Tuesday, May 31, 2011

How about some handmade embellishments?

Good Morning everyone! Time for Totally Ladybug Tuesday challenges again and this week it is all about handmade embellishments chosen by the fabulous Anita. I have to say that normally this would be one I love but I have been a little under the weather for the past few days plus working so I struggled a bit so forgive me cause I only managed to put one handmade item on it.
The little yellow resin flower in the corner is all I was able to come up with unless you count my stamped tag that I rubbed with some viva decor inka gold paint. This is birthday Robyn and she is sitting inside a beautiful new nestie I got from Patty for my birthday. Now it is your turn to show us what you can make and for you to win a free stamp or get chosen for the top 3 and the opportunity to post a new banner on your blog.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Vintage/shabby chic by Tickled Pink

Yeah, poet and don't know it, NOT! I have a horrible time coming up with titles for my posts, sorry! Todays challenge for Paper Sundaes is Vintage/shabby chic and our sponsor is Tickled Pink designs. I have several of their images, they are so much fun to color and some of them were absolutely perfect for this challenge.


Now, this is not really my style but I am very pleased with how the card came out. I even used one of the stick pins that Elaine sent me for my birthday, perfect timing! I added a few more beads onto it, some WOC flowers and the paper is Kaisercraft. The corner is part of a doily I distressed and folded over then I added a few liquid pearls around to finish it off. Oh, and some beautiful lace for the final touch and a little walnut distress ink to most of the edges. Happy Memorial Day everyone in case I don't post tomorrow!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Beach Baby!

TGIF everybody! Of course I am working this weekend but still it is suppose to be sunny out so I ain't complaining (too much!). This card is for a friend for her birthday and is a CC Designs stamp which you can buy at 7 kids college fund which is the challenge I am entering her into. The challenge this week is a sketch and Beach theme. Now I have to say the red scallop edge was suppose to be on top but out of habit (and tiredness) I put it on the bottom. I added some plastic glittery flowers and a pair of sunglasses to complete the "beach theme". Paper is Basic Grey "Hello Luscious".

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Pattin' myself on the back

Hey guys, first of all Happy Friday, enjoy your long weekend and lets all remember to thank our vets not only this weekend but throughout the rest of the year. I just wanted to give myself a little pat on the back as I was chosen as a featured card at Tiddly Inks this week! Woo Hoo! Christy has the cutest images, her new Lilli Claire is one of the most adorable digi images I have seen in a long time, go check her out!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Its TLT challenge time again!

Happy Tuesday everyone, almost to hump day! Todays challenge at TLT is to use an animal on your card. I hadn't colored up Buttercup from Ladybug Crafts yet so that was my choice for today.

Paper is by K and Company from this past spring collection, ribbon from Stamp Simply ribbon (love the grab bags, they are awesome!) and sentiment from lotv which was a gift from my buddy Elaine. I love this big striped ribbon but it is hiding a bit of buttercups tail but I think the bow is worth it. Alright everyone, it is your turn to show us what you've got. You have the chance to win a free stamp of your choice and believe me, Kerry has a ton of images to select from.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Just a few garden pics

Good evening everyone! My blog post today is a little different. Joe and I have been working on making a couple of raised (you'll see!) vegetable beds and I thought I would post them. Also a couple of pics around the house just for the heck of it. This first picture is shot from the side yard looking into the back. Our soil is really bad with lots of tree roots, you can see the branches and part of the stump leftover from cutting down the maple tree so we would have room for the beds. We are going to trim the ends of the 4x4 post off level and trim the taller ones a bit shorter, the tall ones are to attach trellising too.
Please ignore my husbands clothing choices, he really doesn't care what he wears when working. This next picture is of the roots we are working around which is one of the reasons the beds are raised.
The next two pictures are the inside of the bed. It is a 4x8 foot bed with 2x4 joists like a deck on the bottom. Then plastic lattice and next will be some landscape fabric to keep the soil from falling out the bottom.



