Moving Parts at Top Tip Tuesday

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Caramel

Hello to everyone! the sun is shining here today. the past few days were all rain, so it's nice to see the sun peek it's head out again. mind you, I enjoy the rain as well, but a bit of sunshine does lift the spirits! :)

Yesterday Dave, Ryan, and I went to see Tyler down at Akron. had a wonderful visit with him. enjoyed lunch at a great Lebanese place that Tyler and Dave had gone to before. I was quite worn out from the trip and went straight to bed for the rest of the day when we returned. slept until after 10 this morning.... doesn't take much to wear me out these days it seems. I was glad that I was able to go on the trip though.

Our new challenge at Top Tip Tuesdays is 'moving parts.' this challenge threw me a bit sideways, since it had to be the actual card that had moving parts. but I persevered, and with the help of some kind people over at Split Coast Stampers, found a fun tutorial to try! I'll most certainly be making more of these cards in the future!

Our sponsor is Stamp Fairy, so I used an assortment of images from there: Barry Birthday 3, Balloons, and Mimi Frames Freebie. my card is a suspension card. I show both sides of the hanging ornament.

Papers are Basic Grey Soleil, trim and flowers are Prima, buttons are vintage. leaf die is SU!, circle dies are Spellbinders. balloons are paper pieced. card is fairly simple, but it's fun to play with! circle medallions hang from SU! linen thread.

Challenges:
Celebrate the Occasion - anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - the letter 'B' (buttons, bear, balloons, birthday, brown)
Creative Craft - all about animals
Die Cuttin' Divas - anything goes
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - insects or animals
TTCRD - anything goes
Digi Darla - celebrate
Love to Create - punches and/or dies
Sparkle and Sprinkle - use a digi
Eclectic Ellapu - anything goes
Great Impressions - pastel colors and/or polka dots
Whoopsi Daisy - spots and stripes
Robyn's Fetish - stripes or dots
Squirrel and the Fox - furry friends

May Flowers Sympathy

Coffee of the Day - Creme Brulee

Happy Sunday to you! We have a new challenge going on over at Pile it On this week - 'April Showers Bring May Flowers.' We are sponsored by Gingerloft. I chose to use the image, 'Birdhouse Swirl' for my card.

About a week or so ago we received the sad news that one of David's childhood friends had a son pass away from a genetic disease he has had since he was a young boy. The young man lived until he was 19 years of age. Our hearts are just breaking for them. No matter whether you are anticipating a death or not, the hurt and loss are still devastating. They are in our constant prayers.  I wanted to make a card to let them know we are thinking about them.

Papers are Basic Grey Serenade, flowers are from my VERY old Prima stash, burlap wired ribbon is May Arts, buttons are vintage. the bird is cut from a Tim Holtz die, covered in glitter, and then SU! glass glitter. a vintage button serves as the eye.

Challenges:
Clear it Out - button up
Stamping with the Dragon - spring has sprung
Stampin' for the Weekend - die cuts and/or punches
Digi Haven - digi and button
My Time to Craft - kraft
Pumpkin Spice - nature
Shelly's Images - April Showers Bring May Flowers
Art Impressions - layer it up
Creative Belli - spring (flowers are all old Prima stash)
QKR Stampede - favorite things (vintage buttons, Basic Grey, kraft, Prima, birds)
Crafting by Design - anything goes
Creative Moments - spring
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
Die Cuttin' Divas - flowers
Love to Scrap - cut it out
Stamp and Create - use at least 1 die cut
Dream Valley - things with wings

Pink Power

Coffee of the Day - Maple

It's absolutely gorgeous here! also our big Maple Festival is going on, so lots and lots of people visiting our little town. first year in many that the sun is actually shining for the festival, so that is nice. Ryan is in the bathtub races tomorrow morning, so that should be fun. it's weird to not have anyone marching in the big  parade. that's what happens when everyone goes and graduates from high school! ;)  since we only live a block from the town square, I can smell the yummy foods when I step outside my door. oh my gosh, all of the maple aromas are divine! we let friends park in our driveway so they can just walk up from here. traffic gets really jammed up, and the dogs pretty much spend the entire weekend barking at all of the people walking by the house.

