A Happy Kitty Tag

Another post today..... isn't it cool?! :)

I put together a cute little card using this most adorable little kitty by Baby Bud Designs. I just love the way the cat looks, so ready to be picked up and loved. You should see the other images that are available, too! Check out the blog and Etsy store! I printed out this cutie onto textured decorative paper, then used my inks and watercolor brush to add some extra little touches - shading and colors to the ears and cheeks. The cat was then popped up with foam tape. I had this fun pink tag (as if anything PINK could be anything except FUN!!grins!) as well as all of these neat goodies from some of the Vintage Findings kits by Making Memories. the flower is a vintage one I found from who knows where that I dyed in some coffee a while back. The doily is an old SU! one. The twine is actually from tea bags that I let sit in the tea a while to stain..... such fun things you can do to get neat embellies for crafting!

It has been a crazy ride......

Coffee of the Day - Butter Rum

What a wild weekend.......

First hubby wanted me to stop crafting..... then I got really sick....... then our son was in a most horrible accident..... just when you think life is on an even keel, it goes and spins you for a loop -dee-loop. upside down, inside out, backwards, forwards, this way and that. but God remains faithful and watches and holds us through it all. ever faithful.

my blog was deleted for a few days, but is back again after loving compromise. that is what marriage is about. I have bronchitis & a staf infection, but they will get better as they always do. plenty of coffee will see to that. and our son is safe. the Jeep is as repaired as it's gonna get. it is the Tick, named after a crazy superhero afterall! giggles! and it could have so much much worse. but God had His loving arms wrapped around our Tyler the entire time, thank you so so much, precious Father! and this weekend our family will be whole again as Mick and Tyler will be home again from school. ah, bliss.

I will be crafting again. although in a somewhat different fashion. there is that compromise. life, it is always changing. but that is a good thing. we must grow. and become who we are meant to be.
love to you all! and thank you for always standing by my side! mwah!

Iguanas Get Lonely Too....

no coffee today, but more delish iced Earl Grey with Lavender - yum!

I want to share with you today a card I have made for both Tyler and Mick. I used this wonderful iguana image from Squigglefly, a sketch from this week's Mojo Monday, and some reallllllllllly old Basic Grey papers. Typed up a punny little saying and we are on our way to a perfect card for a mom to send to her boys off at school!


Nothing fancy here at all... so I will save you the boring blah blah blah. everyone have a wonderful day!


Will check back in later with some cards that are more 'my' style - i.e. vintage, shabby, girly fun! :)

Dear Brave Girl........

Coffee of the Day - icky icky poo instant because my beloved french press broke on Saturday.... but I am making up for it with iced earl grey with lavender..... delish! :)

I am busy behind the scenes crafting some things for DT submission & apps, publications, and the boys' college cards, so nothing crafty to show you right now. Instead I will leave you with a gorgeous sampling of beauty from White Blossom and this inspirational post from The Brave Girl Club that arrived in my mail box last week. I flagged it so that I may continually go back to re-read. I hope it touches your heart the way it did mine. You are loved, deeply, passionately, more than you can ever imagine!

Dear Beautiful Girl,

It is important to remember that no one has the right or the power to
take away your choices, your thoughts or the essence of who you are.

Lots of things in life can be taken from us, but most of the things that are
most valuable can not. The things that matter most can not be seen, and really
CAN be protected fiercely by our own selves so that they are not violated or
crushed in any way. No person and no situation can make us feel bad or small
or stuck unless we allow it to. It is our choice.

Be careful with your dreams, be kind to them. Protect your choices and your
ability to make them. Make good choices so that you are not chained by the
consequences of poor ones. Watch your thoughts and make sure that what you
want most is what you are thinking most. Stand up for what you believe in
and don't settle for anything else.

We can decide what kind of life we want to have, and we are the ONLY ones
who can decide. We can't wait around for things to happen, we must take
action to make them happen. No more excuses, baby.......let's do this.
You are phenomenal, courageous and wonderful....
xoxo

A Great TLC Blog Hop Going On......

Coffee of the Day - Maple Vanilla




No posts for Pink Saturday today, as I didn't think I would be up to it..... but I did want to mention this fabbylicious blog hop going on over at TLC today. not only do you get to see some amazing creations, but you have the opportunity to collect 7 wonderful digis created by Paulette!!! 7!!!! all of her digis are just tops in my book, but the chance to get this many at once is just to good to pass up! so what are you waiting for? grab your cuppa and run! :)


on another note, we have survived dropping off Mick at school, but barely. Dave, Ryan, and I had a long but quiet drive back home last night. we were all teary. Ryan made the comment that as close as he has been to his brothers, he wishes he had gotten to know them even better. of course that set me off to crying even more... gosh I am weepy just typing this. But Mick and I texted until midnight last night and he was at the rock climbing wall having a blast. I know he will be successful in whatever he tries. Tyler has been gone a week and is thriving beyond all our hopes and dreams. He has met some great people already that he is hanging out with. God is so very good!

all of you enjoy your weekend! love to each of you!