This picture is just of one of my blooming azaleas. Nothing spectacular but they are awful pretty right now when we can all use a pop of color after the winter. I have probably a dozen azaleas in bloom right now.

This is my front yard with the columbine blooming out of control. Unfortunately one of my shutters got blown off and destroyed a week or so ago with a big windstorm so new shutters are now in the carport just waiting to be hung. Still green though but I think I will repaint the front door, just not happy with the dark red. Reminds me of a xmas house!

And this is my driveway bed. This was all overgrown rhododendrons and full of lava rock when we moved in. Joe and I yanked them all out and moved most of the lava rock then I laid all of the stonework and filled the beds. These are a few more of my azaleas and need to transplant some hostas into the top bed plus some new mulch this spring.

Posted by PicasaWell, that is it for this post. Just something a little different. I always enjoy seeing into others homes, it makes you feel more connected than just seeing cards all the time. Check back tomorrow for my Ladybugs TLT card!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Happy Birthday Jen!

If you are here for my Paper Sundaes post (and I hope you are!) please scroll down a smidgen. Thanks!

My second post today is my sister's birthday card. I am a couple of days late but I just couldn't decide what image to use. I must have pulled out a dozen and just couldn't make up my mind. I had bought several of these puddle jumper images and hadn't colored one up yet so figured she was just adorable and so there ya have it.

Colored with copics, WOC flowers and paper is by Echo Park and is called Summer Days. I used a MS punch along the side of the image and the purple cardstock has a nice shimmer to it.  Need to fix that darn ribbon as I see it has started to droop a bit. Hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday and will see you on Tuesday with TLT!

My first week at Paper Sundaes!

Happy Sunday everyone! Yesterday was just a beautiful day here in Pennsylvania and I spent a good portion of the day working in the yard. The next few days are calling for rain (again!) so I'm glad I got to fuss a bit while I could.

Our challenge this week at Paper Sundaes is to "pop up" your card. Our sponsor is Michelle's Scrapbooking and I will tell you I order from Michelle's frequently. Not only are her prices great but she is a wonderful person and her service is second to none. She is usually my first choice of places to get my stash from so I am pleased to have her as one of our sponsors. My card for this weeks challenge is a Tina Wenke stamp and I popped up some of the flowers and the leaves although it is difficult to see in this picture, but trust me I fussy cut those things out but they really do look lovely. I should have taken a picture from the side but since this card is in the mail that ain't gonna happen!

A little lace and some Viva Decor pearls in the corners and a bunch of stickles (I should own stock!) and I have to say I am really pleased with how this card came out. Ok everyone, time to get popping and show us your talent!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Tiddly Inks Challenge

Just a quick post this morning as I am running a little behind and I hate to start the day off late. I just got a few of these images from Tiddly Inks and I have to say they are just too stinkin cute! This is Lilli Claire and I made this up last night for a friend at work who is having a birthday today (Diane!).



Colored with copics, Echo Park paper, postage stamp by Whimsey and flower die by MFT. Pretty darn expensive card if you look at it that way! I added stickles to the center of the flower, spica pens to her hairbows and the package ribbon, iridescent medium to the postage stamp and glossy accents to her shoes. Whew!  I am entering her into the Tiddly Inks challenge which is a photo inspiration and Simon Says Stamp which is sparkle and bling. Gotta run!


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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

LCI Tuesday challenge

Hello everyone! Time again for the Totally Ladybugs Tuesday challenge and our challenge this week was chosen by Gaelle, use orange on your card. Well, orange is not my favorite color but I don't dislike it either so this card came together pretty easily. Jack  is one of my favorite characters from the line and I always enjoy coloring him up.

This is a clearance pack of paper I got from Michaels a couple of years ago and I have to say I have used a good portion of it. Some buttons in the corner since I just don't think flowers would work well here and some layers with dark matting and we are good to go. Okay, it is your turn now so let's see you show us some orange!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Happy Birthday Christine!

