Just Married Getaway Car

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Spice

Hello and happy Tuesday! the weather has been so very nice and cool here. I hope all of you are enjoying the summer days wherever in the world you are..... I must say that my soul just smiles with the sun shining, light breezes in the air, and the sound of the birds singing their songs. life is beautiful indeed! :)

I have a card to share with all of you today for a wedding this weekend. David was kindly asked to officiate at another wedding of 2 former employees from Camp. it seems that every summer there is at least one wedding of Camp employees. I can't really explain the special bond everyone there shares. it really is a unique relationship that is so very close and precious. Couples who met over 20 and 30 years ago at Camp will still drop by on their wedding anniversaries just to take a walk down memory lane. Camp Burton has been around for over 50 years. We are so blessed to be part of something pretty amazing God is doing in this little corner of the world! :)

I am using this cute little Just Married couple from Jellypark, papers from the Basic Grey Lucille collection, Prima flowers, Spellbinders dies, buttons from my stash, and some seam binding that was sprayed with Studio Calico Mr. Huey's shine spray. the glass on the car windows and rear view mirrors was coated with crystal effects, while the big bow, flowers in the bride's hair, and tail lights were painted with shimmerz.

Have a grand and wonderful week! :)

Challenges:
Die Cuttin' Divas - anything goes with die cuts
LEJ Designs - distressing or paper tearing (distressing - with ink and tool)
Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes (badge is about half way down on sidebar)
Artistic Inspirations - celebrations
Card Mania - summer blooms
Eureka - anything goes
My Craft Creations - die cuts
Stamp with Fun - celebrate
Di's Digis - wedding/anniversary/congratulations
Little Claire's - wedding/anniversary
One Stop Craft - flowers and ribbon
Brown Sugar - Love
Crafts 4 Eternity - anything goes
Pattie's - recipe (I used buttons, flowers, sentiment, glitter via shimmerz paint, ribbon/seam binding)
QKR Stampede - transportation
Stamp Sun - travel
Paper Crafting Journey - die cuts and/or punches (I used both)
Crafting with Dragonflies - weddings

Life is a Beach....

Coffee of the Day - German Chocolate Cake

..... but if you live here in northeast Ohio, you know better than to go in the Lake! grins! I was reading on Yahoo one day a few weeks ago that our nearest beach is one of the most polluted in the entire world. isn't that just so sad? shortly after we moved here we learned of all the mutant critters that live in Lake Erie, so we soon told the boys, you can go to the beach, just don't go in the water! after living in Florida for 10 years, the beaches took a bit of getting used to, since they are made of rock rather than the sand I was used to. the rocks grind down to a fine sand, too, but it's just different.

anyhow, I want to share a card today that I made just to make a card. finally finished a BIG project that had to get mailed out no later than today, so am very thankful that is underway courtesy of the US postal service. will share more about that a bit later.....
so needless to say, it was high time to make a card for funsies!

I saw this pretty image over at A Day for Daisies, so decided to make a little beachy card with it. the sentiment is from Create with TLC, papers are Authentique Fresh, flower is Prima, vintage buttons are from my stash, as is ribbon and silver twine. the cute flip flop charm is an older one from Whimsy. they are no longer available, but there are plenty of other cute ones you can find here.

the water is covered in shimmer frost spray, but I actually painted it on. the card base was first spritzed with my SU! ink squirty tool and a sahara sand marker, then sprayed with pearl glimmer mist.

blog candy is going to wait until next month, which is actually only a few days away. hold on and you will find out why. :)

Challenges:
ADFD - add some shine (frost spray & pearl glimmer mist)
Eureka - anything goes
Tammy's Scrappin' Corner - use a digi
Crazy Challenge - summertime
Dream Valley - summer days
A Gem of a Challenge - how charming
Pumpkin Spice - beach
Catch the Bug - photo inspiration
Crafty Calendar - color inspiration
Cut It Up - celebrate summer
3 Girl JAM - anything goes plus ribbon (badge is about halfway down sidebar)
Digitally Sweet - just add water
Stampin' with the Dragon - on the beach
ART - anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon
It's All About the Vintage - summer & sparkle (frost spray & pearl glimmer mist)
Crafty Creations - summer
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - vacation
Inky Chicks - summer colors
Loves Rubberstamps -  how charming
Tuesday Throwdown - toes in the sand
One Stop Craft - flowers and ribbon