anyhow, I wanted to share a card I made for several challenges. main reason I made it though is to work on my stash of cards to take to my oncologist's office when I go again for the card box I have set up there. When I was there the other day, the box was almost empty. Can't have that! :) so I want to make plenty more cards for all of the folks going through chemo to grab if they want to. hard to believe it was a year ago that I was going through all of that myself. my hair is still growing in. it's all curly wurly now and looks so goofy. some of it is almost about 3" long! almost! tee hee! probably closer to 2", but I'm like the little toddler who's birthday is ALMOST to the next one.....

this fun boxing gloves image comes from Oak Pond Creations, papers are Fancy Pants Time for Spring, ribbons are all May Arts, and sentiment is Create with TLC. the bright pink ribbon is really tied in a bow, but I cut it off in the scan. it got all smooshed in the scanner anyhow....faux stitching finishes the card.

Challenges:
Oak Pond Birthday Bash - use an Oak Pond image
Link Up For Pink - breast cancer awareness
Dilly Beans - think pink
QKR Stampede - fave things (PINK!!!)
Sweet Pea Stampers - support your fave charity (cancer patients, see above)
In the Pink - ribbons and/or ruffles
Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon
Rhedd and Rosie - stitching
Whimsy - pretty in pink

Little Holiday Helpers

please see the next post for my Guest Designer at Digi Stamps 4 Joy card..... thank you!

The current challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge is 'H is for Holiday Helpers'. well I thought these cutie little elves from Tammy over at A Day for Daisies would be the perfect helpers for Santa!

Papers are from Basic Grey Figgy collection. I had so much fun making the patchwork bg the other day that I made another one! it's a fun way to use scraps, plus it's such a great look! :) I just make sure to ink all of the edges before I adhere to my white cs base.

a few vintage buttons and bingo markers, pretty little poinsettia, delicate lace trim, tag with seam binding, and FABULOUS holiday washi tape complete the card. a rounded corner on the main image adds just a little bit of interest to all of the other straight lines.  now I wonder where I can find a bunch more 2, 5, and 25 bingo markers!??!?!  anyone need a 57?

have a great day! :)

Challenges:
Sweet Stamps - use 3 of any one item (butons)
TTCRD - anything goes
Stamping Sensations - special occasions (Christmas)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - red and green must be seen
Christmas Challenge Extra - anything Christmas
Clear it Out - anything goes with 2 or more buttons

Guest Designer at Digi Stamps 4 Joy

Coffee of the Day - Red Velvet Cake

I recently won a challenge over at Digi Stamps 4 Joy and they so kindly asked if I would be interested in also being a guest designer. I was happy to say yes! :)  the challenge is to create an easel card that also has bling.

I used the image 'Tropical Sunset' and Basic Grey Shine On paper. the sentiment is from Create with TLC. it reads, "A Sunbeam to warm you."  Spellbinders Reverse Wonky Rectangles dies were used for the shapes.

The card base was sprayed with glimmer mist for some added shine. the main image was first watercolored. The sun and water were then over-painted with various shades of glimmer mist to add more sparkle. it really has a gorgeous shine irl - subtle. 

those of you who are regular blog readers know the strict criteria my guys impose on any masculine cards I make. so because this card is going to a guy, I had to be sure to not add any bows or that other 'girly' stuff that makes my  men roll their eyes at me! ;) I did add some rhinestones to the corner, but hopefully the burlap (manly man grunt!) and coconut button (another manly man grunt!) will keep their rolling eyes diverted! ha!

thank you so much to Margy at Digi Stamps 4 Joy for the lovely guest designer invite! I had so much fun making this card! I do hope all of you will give it a go! :)

Challenges:

Paper Pretties - fabulous folds

Loves Rubberstamps - great outdoors

Papertake Weekly- weather with you

Cards for Men - anything goes

Melonheadz - fancy folds

Ooh La La - easel cards

Paper Playtime - more than one fold

Basic Grey - masculine

Word Play Saturday - weather

Mad Props with Top Tip Tuesday!