Forever Camp Friends

Coffee of the Day - Toasted Coconut

We are getting ready to head out the door for a day of shopping in PA...... clothing is tax-free there, so many people from Ohio head for the glorious Pennsylvania borders every year before school begins to grab bargains galore. I myself have never partaken of this annual trek, but Mick's significant 'friend' and her mom have convinced us to go along this year. He leaves tomorrow for Bowling Green, so we are going to try to get those last few things he needs to prove what a stylin', profilin' dude he truly is! grins! oh goodness, he would be mortified to read this..... giggles!

His 'friend' is someone that he has known for years at camp, so I thought this card would be perfect for him to give to her today before he heads off to school. I am forbidden to actually discuss the boys' relationships on my blog anymore, as they now call this the 'blog of death' to any relationship they have - so I will only allude to what is going on in their love lives.......... moms have a way of getting around those pesky rules our children give us! ;)

I tried to keep the card somewhat 'manly' since it is coming from a guy afterall. the cute image comes from Tracey over at The Stamping Boutique. Papers are from the Cosmo Cricket Mr. Campy collection. I added some belt loops and buttons I pulled off a pair of Mick's shorts that were being tossed. The sketch came from an old Pollycraft one.

Hope you have a wonderful day! Will catch up with you soon! hope to be back getting crafty in a few days as life settles back down when Ry starts up HS next Tuesday.

• Paper Pretties - summer
• Stamping For the Weekend - Anything Goes
• Alota Stamps - Autumn colors
• Digi Doodles Best - Anything Goes

It's a blue Pink Saturday......

Coffee of the Day - Maple Vanilla

Good morning everyone! I'm having a tough time today getting super excited about much, as Tyler was dropped off at college yesterday. The house just feels so different without him here........ so this will be a short post. Mick leaves this coming Friday, and I'm not sure my heart can take it.......

I thought what better way to lift my spirits than to take a trip back to Yvonne's beautiful blog, White Blossom. May you, too, be inspired by her phenom photos...........

Have a beautiful Pink Saturday!

College Survival Guide Rule #1

Coffee of the Day - Maple Vanila

Today starts a new challenge over at the PCP Squigglefly group - Get Your Freak On. the idea is to make a project using an image of something that scares you or that represents a movie, book, or ghost story. We are celebrating Friday the 13th in style over there! :)

My card uses this adorable image by Cheryl Alger, "Monkey Scare". Many of you know how deathly afraid of monkeys I am. I decided to start a series of cards for Tyler and Mick who are both heading off to college this year. Tyler leaves today and Mick next week. the inside of this card reads, "Monkeys are Evil! when in doubt, always refer back to this rule." I think they will get a kick out of it, as this is a known 'momism' around here....... This card also works for the ghost story, "The Monkey's Paw" which started my fear in the first place. eeeeek!

The papers are Basic Grey Junebug. I kept the design pretty simple, just adding a few buttons & ribbon.

Have a wonderful day! I am going to try REALLY hard to not cry too much today, but so far it's been tough...... I am so gonna miss my guys.......

A Trip to White Blossom for PINK Saturday.....

Coffee of the Day - Texas Turtle

Happy Pink Saturday to you, my lovely friends! Today's post excites me for so very many reasons...... I want to share with you the most beautiful blog and photographs I have seen in a while.....White Blossom. I am always brought to such joy when I visit this wonderful blog. the photos inspire me - make my soul just sing! I hope you enjoy it, too. Please visit and leave Yvonne some blog love! :)

Wouldn't these hydrangeas be gorgeous framed and hanging on a wall - perhaps a powder room or even above my own craft table! Perhaps when I get that pink kitchen I still dream of............ grins!

May your day be filled with many 'Beautiful Things'! love ya!

Jennifer

p.s. check out Yvonne's personal blog, Fraulein Klein, my daily life for some GORGEOUS pink roses. they truly took my breath away.....

This Bunny LOVES Frosting!

Yep, 2 posts in one day for me - nothing short of astounding, I know. :) As I have been perusing challenge blogs, I came across several that were perfect for this adorable bunny image from Tracey at The Stamping Boutique.

The papers are from the Basic Grey Two Scoops collection. I added some coffee stained seam binding (something fun I decided to try my hand at....), rhinestones, clear button, beautiful flowers I received from my friend Annika in her marvy blog candy, and this wonderful sentiment from TLC. of course I had to add lots of shimmerz accents on the main image! tried more faux stitching again..... which we all know is a big challenge for me. ;) also used my new technique of adding glitter to my white gel pen - on the melted portion of the candle.
See you tomorrow!