Christmas Tree Cuppie!

yep, another day with 2 posts! now, don't get too used to this, but I am trying to get caught up on all of my DT stuff while I've been sick.....not sure what tomorrow will bring, so enjoy the cards while I can make them! grins!
I'm also working on some super secret behind the scenes super-hero stuff that I can't show you until next month, but I hope it will knock those socks right off of ya!

as promised, I'll also have some blog candy starting next week to say thank you for being so patient with me!  pop back by for that if you would like a chance to win. as always, you do not have to be a follower to play along.

ABC Christmas Challenges has a new challenge this week of 'O Christmas Tree'. Our sponsor is the always cute Bugaboo Stamps. please stop by the ABC Christmas challenge blog to see the amazing projects created by my teamies. they always come up with so many gorgeous and inspiring things!

my card uses the cutie image 'Christmas Cupcake - lights' by Bugaboo.  papers are Basic Grey Aspen Frost as is the fun flair badge. roses are Prima, fun paper clip is K & Co., and the charm comes from Stamp & Create. on the cupcake, the stars were painted with shimmerz and the lights were coated with crystal effects. some itty bitter rhinestones were also added. the card base was sprayed with Studio Calico Mr. Huey's mist. gosh, I so love that stuff for holiday/winter cards! oh yes, the sentiment is a stamp from PTI that seemed so perfect for this image. :)

thanks as always for stopping by! I hope you have a most wonderful weekend! :)

Pinspirational photo

Challenges:
Sweet Stampin' - Christmas in July
Crimbo Crackers - anything goes
Stamp and Create - Christmas in July
Papertake Weekly - die'ing for a punch
Sparkles Christmas - Christmas trees
Sentimental Sunday - Christmas in July
DL Art - Christmas in July
Creative Belli - Christmas
DRS Designs - so charming
Shelly's Images - Christmas in July
Crafting by Designs - Christmas in July
Crafting for All Seasons - Christmas in July
Bearly Mine - anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - bling it on: shimmerz paint & rhinestones
Loves Rubberstamps - how charming
Pinspirational - inspiration photo above
Crafts 4 Eternity - anything goes
Card Crafter's Circle - Christmas in July

Christmas in July - Let it Snow! :)

Coffee of the Day - Coconut Marshmallow

Let it snow, please! no really, the weather has cooled off tremendously, of which I am truly truly thankful. last week it was over 100* in my craft room, and that was with the windows open. waaaaay too hot to craft, even without the fever I've been sporting. so I am a happy clam that the temps have dropped to manageable and much more comfortable climates.

Jellypark Friday Friends has a new challenge of Christmas in July. you bet your sweet bippy I was all over that! how wonderful to create a project that would remind me of cooler weather! :) plus I love Christmas papers and embellies so much.

On my card, I combined a bit of old with the new. I used an older snowman image with a new holiday sentiment circle. papers are Basic Grey Figgy, one of my ab fab fave EVER holiday papers, Studio Calico Mr. Huey's white spray, washi tapes, LOTS of stickles which of course don't scan well, hand dyed seam binding (yes, my hands are still burgundy!), and a pretty Petaloo flower. snow was created with a pearl white Viva Decor pen, holly was die cut from the Night Before Christmas story & then accented with distress stickles, and the little snowman had black rhinestones added for his coal pieces.