Coffee of the Day - Chocolate Bourbon Pecan (yes, it is THAT good!)

Today is a midway post over at Top Tip Tuesday. we are sponsored by the most fab Krista of Saturated Canary. Our challenge is to use faux stitching of some kind on your projects.

I chose the fun 'Starla' for my card. I love her quirky attitude and that great 'stache she is carrying! Papers are Basic Grey 'Clippings.' I love this new set of embossing folders from Tim Holtz that I came across on the JoAnn's website. all of you know that I can't sew worth beans, so the funky, shabby stitching of these is right up my alley! I took several scrap pieces  and adhered them to a piece of plain white cs. I then ran this through my embossing folder. I then lightly sanded the tops to give a more distressed look.

Linen thread is SU!, faux stitching was done with a black spica glitter pen, sentiments come from my SMASH date stamp (gosh, I love that thing!), and just a little button from my stash. oh yes, can't forget the little touches of washi tape and flowers! :) I also used both my clear spica glitter pen and a gold glitter pen to accent the stars on her face as well as the gold highlights I added to her hair.

Tip - a fun, new way to add faux stitching is with some of the great embossing folders on the market now. you can even lightly sand the tops once you emboss for a great distressed look! Check both Stampin' Up! and Tim Holtz to name just a few.....

Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge - distress
My Time to Craft - stitching
Delightful Challenges - color my world
Saturated Canary - anything goes
Sarah Hurley - projects with character
Lollipop Ladies - moustache (on a prop stick)
Nutcrafters - anything goes
WAW - anything goes with encouraging senti
TTCRD - anything goes
Bearly Mine - digi days

Sweet Flowers

Coffee of the Day - Chocolate Bourbon Pecan

Today is a new challenge over at Paper Makeup Stamps Digi Makeover - Animal Friends. I know all of you have some great critter images in your stash, and the prize is some fun images from the Paper Makeup store.  I sure hope you will play along! :)  new images have been added to the store, too, so I know you'll wanna go take a peek!

I used the soft and pretty Felicity Fawn image for my card along with a sentiment from Create with TLC. papers are from Basic Grey's Kioshi collection. the flower is Prima and silk ribbon is May Arts. not much fancy here, but I love these colors together. the little pearls were actually colored with a Copic marker. hooray, I used a Copic!!! grins! the little bit of cardboard underneath the main image is actually a scrap from a Starbucks coffee cozy. I tore the edges and lightly inked it to distress.

I want to thank all of you who have been so very encouraging to me. as you might know by now, I didn't win, place, or even show in the May Arts contest. pretty much was low man on the totem pole. didn't place with any of the other challenges I entered with it either. so that lets me know that this project was a failure from the get-go. some are like that. you put hours into them, but no one likes how they turn out. that's okay though because it was a big lesson learned. it's all already been torn apart, thrown away, and some of the pieces salvaged for another project down the road. most definitely didn't want THAT reminder sitting around to stare in my face.

it has definitely changed how I will enter (or not enter) contests from here on out. I'm done with publication submissions and anything that isn't made for my family or someone I know. I spent money we didn't have getting ribbon, spent money we didn't have mailing projects out, and it all comes to naught. I've taken my chances and seen the results. I will continue to enter challenges because that is how I earn my crafting supplies. I win enough to keep me in paper and embellishments, so that is good enough for me. you would be surprised at the number of challenge blogs and companies that don't follow through with sending out prizes, but that would be a story for another post......I'm thankful for the ones that do.