Challenges:

• Craft Your Passion - sketch
• Digital Tuesday - use 2 digis from 2 different companies on 1 card - TSB & TLC
• Little Red Wagon - circles (sure hope my polka dots count... there are tons of them here! grins!)
• One Stop Craft - patterns
• Stampin for the Weekend - recipe: 3 DPs, 2 flowers, 1 ribbon, & gems or charms
• Paper Sundaes - stitching (faux for me again!)
• Sentimental Sundays - Switch it Up
• Ooh La La - birthday
• Paper Romance - appropriate for a teen (I sure hope so, as this is going to one! grins!)
• Challenge Up Your Life - Celebrations
• By the Cute and Girly - animals

Have Faith

Coffee of the Day - Caramel Hazelnut Truffle

I am so excited to be using this beautiful image, Faith Lemons, from Isabella's Sketchbook. It has just recently been released, and I think it is well on its way to becoming my fave image. I love it! but Isabella always has the most gorgeous digis, so many of hers are in my top image list.

The papers are Basic Grey - Lilykate and Basic Manilla. I did some different techniques on the main image that might not show up so well in the scan. and the scan is funky because that amazing rose really pops up off the card, so it laid funny in my scanner.

After doing my shading on the lemons with inks & watercolor brushes, I took a q-tip and sponged on some crystal effects. this gives a really neat bumpy texture to the lemons. after that, I outlined each of them with yellow stickles for a spot of glitter glitz. Lots of distressing, as always, and a bit of faux stitching. I am getting better about making it straight! grins! all buttons are vintage as is that most wonderful blue lace. now that lace really makes me smile! I absolutely love it!

I hope you have a most glorious day! and have faith, you are deeply loved - more than you can possibly imagine! :)

Challenges:

• Isabella's Sketchbook - buttons & bows
• Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - sketch
• Shabby Tea Room - photo inspiration
• Paper Sundaes - stitching (yes, it's faux, but you have heard my horror stories of me & my sewing machine!)
• Digi Doodles Best - fave stamp
• One Stop Craft - patterns
• Dutch Dare - Anything Goes
• Stampin with the Dragon - distressing
• Cupcake Craft Challenge - distressing
• City Crafter - food

I'm happy to be SQUARE! :)

Coffee of the Day - Butter Rum

We have started a new challenge over at the Squigglefly PCP group - Hip to be SQUARE! I must say that I haven't crafted in so long, I wasn't sure I would remember how. but oh it felt so GLORIOUS to make a card! it's as if my soul had been restored. anyone is more than welcome to play along in the challenge - just be sure to use an image from the Squigglefly store. in fact, if you use an image by Chesney Young, who is this month's featured artist, you get 2 entries into the contest for a free SF image.

For my card I chose Chesney's 'Singing in the Rain' cutie chick. I don't know who makes the paper, as it was a gift. The polka dots on the umbrella and the rain boots have been covered in glitter. man oh man, I really want a pair of pink glitter galoshes to splash around in! :) I tried something new with the white dots - I colored them in first with a gel pen and then realized that I wanted them glittery. so while the gel pen was still drying, I sprinkled white glitter over the top. perfect! the glitter stuck! I'll be doing this again, I am certain!

the rain puddle and drops are covered in crystal effects. I pulled out a MS border punch that I bought a while back, but had never used. I think this is such a cute one - not that any of hers aren't. the crochet flower came from a little girl's barrette I found on clearance. then it just took some satin ribbon, SU! sentiment, and buttons to finish this off. finished size is 5 1/2" x 5 1/2".

everyone have a wonderful day and STAY COOL!
Challenges:

• The Crafty Pad - ribbons and flowers
• Creative Card Crew - cute and girly
• Cupcake Craft - distressing
• ABC - August
• Sentimental Sundays - Switch it Up
• Totally Papercrafts - Going to the Movies ('Singing in the Rain', of course! who doesn't love that famous scene with the umbrellas and rainshower on the sidewalks! grins!)
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Squigglefly Challenge blog - ribbon & SF image
• Incy Wincy - Summer Fun (hey, who doesn't like to play in the rain on a warm summer's day?! I taught my boys to play in the rain every chance they get. grins! )
• Digi Doodles Best - Punch or Cut me
• Dutch Dare - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp - Sing it Baby! ('Singing in the Rain', once again! tee hee! could also go with 'Umbrella', but my boys would be mortified......)
• By the Cute and Girly - Animals
• Paper Makeup - cards for stash (David's mom almost completely wiped out my card stash when she was here in June! grins! she took over 100 with her...... wow!)
• Ellephantastic - Distressing
• Stamping with the Dragon - distressing
• Stampin Sisters in Christ - birds
• Stamp and Create - flowers (bg paper & crochet)