Challenges:
Crimbo Crackers - anything goes
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - snowmen
Penny's Paper Crafty - bling: stickles snow & sentiment accents, distress stickles on holly, coal rhinestones, pearl snow dots
Scrapper's Delights - inspired by a song: Let it Snow and I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas (both are on sentiment circle), but then we can't forget Frosty the Snowman either! grins!
Stamp and Create - Christmas in July
Sentimental Sundays - Christmas in July
Sweet Stampin' - Christmas in July
Holly Jolly Christmas - snowmen
Sweet Stamps - Christmas Greenery
Digi Darla - Christmas in July

Spooled Items Challenge at Top Tip Tuesdays

Well this post is late. late, late, late. and my hands have been slapped. ;)
but it couldn't be helped. I'm just thankful that I was able to do some crafty yesterday to get started making up on my overdue DT assignments. nope, it's not Tuesday, but it is the other T day of the week, so I'm going to just enjoy my coffee and go with it. grins!

the new challenge over at Top Tip Tuesdays this fortnight is Spooled Items. in other words, use ribbons, twine, or anything else that might possibly come on a spool ( or used to come on a spool ). We are sponsored by Bugaboo and QKR Stampede, who so very kindly provided the team with images to use. There are some very creative projects over on the Top Tip Tuesdays Challenge blog, so do hop over to check them out.

I chose this fun 'Patchwork Sun' image by QKR Stampede for my card. I had plans to do one thing with it, but then a friend of ours from Camp ended up in the hospital. immediately I knew it would make the perfect 'thinking of you' card for everyone at Camp to sign. the beautiful scripture comes from Karen Murray over at Word Art by Karen and Papercraft Memories. I have known her for a very long time and she does such gorgeous work.

Digital papers are from a freebie kit at the Sweet Shoppe and are called 'You make me happy.' the little flowers are Prima and buttons are from my stash. words on the scripture piece are highlighted with shimmerz paint. the yellow and rose ribbons were gifted to me by my good friend Suzie Mc Floozy, so I'm sorry I don't know who made them. the pastel pink trim along the bottom is a vintage piece. a fun stamp set from Inky Antics called 'Sew Many Stitches' was used on the aqua piece. I promise you will see LOTS more of this stamp set! :)

the scripture and sun are both popped up on foam tape, but the sun is on a thicker piece. I really like to do this at times when I want to give even more dimension to my card fronts.  you can see the shadows behind the sun. also note how the yellow chevron arrows point to the word 'you'. sometimes it is the little things like this that can make a big difference! :)

Challenges:
Dutch Dare - in stitches
Crafts and Me - anything goes
Crafty Creations - summer
Divas by Design - anything goes
Nutcrafters - summer sunshine fun
Penny's Paper Crafty - bling: rhinestones & shimmerz paint
Scrapper's Delights - inspired by a song: You Are My Sunshine (it's even in the bg paper!)
Sisterhood of Crafters - sun
WAW - anything goes with encouraging senti or verse
Crafty Sentiments - bling it on: rhinestones & shimmerz paint
Really Reasonable Ribbon - sizzling summer colors with ribbon
C is for Challenge - summer
Crazy Challenge - summertime
Squirrel and the Fox - something spooled
Catch the Bug - bingo: sentiment, button, sparkle
Digitally Sweet - sunshine and summertime
Dreamweaver - summertime, sparklers, and s'more ( more of the summer and sparkle.... grins!)
3 Girl JAM - anything goes with ribbon (button is on sidebar about halfway down)

I Love Having Breakfast with YOU!

Coffee of the Day - Butter Rum

Sorry I have been away for so long. I'm still really sick, but have been trying to get caught up on some of my DT projects. hopefully by the end of the weekend I'll have them completed. crossing fingers anyhow.

Today is a new showcase over at Milk Coffee and the theme is one I could NOT pass up - buttons galore! there are some absolutely GORGEOUS projects over on the blog, so be sure to stop by to see them all.

MilkCoffee is also having a SUMMER SALE where you can buy some BULK images..

To Welcome Summer, we are having a special event where you can buy our digistamps in bulk for a special price!