and above all, I'm thankful for each of you. you are loved and appreciated! :)

Challenges:
Eureka - animal catwalk
Inky Impressions - dies/punches
Penny's - use a sentiment
Paper Crafting Journey - use a sentiment
Paper Shelter - make it bloom
QKR Stampede - punches/
OSAAT - use a digi
Allsorts - passion for flowers
Digi Darla - recycle for Earth Day (Starbucks cozy)
Forever Friends - lots of flowers
Kaboodle Doodles - spring
Kraft Journal - recycle or reuse (Starbucks cozy)
Sparkle and Sprinkle - use a digi
Stamp and Create - use at least one die

Keeping it all in perspective..... Smile!

I've been having a tough past few days....not the greatest news in regard to my health stuff, but what has hit me the hardest has been my May Arts project. some of you have been very supportive and kind here on my blog, so I must begin by saying this is NOT what I am making reference to....

over on the May Arts blog all of the projects have been posted. I do hope all of you have had a chance to stop by because man oh man, there are some jaw dropping gorgeous projects! I am being completely honest when I say that mine in no way compares to what some people made. I knew at the time I saw the list of contestants that there were going to be some fabulous creations. I just flat out don't have that kind of talent, and I truly am in awe of the folks that do. they are my inspiration!

but of the over 200 comments left at the time I'm writing this, not one comment has been left for my project. every project has been mentioned except mine. not one person has said, "nice job" or "cute ribbons" or anything. that is not the reason I entered the contest. but gosh, I worked really hard at a time when I felt absolutely horrible to make something that I thought looked nice. I realize it doesn't compare with all of the other projects. but it flat out hurts. and I'd be lying to say it hasn't affected the way I think about future crafting, posting to my blog, and entering any other contests/challenges. we all want to hear nice things about what we make. to say otherwise isn't being honest.

I've been taking part in quite the little pity party since Monday, and hubby knows it. Today he sent me a link to this youtube video. I'm posting it here to share with all of you. it helped me put everything in perspective.

 

what I make is part of what I do, but it is not who I am. my life is more than paper and ribbons. hard to believe some days, but it is true. my life is also more than cancer. it's about smiling, regardless. it's about a deeper joy that comes from something other than a comment left or not left. it's about being the daughter of a King. and for me, that is enough. it is always enough. :)

Awesome Birthday

Coffee of the Day - Chocolate Bourbon Pecan

Yesterday was Paulette's birthday from over at Create with TLC. many of her DT members got together to surprise her with cards made using the same image. her daughter, Bri, put them up on the TLC blog first thing yesterday morning so that Paulette would see them wishing her a happy, happy birthday when she logged on to her computer!

I want to share my card with all of you here.....

image and senti are obviously from Create with TLC, papers are Basic Grey Knee Highs, gorgeous flower is Prima, pins are Maya Road, border die at bottom is MFT, buttons and trim are vintage. accents of stickles were used to add a bit of sparkle. few touches were also made with my spica clear glitter gel pen.

I put my card in the mail to Paulette, so hopefully she will have it by the weekend. that way it helps to extend the birthday wishes a little bit longer! :)

Challenges:
Clear it Out - anything goes with 2 or more buttons
Inky Chicks - happy birthday girl!
Oldie but a Goodie - make it girly (old - pins are over a year old, as is Spellbinder die)
TTCRD - anything goes
By the Cute and Girly - vintage
Digi Galore - one for the girls
Forever Friends - paper piecing
Pink Elephant - paper piecing

May Arts Spring Challenge Projects!

Coffee of the Day - Maple Pecan

Well today is the big day that all of the projects for the May Arts Spring Challenge are being featured over on the blog! I would love for you to stop by to see the fabulous things made by those chosen, including me! :)  I'm not sure if comments count for votes, but it would sure make the designers feel happy to see happy thoughts and wishes left for them if you have a moment.

