look like she was knitting with it. The paper is Cosmo Cricket "Material girl" and the roses are from recollections. The background brown layer is has a bit of a sheen to it and I thought it would work well with the off white in the papers. I was going to stitch on it also but since I am getting down to the wire I decided to forego that.

Short and sweet so I can rest a bit tonite and hopefully get busy again tomorrow. Enjoy your weekend everyone!

LOTV for 2 challenges

Happy Hump Day everyone! (that includes you Elaine). Another rainy dreary day here but we are half way thru the work week so that is reason enough to celebrate! I am having an exceptionally good week but can't fill you in on my secret until later plus several items I ordered have come in the mail and it is so much fun to open the packages and see all the new goodies. This is some of tha paper I recently bought and I believe it is called tickled pink. If you want to know exactly leave me a comment and I will go and scrounge it up. My craft room is a bit of a mess right now but it is there somewhere! I used one of the lotv stamps I have (love em!) and followed the sketch for the lili of the valley challenge this week so I am entering my card there and also into the Bearly Mine challenge which was to make a birthday card. Easy huh? I used some glossy accents on the icing and some viva decor pearl pen to line the edge of the large partial circle layer and I believe the flowers are from the wedding section at Michaels.

Ok guys, time to make my morning cup of tea and then I am off to see my patients! Have a great day and be safe everyone!

Totally Tuesday ladybug challenge

Good Morning everyone! Another rainy overcast day in Pennsylvania but spring is coming! I saw daffodils poking their leaves up the other day and this weekend we get to set the clocks ahead so a little extra daylight will be very welcome. This week at the totally tuesday ladybug challenge is all about spring. I have to admit, I am layout challenged and normally use a sketch for every card I make but I hated to cover up the paper on this card and not having a sketch really thru me for a loop. I was putting on ribbon and taking it off then trying different sized flowers, moving them around. Just couldn't get happy with this card so I put on some bling and called it a day. Bling makes everything better right!

So now it is your turn to think spring and head on over to http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ and place your entry with a spring theme. And guess what? Now you can use any image to win the great prize of a free ladybug stamp! So play along and start building your collection up!

Krazy for Kraftin Kimmie!

Well, made a couple of kraftin kimmie cards today for a few different challenges. I just love her images, they are so whimsical and different from anthing else out there. My first card is for the kraftin kimmie challenge which is to use scallops. I used my MFT large scallop to make a double layer of scallops out of iridescent cardstock then added some lace and some paper from the new Stella and Rose paper pads. I added some glossy accents to the teapot and her cup and saucer to make it shiny and pop a little bit. Her cheeks look a little flushed in this photo, perhaps there is a little bit more than just tea in the little kettle!  This is going to a new friend of mine who isn't feeling well, hope it brightens her day.

This is my second card for today, also a kraftin kimmie image but this is for the Simon Says Stamp challenge which is a recipe and for the ABC Challenge which is to use pink and...I could win more kraftin kimmie stamps! I don't have any from the new release so am crossing my fingers! This is an old paper pad I got on clearance at Michaels, some metallic pink dots from www.ladybugcraftsink.blogspot.com and a pink polka dot rose I have been hoarding for awhile now. I have to say I am getting better at using some of my supplies as I get a little more confidant with my cardmaking. I hated to use up beautiful paper and embellishments and then hate the layout or the coloring on the image. Oh, and while we are at it, does anyone else hate double sided paper that is beautiful on both sides so then you hate to use it and cover up the pretty paper. Make it ugly on one side I say so I don't mind hiding it!

My parents anniversary card

Post number two today, if you are looking for my ladybug crafts post please just scroll down a bit. This card uses a mo manning image called Jack and Ginger and is for my parents anniversary. I am sure they will enjoy it but my mom may not be very happy about the fact they have gray hair as my parents aren't gray yet. But I thought it was a beautiful image so I used it anyways. The paper is from a new prima pad and the hydrangeas are also prima with viva decor pearl pen in the center and the lace and pearls are from Recollections at Michaels. Hope you all have a great day, time to start supper for me!

My first week at the lovely ladybugs!

Happy Tuesday everyone! I am especially excited cause first, I am off tomorrow (thank heavens!) and today begins my March guest dt member for ladybug crafts. This weeks challenge is to incorporate stitching into your card. I have always loved to see that on peoples cards, makes them look so nice and finished but have been too busy, err lazy actually, to haul out my machine and do it. Well, todays card has both real and faux stitching cause when I did pull out the machine to use it I don't like how it looks. Maybe it is the thread I used as it was quite fine, just need to fiddle more me thinks. So since I didn't like the look of it on the blue panels I did some faux stitching on the white panel with a copic multi liner and used my ruler to make sure the dashes were even.  I attempted to make one of the new ruffled roses using my scor pal but I didn't notice the edges weren't even where I glued them together and the angle I took the photo at makes it look twice as bad, it really isn't that wonky irl.  Ok guys, make sure you head on over to  http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ for the chance to win some new stamps. And they just had a blog hop so check out the sale on the new releases too!