-  Buy 3 digis for 7 USD 

-  Buy 5 digis for 11 USD 

-  Buy 10 digis for 19 USD 

Don't miss out on this awesome chance as it will only be available from July 25th till August 1st 2013

for my card I am using the cute new image, 'Luna and Sunny Side Up.' I typed out the sentiment since this is going to be an anniversary card for David next month. the inside reads "...and lunch and dinner and snacks, too! Happy Anniversary!"

papers are from the Basic Grey Paper Cottage collection. the little banner die is from MFT. the vintage diner guest check is one I found on the internet. if I can track it down, I'll be sure to come back to link it. all of the buttons are from my stash. the tops of the shakers are painted with shimmerz, and then the shakers themselves are coated with crystal effects. the card is kinda simple, but it is going to be hunny bunny afterall....

hang on for just a mo, and I'll have another card to share. :)

Challenges:
Crafts and Me - anything goes
Divas by Design - anything goes
Paper Shelter - anything goes
Whimsical Designs - pile it on (at least 3 layers & 2 embellies)
WAW - anything goes with encouraging verse or senti
Anything Goes - anything goes
Bearly Mine - anything goes
QKR Stampede - fruity fun (there are oranges on the plate. I made sure because there is NO WAY I would eat the broccoli or peas for breakfast. ha!)
Crafty Bloggers - metal: staples & shimmerz paint on shakers
Kaboodle Doodles - anything goes
Paper Playtime - patterned paper
Whoopsi Daisy - 2 or more die cuts
613 Avenue Create - anything goes
Little Claire's - wedding/anniversary (for mine and hubby's 27th anniversary next month)

Create with TLC Blog Hop

Coffee of the Day - Creme Brulee

Today is the big Jungle Blog Hop at Create with TLC. thank you for stopping by!

so sorry that I don't have a project to share with you. I'm still super sick. between my fever and other stuff, plus the hot weather, it was not a good atmosphere for crafting. but I do have a fun image from Paulette to share with all of you. please be sure to stop by the TLC blog to leave her a note of thanks. she does so much for all of us every day with her fab freebies!

your next stop on the blog hop is KAREN! have fun hopping!

Celebrate the Nation with Scribbles Designs

Coffee of the Day - Eggnog (found an un-opened bag in the back of the cabinet. major score!)

Happy Monday! yeah I know. I giggled when I typed it. those two don't normally go together, do they? but each day is what we choose to make it, so I am deciding this Monday is gonna be FULL of happy! are ya with me?

for those of you who are curious, here is the way I voted on the UK tv poll last week. remember, these were difficult for me. being the nerdy geek I am, they put me in a very difficult position of having to choose btwn not just favorites, but shows that are deal breakers in our family. not cricket!
Big Bang vs. The Walking Dead = The Walking Dead
explanation - decided to compare current seasons. Raj's girlfriend (ick!) was the tie breaker
David Tennant vs. Matt Smith = David Tennant
explanation - both are amazing Doctors. both bring their own unique quality to the role (ahem...regeneration!) so I had to go on overall acting quality. plus I just flat out love The Dr. and Rose. but then there's The Dr. and River.... sigh......

alright, geek moment is over. onto crafty.....
Today begins a new challenge over at Scribbles Designs, and since I am the permanent Guest Designer, I have a card to show you! :) Our new challenge is 'Celebrate the Nation' by using the colors of your country in a papercraft project. I also took this a step further and made a card to actually celebrate the USA! stop by the challenge blog to pick up a great free image from Sandy as well as to see the great inspiration from the team!

I thought what better way to celebrate our wonderful country than with a chorus line of dancing sheep! no really, don't these guys just make ya smile?!?! I love this image! David quickly grabbed this card to take to someone out at Camp. He was laughing the entire time he was looking at it. I HOPE it was because of the dancing sheep chorus line! eek! anyhow, I gave the sheep on each end a fancy star wand/sparkler. as if their positions weren't tough enough. back in high school, I was on the Drill Team. for some reason I was always placed on the ends when we had short lines. this is the hardest position. so applaud those sheep who can dance AND shake their sparklers high in the sky! woo hooo!

Papers are Authentique Pride, gorgeous flower is Prima, senti circle is Create with TLC, buttons and stitched ribbon are from my stash. added a ticket and air mail envelope for some extra patriotic fun. the party journaling card was a freebie I found on the internet. I'll link it as soon as I trace back where I found it. (now linked). the little star sparklers are painted in shimmerz.