I have to take just a second to say a huge thank you to the very kind people over at May Arts who believed in me and my idea for a project! it means so much that you allowed me to take part in this contest! :)

please be prepared for LOTS of photos here.....
I also need to add that while May Arts DID provide 2 yards each of 4 styles of ribbons, I was allowed to add any extras of their products that I wanted to complete my projects. these were purchased on my own and were not provided by May Arts.

everyone was given this beautiful photo for our inspiration. you will see how I used various elements in my 2 projects.

My first project is an altered vintage milk bottle.

Please forgive my photographs. my tremors keep my from taking very nice nice pictures of my projects, which is why I scan as much as I possibly can. it's really hard to scan something like this though, so we will press on! ;)

The bird was cut with a Tim Holtz die from a popcorn box of all things! I cut 2 pieces to give extra strength, as well as a piece of white cs to cover the back. I then cut a bird and wings from Butterfly Garden digital papers, adhered to chipboard with ModPodge, covered in fine glitter for body and SU! glitter glass for the wing, and added a vintage button for the eye.

Ribbon roses were made with the pink satin ribbon, teal organza ribbon (used on next project), and the pale blue silk ribbon combined with the blue satin ribbon for a 2 tone flower. I also have to add here that my SU! silicone craft sheet is an invaluable tool when it comes to making ribbon roses, or flowers of any kind. this includes those made with the dies that are so popular now. this thing is fabulous!

I took a length of the natural wired burlap that was long enough to go around the bottle and cut it in half.  I pulled several strands away to fray the edge. I then took the teal cord and wove it through the top edge. this will later be used to tie a bow and hold a metal edge tag of vintage music paper.

Fuchsia ruched ruffle trim and white eyelet trim were glued along the burlap.

Pale celery green leaf trim was added.....

and then the other final embellies added before adhering to the bottle. the bird rests on several small twigs accented with Webster's Pages bead pins. I used a hot glue gun to add the decorative burlap piece.

White eyelet trim was glued around the lip of the bottle with several vintage buttons adhered as accents. The bottle was then filled with twigs.

May Arts products used: teal string white eyelet trim fuchsia ruched ruffle natural burlap leaves pink and blue double faced satin Pale blue silk ribbon

My next project is a card featuring a beautiful image from Tammy at A Day for Daisies. I chose 'Bird's Nest' because it reminded me of the birds that are currently flying around my front porch, so busy building their new family nests.

Papers are Basic Grey Hello Luscious, chipboard bird is Maya Road inked with summer starfruit and then covered in scattered straw distress stickles. I used a piece of the burlap string that was removed from fraying to tie the vintage button on the bird.

white eyelet trim was dyed with soft suede ink and a few drops of water. this was then braided with teal organza ribbon around a twig. the same teal organza ribbon was made into a ribbon rose (see above project photos) and then added to metal tag. the galvanized metal tag was sanded to distress. a few leaves cut from the ribbon accent the rose. vintage buttons complete the card.

May Arts products used: teal string white eyelet trim - dyed natural burlap leaves sheer organza ribbon

I hope you can see how I used the inspiration photo in my 2 projects. the metal containers played into both pieces, as did the bird, twigs, and beautiful soft colors. I had a wonderful time working on this contest entry! I tried to come up with something a bit different as far as using the ribbons, so I do hope you take away a few new ideas for your own crafting projects!

thank you so much for stopping by! :)
Jennifer

p.s. I will post my blog candy on Wed.