This is my second post for today and if you read my earlier one, yes I took a nap. Ok, I just found out that Christine, the team leader of Paper Sundaes, just celebrated her 40th birthday (been there already myself!). And because it is a special birthday her best friend Shana is holding a birthday card round up with a couple of chances to win some prizes. Please hop over to Shanas blog and enter your name if you are able to send her a card for Christine but they must be mailed by May 21st.

You can also enter your card this week over at the Paper Sundaes challenge which is a birthday theme this week sponsored by Simon Says Stamp who is generously offering a $15 gift card to the winner. Good luck!

This is for Elaine

Happy way too early Sunday everyone! Woke up at 4:45 am to feed Sinbad, then our electricity went out, twice, which means the printer comes off and on (very noisy), the alarm clocks are blinking and now I am wide awake. I am usually up early anyways but I prefer it be on my terms! Since I couldn't go back to sleep I did some paperwork and finished off this card I have been working on. I have to say it was a bit difficult for me, way out of my comfort zone because the challenge is vintage or distressing. Neither one of which is my forte.

The image is by Sugar Nellie and her name is Fabulous Darling. She cunningly jumped into a package I received from my buddy Elaine, who is one of the Sugar Nellie Sweeties and since I didn't want her to feel neglected since she traveled so far, I colored her up. Paper is Curio by Basic Grey, MFT doily die on top and a paper flower I inked up with some distress ink, crumpled and layered with a pearl flower in the center. A little bling in the corners and I am ready to go. So Elaine, I know she isn't as good as yours but I hope you like it. PS do you see where I placed the flower? near the ankle ha ha ha
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Friday, May 13, 2011

Woo Hoo! I'm a Sundae girl!

Well I have to say this is just about as good as a week gets. Not only is it Friday but I had (secretly) applied for a dt position on the Paper Sundaes challenge blog and found out a couple of days ago I was accepted! I didn't want to post it on my blog that I had applied but it sure is nice to say I was picked! Please make sure to check them out, they have awesome sponsors, you can use any stamp image and the other girls work is AMAZING! Here is the link http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/  Can't wait to get started!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

3 Challenges in 1 !!!

Happy Tuesday everyone! Someday I am gonna be clever and think of a different way to start my post but today ain't that day! To see my Ladybug Crafts Ink challenge please scroll down. Todays card is for 3 challenges, and yes, I remember which ones thank heavens! That would be because I printed out the sketch and then wrote the others on the page. Sometimes the brain works, sometimes not so much. This is a pergamano fairy which I looovvvee and was given to me by another person I love, my buddy Elaine. Colored with copics, stickles on her wings and new My Minds Eye papers. Ribbon from the Stamp Simply Ribbon store and a MS punch. I only added a single cherry blossom to the center of my bow because I felt more than that would be too busy.


I am entering this into the following challenges:

Paper Sundaes: use a magical or mythical image
Wild Orchid Crafts: sketch
Colour Create: colors of aqua, green, purple and white
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Black, white and ....

Morning everybody! Still having beautiful weather here and I am loving it! Now ask me in another month or two when it is 90 degrees and I may not be so cheerful but for now it is great. Todays card is for the weekly Ladybugs Crafts challenge and it is to use black, white and one other color. I thought it would be difficult but other than picking out the embellishments which always seems to take me forever it went pretty well.
My image is called Original Nikki and you can purchase her at Ladybug Crafts or you can also win her by participating in the challenge this week. Paper is from my stash and the roses are by WOC and handmade felt roses. By the way, if you want some luscious felt you should check out what Kerry has in the store, I got some a few weeks ago and I can tell you it is divine. There is no comparison between good quality felt and cheapy stuff from the craft store. Alright, off you go to make your cards!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Monday everyone! Is that an oxymoron or what! Just a quickie post this morning before I head out to work and luckily the sun is finally shining! That just makes the whole day seem better doesn't it? Anyways, this is the birthday card I made up for my dad. Not a lot for embellishments since he doesn't care and I am mailing it. The paper is by October Afternoon, the digi by dudetimedoodles and the sentiment generated on the computer to fit in the nestie die. I added a little bakers twine and some brads to the corners and voila! Enjoy your week and don't forget to stop back tomorrow for my latest Ladybug Crafts card and a new challenge!