Well I hope you have a most amazing week! still feel horrid, but trying to get some 'absolutely have to' projects done. crafting always helps me feel happy!
sending all of you big hugs! Jennifer

Challenges:
Oozak - anything goes with texture
Ladybug Crafts - fave embellies (buttons, trims, & flowers)
Really Reasonable Ribbon - summer colors & ribbon
Scrap It Girl - red, white, and blue
Crafter's Cafe - anything goes
Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes
Great Impressions - anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - use a digi
The Hybrid Chick - red, white, & blue
Squirrel and the Fox - use something spooled
2 Sisters - make it sparkle (flower & shimmerz paint)
A Gem of a Challenge - spots and/or stripes
Digi Haven - red, white, & blue
Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon
Dream it Up - summertime, sparklers, and s'more

Time is a Companion (yeah, there's some Dr. Who humor in there!)

Coffee of the Day - Caramel Pumpkin Pie

Happy Saturday! the weekend is here! hope you have something spectacular spectacular planned! and if not, then make it that way. :)

some of you might not know that I am a Dr. Who fan. starting watching way back when as a high schooler, continued through college, then picked it back up again when the series began. so if you watch, too, you'll appreciate the correlations between this sentiment and the show.
as a side, yesterday I was taking a fun UK tv poll. imagine my horror when I had to choose between Big Bang Theory and The Walking Dead for best international tv show. then the next question had me picking between David Tennant and Matt Smith for best actor. I froze.... who comes up with these questions? you don't ask a nerdy geek like me to pick between ANY of these! sheesh, people. that's so not cricket!

okay, on to my card. you probably want to see the sentiment stamp I'm talking about.... I'm sharing another project made with items from Stamp Cow and Craftpon.

I used the Stamp Cow Antique watch stamp on both the main sentiment image as a bg and also as an extra element. the 4 hole leaf ring wood button from Craftpon was tied through some seam binding I had hand dyed.

the remainder of items are my own from my personal stash. digital papers are from Crafty Secrets, sentiment stamp is Tim Holtz as is the clock face die. this was used to cut a piece of clear packaging which was then painted with brass distress pain and sprayed with black mist. several small buttons from my stash were added, along with some linen thread, a ticket, and washi tape. I really went to town distressing with my inks on this card, but boy, it felt great! oh yes, border punch is SU!

I do hope you will take a few minutes to head over to Etsy to check out both Stamp Cow and Craftpon. as I said last time, I have GOT to get more of their wood buttons! you'll see what I mean if you stop by. cute charms, too. shipping is really fast. I appreciate that they supplied these items for me to use on my blog for all of you!

Challenges:
Feeling Sketchy - sketch #64
Crafty Friends - inspired by a song: 'Time is on My Side' by the Rolling Stones (you know you're singing it in your head right now, aren't you?!)
Creative Corner - anything goes
Hobby House - vintage
Sister Act - anything goes
Sweet Pea - men or boys
Crafty Ribbons - anything goes
Craft Room Challenge - vintage stamping
Creative Craft - numbers (on the clock face as well as the letterpress paper. obviously the watch, too)
Flourishes - see clearly: use acetate (mine is the clock face that has been painted. hope that is acceptable)
Crafty Bloggers - metal magic (brass distress paint on clock face die cut)
Simon Says Stamp and Show - a little stamping (there's just a little stamping on this BIG card!)
A Little Bit Crafty - use your dies
Alota Rubber Stamps - vintage
Natalie and Amy - trash to treasure (clock face is a piece of clear packaging that has been cut & painted)
Sweet Stampin' - shabby chic

Give Thanks with Jellypark Friday Friends

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Spice

Happy Friday! there is just something wonderful about a Friday, isn't there?! doesn't matter if you are no longer in school or working, this day just always has a little extra sparkle. you KNOW that Saturday is right around the corner! hope you have some fun things planned with family and friends! :)

A new challenge begins over at Jellypark Friday Friends - Give Thanks. pop by the blog to see the oh, so cute projects by other DT members, as well as some fun new release images! Claire always comes up with the cutest stuff! I had taken a little break from the team, so I appreciate them welcoming me back with open arms. my card is for all of them!