Challenges:
Party Time Tuesdays - anything but a card (bottle)
Catered Crop - just add glitter
Eclectic Ellapu - put a tag on it
Great Impressions - pastel colors and/or polka dots
Joanna Sheen - spring into spring
Scrappy Frogs - think spring
One Stop Craft - pastels
A Day for Daisies - fave technique (distressing, watercolor) card
Crafts 4 Eternity - wings
Hot Shot Craft - anything but a card (bottle)
Totally Papercrafts - get krafty (card)
Crafting by Design - spring flowers
Creative Moments - things with wings
Divas by Design - flowers (bottle)
Paper Pretties - buttons
Paper Shelter - spring delights
Simon Says Stamp - april showers and/or spring flowers
Anything Goes - heavy metal (metal tags on both projects)
Creative Craft - alter it (bottle)
TTCRD - anything goes
Shabby Tea Room - photo inspiration and recycled item (bottle)
Incy Wincy - fur or feathers

A Week for Crossing Fingers

Coffee of the Day - Coconut Marshmallow

Hello everyone! I hope you are having a fabulous week so far! only one more sleep and then it's time for the weekend to semi-officially begin! :)

I just 5 minutes ago hit the 'send' button on the email for my big May Arts Spring Challenge project submission.... yikes! what a nervous nelly I am right now, as well as the entire time I was typing up that message. All projects will be posted over on the May Arts blog on Monday, April 15, so you will be able to see them all there. I have to tell you, some of the most amazing, talented, crafters are part of this round, so I don't expect to be chosen as a winner. but good golly gosh, am I thrilled as ever to have been selected as one of the contestants! All of you will have several days to vote, at least that is my understanding. so I do hope you will pop by their blog to see all of the entries and support everyone who worked so very hard! :)

I also sent off at the beginning of this week, one little card for the Paper Crafts Stamping Royalty contest. I haven't actually stamped a complete card in a while, so that was fun to do! I had Dave give the envelope a big kiss, (well not THAT big! grins!) for good luck before we took it off to the post office.

then there is the ever fun medical testing that began yesterday. ick. as usual, they had a hard time drawing blood on me. they laugh at the hospital that now when they see my name they call down to the actual lab to have one of the specialists come do the actual taking of the blood because it is so hard to draw. sad but true. lovely side effect of chemo that you don't find out about until after the fact. I could tell you horror stories of having 4 and 5 and more needles sticking out of my arm at once while they try to find a vein, but then it's not Halloween just yet...... ha! again, sad but true. more visits tomorrow. but then again, as I mentioned before, after that is WEEKEND! hooray!

just gotta focus on the happy happy.
next week is blog candy! yippee skippee!

love to all of you!

Create with TLC Vintage Fashion Show Blog Hop

Coffee of the Day - Creme Brulee

So glad to have you here at my stop on the Create with TLC blog hop! grab a cup of my yummy coffee and sit back for a moment.... you have seen so many wonderful things on the hop, haven't you?!?! lots of talent on Paulette's team! I feel honored that she invited me to participate since it's been a long time since I was last a part of her DT. thank you, Paulette, for including me. :)

you should have arrived here from.....

RHONDA's wonderful blog.

my card uses this beautiful image, Fashion for the Shore and a sentiment from Create with TLC as well.

papers are Pink Paislee London Market, buttons are vintage, linen thread is SU!. ribbon flower and crochet trim tape are from a fab blog candy I won the other day and happened to receive as I was finishing my card. perfect timing! :)

you may either click on the image below to open in a separate page and then save to your computer, or just right click and save directly from this post. please let me know if you have any troubles saving...

thank you for stopping by my blog. be sure to top off your coffee before heading over to.... 

VICKY's fabulous blog!

and be sure to tell Paulette thank you for all of the amazing images she so generously provides day after day! :)

Challenges:
Cut it Up - wet
Catch the Bug - anything goes
2 Sisters - anything goes
Rhedd and Rosie's - vintage/shabby chic
Digistamps 4 Joy - anything goes
Digital Tuesday - new papercraft trends (ribbon flower, staples, map paper)
Ladybug Crafts Ink - anything goes
LEJ Designs - fave style (vintage/shabby chic)
TTCRD - anything goes
Deep Ocean - photo inspiration
A Little Bit Crafty - anything goes
Cards Galore - vintage
Heck of a Challenge - just add water
Really Reasonable Ribbon - buttons and bows
Bunny Zoe - girly
Crafty Bloggers - anything goes
Simon Says Stop and Show - anything goes
Great Impressions - pastel colors and/or polka dots

I Mustache You a Question.......