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Saturday, May 7, 2011

Mothers Day cards

Happy Saturday everyone and Happy Mothers Day for all of you out there even though it is a day early. My "cat's" were nice enough to have bought me a hanging basket for mothers day so even though I only have fur babies I am still a mom. So thank you Sinbad (who just threw up a hairball as I am typing this) and Lucy.

Ok, onto my cards for today. These are the same stamp, same layout just different papers. One is for my mom and one is for my mother in law. The image is by lotv, colored with copics and flowers from wild orchid crafts and some prima roses.


The sentiment is a gift from my buddy Elaine. She does spoil me I'll tell you. Even sent me one of those darn sugar nellie stamps. We joke around that the stamps she likes have cankles and mine have bug eyes. Guess you can't please everyone! Well, now it is time for me to make a birthday card for my dad. Ugh, I hate making masculine cards but luckily he loves a funny one and I have a great image picked out so we shall see. I might need to go outside and spit to get myself in the right frame of mind. Why exactly do men spit all the time? Pretty much all the guys I know do it but none of my friends do. I have yet to see a women turn her head and spit on the ground. Must have extra spit production from their nether parts is all I can come up with. And with that lovely thought in your head enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Emerald Faerie image

My card today is one of the new Emerald Faerie images and this is the first week of the challenges and it is anything goes. I used some floral paper in the background, a few flowers in the corner and a MS punched butterfly I glittered up. A little lace edging and a purple bow and we are done. I really need to work on the placement of my flowers, might need to put one in the left bottom corner to balance it out a bit.

I also wanted to share a neat way I came up with to store my paper flowers. I was lying in bed the other night and you know how your mind wanders. Well, I was trying to think of a better way to organize them cause right now the way I have them it is awkward to get to them and difficult to see what I have. I remembered Michaels has these plastic photo storage boxes. It is a case that holds 12  4x6 x1.25 inch photo storage boxes inside of a larger case and I thought those would be perfect to put my flowers in. So I picked one up today and sorted all my smaller flowers and this is what I came up with.



I am pretty happy with it. It is on sale this week and I believe it was about $25 but it is holding almost all of the flowers I have. They are easy to get to, easy to see what I have and what I need. Doesn't take much to make me happy sometimes. My husband might disagree but what does he know?! Let me know what you think.
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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Going Dotty at LCI!

Happy Tuesday everyone! I love Tuesdays cause I am often off on Wednesdays because of the way my work schedule goes. And besides that, it is time for a new challenge at Ladybug Crafts! This week the challenge is to use dots and I LOVE polka dots! I don't know why but the darn things really appeal to me.

I have used Presents Nikki with some bright polka dot and striped papers. I know these are part of a collection but they were some samples I ordered and I don't know who they are by. Sorry cause I would love to get more of them, love the colors in them. The ribbon is more polka dots from Michaels and I think that about sums it up! Make sure you "fly" on over to the ladybugs challenge page and enter . You could win a free stamp and now the rules allow you to use any image...as long as you show us your dots!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Love my card but...

Happy Sunday evening everyone! My husband made it back from camp so I have my lovely Canon Rebel back in my grubby little hands to take a picture of the card I made a few days ago.

This image is from The Greeting Farm from the last release and she is just too cute! Unfortunately since I made this card a few days ago and it has been sitting on my desk, I can't remember what challenge she is for! Oh well, she is going to a friend tomorrow and if I remember hopefully I will get her entered in time.