I chose to use the charity image, 'Girl with Thank You bunting', for my card. Ruth, one of the DT members, runs a sketch challenge blog called Fetch a Sketch. I'm using her current sketch for inspiration. digital papers & elements are Webster's Pages Citrus Squeeze. yes, you can even get their new collections as digital items! they print out so beautifully! :) the baker's twine is also Webster's Pages so I knew it would be a perfect match in color. (the turquoise is actually a lesser shade on the blue floral paper). buttons are from my stash. I added little touches of rock candy distress stickles to the flowers. can you believe I actually used a white card stock base? yep, surprised me, too. but it seemed the perfect bg for all of these gorgeous colors.

just gotta step outside of that comfort zone every once in a while. seems I've been doing that more than usual with a 'no stamping' card as well as a 'no embellies' card. who knows what you will see next? all black and white? nah...... even that is pushing it for me! ha!

Challenges:
Fetch a Sketch - sketch
Aud Sentiments - 2 words
Digitally Sweet - anything goes with bright colors
Crafting By Designs - thank you
Crafting For All Seasons - bingo:  buttons, digi, ribbon/twine
Papertake Weekly - old, new, borrowed, or blue (old-image, buttons, & ticket; new-papers & elements; blue)
Oozak - anything goes with a girly theme
Art Impressions - twine time 2nd entry
Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes
Great Impressions - anything goes
613 Avenue Create - create your own challenge: image, solid & patterned papers, sketch, die cuts, stickles, buttons, twine

Enjoy the Journey with Milk Coffee

Coffee of the Day - Creme Brulee (gosh, I really need to get some new coffee flavors!)

Hello again! yep, I think I have a card for every day through Saturday! I told y'all I had some in my stash to share with ya....lots more stuff going on in the background, so I'll share with you as I'm able. might just have to pop a blog candy on here sometime soon, so keep your eyes peeled for that, too.

I am still feeling puny. last night was really rough. some day I will be healthy as that horse, I just know it! between cancer and all of the other fun things going on, I am so very thankful for my coffee and pups! grins! thank you, too, for the kind, encouraging comments you leave. it truly does help! :)

okay, now for my card!
Our new showcase over at Milk Coffee is vehicles. I love this fun new image. I dream of having my own punch buggy, but mine would probably be pastel pink. if not, you bet your sweet bippy it would be this fab orange! don't these two look like they are having a wonderful adventure?

You can find the image in the Milk Coffee Etsy store, papers are from the Basic Grey Shine On collection, senti is Create with TLC, flower is Prima with distress stickles in the center, wood veneer shapes are Studio Calico, buttons are from my stash, and linen thread is SU!  I added crystal effects to her glasses as well as the windshield. shimmerz was painted over the headlights, hubcaps, and front bumper. I painted a road for them to drive on, adding stripes with my white gel pen.

Challenges:
Sweet Sketch - sketch
Art Impressions - twine time
Dutch Dare - bingo:  flowers, buttons, distressing
WAW - anything goes with inspiring senti
Crafting for All Seasons - bingo: buttons, digi, ribbon/twine
Creative Moments - holiday/vacation (we drive everywhere we go)
TTCRD - anything goes
Cheerful Stamp Pad - you make a lovely couple
Fresh Brewed - take a vacation
Seemacrafts - holiday/vacation
Crafters Cafe - anything goes
Allsorts - fave things: Basic Grey, buttons, and distressing
Great Impressions - anything goes
Sister Act - anything goes
Wags 'n Whiskers - cute as a button

No Embellies for Christmas? yikes! sounds like Halloween!