Coffee of the Day - Gingerbread (it's now all gone until the holidays roll back around.....sigh....)

I've been trying to get some crafting done behind the scenes so to speak, as I am feeling up to it. I've finished one project for the May Arts challenge, but would like to do a few more if I have time. I really really feel the need to make some cards for my family to stash away for 'later'......have a feeling they are going to be needed sometime down the road. So you'll probably be seeing a lot of masculine cards here on my blog in upcoming days and weeks. not sure how much DT work I am going to get done. I really feel a pressing need to get these cards made for my family first, as they truly are my priority.

a week or so ago I was blessed to win a gift certificate from Crafty Secrets. I was able to get some great digital sets, one of them being this fun 'Mustache Men.' Every November my guys all participate in 'Movember', which is a big promotion to raise awareness for prostate cancer. the idea behind it is for men to start the month off clean shaven and see how large they can grow their  mustache, or 'mo' as they are called in Australia where this all began, by the month's end. I knew it would be fun to use this set to make a card for one of the guys.

Papers are My Mind's Eye Union Square, crochet trim is Pink Paislee, buttons are from my stasth. hi ho sliver shimmerz was painted on the barber pole, the shaving cup and light at top of barber pole were covered in crystal effects.

I've added some buttons to my sidebar to make following and getting in touch with me a bit easier. for email, hover your mouse over the email button to see my email address in your lower taskbar. you can always click on 'my profile information' to see my email address as well. for all others, just click the buttons to be taken directly to each site.

Challenges:
Crafty Secrets - linky party
Crafty Catz - anything goes
2 Sisters - anything goes
Catch the Bug - anything goes
Moving Along with the Times - kraft
Digistamps 4 Joy - anything goes
LEJ Designs - fave style (vintage)
Loves Rubberstamps - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
TTCRD - anything goes
Cards Galore - vintage
Sparkle and Sprinkle - use a digi
Love to Create - tag you're it
Simon Says Stamp and Show - anything goes
There She Goes - masculine
Kraft Journal - anything goes with kraft
Kaboodle Doodles - 2 different patterned papers
Crafty Bloggers - anything goes

I Really Haven't Disappeared.....

Coffee of the Day - Red Velvet Cake

Happy Thursday to all of you! I'm still here, just battling a nasty bugaboo that has had me knocked for a loop since the weekend. you remember how I mentioned that Mick came home sick one day last week? well, I ended up catching a version of what he had plus a tummy bug on top of it. so I haven't been able to keep any food in my tum since Saturday. spent Easter (and the rest of this week) in bed while the fam went to church to hear Mick sing and then visit with friends. they had a lovely time, and the singing was a huge success. :)  good news is that I've been doing tons of reading since I've spent so much time in bed. I've added a new widget to my sidebar via Good Reads that tracks what I am reading in case you are interested.

anyhow, bear with me please, as I hope to be back crafting soon. I have been working on my May Arts project itty bits at a time when I can. the big blog hop for Create with TLC is this Sunday, so do stop by for that.

my 500+ blog candy will be up soon, so I KNOW you will want to pop by to sign up for a chance at winning some crafty goodies!

next week I head to the oncologist for a major big appointment. not excited about it only because that means tons o' tests at the hospital. blechy poo on that. can think of a bajillion and one things that I would much rather do! grins! ;)

anyway, y'all take care, and I'll see you in a few days. hugs to ya!

some DT challenges I've missed posting for, but you most certainly will want to check out:
Paper Makeup Stamps
Top Tip Tuesday
ABC Christmas Challenge
Milk Coffee showcase
Outlawz Paper a la Mode
Jellypark Friday Friends