Coffee of the Day - Maple Pecan

We have a new challenge starting up today over at ABC Christmas Challenges, and believe you me, I was fussing. bet I'm on Santa's naughty list after the temper tantrum I threw, in perfect toddler style! not really, well, maybe on the INSIDE! ha! our new challenge is 'N for NO Embellishments'!!!!! can you believe it? and I actually made a card! granted, it's not very good, and yes, I'm so very tempted to add all kinds of stuff to it, but I'll be good and leave it as it.....

you should pop by the blog, though, and see the absolutely GORGEOUS cards made by the rest of the team! We are sponsored by Stamp Fairy, so you have a chance to win some cutey images if you play along!

My card uses the Chubby Christmas Angel 3, papers from the retired (sad face....) Basic Grey Figgy collection, senti from Create with TLC, and a few accents of shimmerz paint. The rest was done with either my white gel pen or a black sharpie... pretty easy peasy.

Challenges:
Inky Impressions - Christmas in July
Crafty Sentiments - Christmas in July
Die Cuttin' Divas - ruby red
LEJ Designs - Christmas in July
Fab 'n Funky - Christmas in July
Whimsical Designs - Christmas in July
Card Mania - Christmas in July
Merry Monday - anything goes Christmas
Platypus Creek - Christmas in July
Stamp and Create - Christmas in July
Whoopsi Daisy - Christmas in July

You are Toad-ally Amazing!

Coffee of the Day - Red Velvet Cake

Today begins a new challenge over at Top Tip Tuesdays - hexagons and/or circles. We are sponsored by Fred She Said and Tiddly Inks. Annette has put together a great tutorial for a circle side step card if you would like to give it a go.... I really need to try this one out! stop by the blog to see all of the great projects made by the DT! you will surely be inspired! :)

my post is going to be short, so you'll have to excuse me please. I am so very sick right now....not much crafting getting done, so I'm thankful for what I had done ahead of time.

I used the image from Tiddly Inks, 'Little Hopper', on my card. he is soooo cute! digital papers are from Design House Digital called 'Celebrate Today'. the scalloped circle notecard I picked up from Target a while back. it is edged in white paint. circle/bubble die is CC Designs. some buttons from my stash, linen thread, and wooden clip complete the card. oh yes, our froggy friend's tiny little spots were accented with distress stickle.

Challenges:
Creative Card Crew - great outdoors ( I prefer to keep my frogs outside, personally!)
Loves Rubber Stamps - hoarded item (have had the scalloped note card since before Christmas! eek!)
Cards for Men - bingo: twine, image, & die cuts
Cupcake Craft - anything but square
Tammy's Scrappin' Corner - animals
There She Goes - animals
Ladybug Crafts - fave embelishment (prob my buttons!)
Tok Bobok - animal friends with love
No Matter Which - anything goes
Corrosive - shape up

Enjoy Every Moment

Coffee of the Day - Texas Turtle

Hello everyone! Happy Friday! Today is one of those posts I told you about yesterday - one of those 'behind the scenes' projects I've been working on. See, I was nice and didn't make you wait tooooo terribly long, now did I?!

Several weeks ago I received a very nice email from a small company based in China that sells items on Etsy. they wondered if I would be interested in a blog sponsorship with them. I took a look at their 2 Etsy stores and was intrigued. They are a small company, only 5 employees, but nice quality items. Shipping is super fast!

So let me introduce you to Stamp Cow (handmade stamps) and Craftpon (buttons, washi tapes, charms, etc.) .

My card uses a combination of the items sent to me. You will find extras added, so I'll be sure to tell you which are sponsored items.

First I printed a sentiment from Create with TLC and then cut my cs into a tag shape. I stamped the Stamp Cow antique watch stamp multiple times. a kraft sticker was added to the punched hole, May Arts ribbon tied with a Craftpon vintage key charm , Basic Grey Fact dsp chevron added, and edges distressed.

A strip of Basic Grey Fact dsp was added to the card's edge. this was topped with a Craftpon leaf ring 4 hole dark brown wood button. (these are fabulous!!!)  I added the same SU! linen thread that I used to tie the charm to the tag's ribbon.

All other goodies on card are from my own stash. the other buttons are vintage, rose and trim are Prima, stamps in lower right corner are Pink Paislee. watch & fob were cut with a Tim Holtz die from a piece of clear packaging. I used silver distress paint sprayed with black mist to color, then sponged part of it off. the clock face on the card base was made by painting a piece of clear packaging cut with another Tim Holtz die with brass distress paint and then pressing it down onto the cs. (p.s. you will see that die cut piece show up on another card.... hint, hint, hint!) the droplets were made with glimmer mist.

thanks so much for stopping by. I do hope you will head over to Etsy and look around Stamp Cow and Craftpon. gosh, I would buy up every one of their wooden buttons if I could. they are all gorgeous! :) you know me and my buttons! grins!

Challenges:
A Creative Romance - ribbon or twine (both are on this card)
Crafts and Me - anything goes
Lady Anne's - anything goes with stamping
Scrapper's Delight - die cuts or punches
WAW - anything goes with inspiring sentiment
Bearly Mine - anything goes
Loves Rubber Stamps - anything goes
Paper Minutes - die cuts
TTCRD - anything goes
Artistic Inspirations - anything goes
Crafty Bloggers - metal magic
An Inky Situation - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show - anything goes
Delicious Doodles - heavy metal

Happy July 4th!

Coffee of the Day - Moon Pie (it's about as all American as I can get!)

Happy July 4th to my friends here in the USA! I hope you have wonderful things planned with your family and friends! my day will be a quiet one with my dogs, but that is okay. we have fun together! they are my buddies! I made a pitcher of homemade sangria yesterday that is quite tasty, so will enjoy that later in the day, perhaps with a hot dog or something else fun on the grill. I'll see my family Saturday afternoon, so I'm really looking forward to that! :)

Before I get to my card for today, I want to share with all of you a little something I found over on the Inky Antics blog. There is a call to help get the bells of freedom ringing today to help celebrate our wonderful July 4th. you can read more about it over on the blog.

“As grateful Americans, we hope to resurrect the tradition of the ringing of the bells. Let us be in tune with each other and our history by ringing bells at 2 p.m. on this July 4th in honor of the 237th Anniversary of our independence, thanking God for his blessings on our land.” 

I know I'll be shaking my keys or whatever else I can find!

I realize I haven't posted a great deal here on my blog in the past few days, but I have been busy crafting in the background. lots of fun stuff coming up, just not able to share with you yet. don't you hate it when someone says that to ya?! sorry, but it is true.... not a lot of time for 'me' crafting right now.

I did manage to get a card made to help celebrate our wonderful 4th of July holiday though. this image and the fabulous 'America the Beautiful' sheet music were both freebies from Crafty Secrets. papers are from the Authentique Pride collection, one of my very favorite for patriotic goodies. the rose is Prima, buttons & lace trim from my stash, and stamps are some I saved from envelopes. I love to use them on projects like this. :)  a piece was cut from an air mail envelope and a little red ticket added. faux stitching with my white gel pen completes the card.

I am entering my card into quite a few challenges, since so many are tailored to the holiday right now. one challenge, As You Like It, wants to know why some of these embellishments are my favorites. I happen to know the 2 lovely ladies that own the blog, so I think Samantha is probably thanking her lucky stars that there is no pink on this card! tee hee! but really, there is something about vintage buttons that makes me weak in the knees. and if they are a bit dirty and the threads are still tied in them, oh my gosh, I am in love! as the title of my blog says, ribbons and trims rank right up there at the top as well! I am not one of those who use lots of paper flowers, but I do like to add one or two on my projects. I guess the main reason I don't go all out with them is that I don't have a lot, so I tend to hoard the ones I have. ;)  another embellie I love to use is 'found' items such as the stamps. it gives me quite a thrill to be able to give a new life to something that would otherwise end up in the trash. it's almost a challenge to try to find new ways to use little goodies!

Challenges:
Crafty Secrets - linky party
Crafting By Designs - show us your country's colors
Crafting with Dragonflies - vintage with layers and lace
Inky Impressions - red, white, and blue
Paper Pretties - red, white, and blue
Stamping Chef - red, white, and blue
Crafty Sentiments - red, white, and blue
Creative Craft - a stitch in time
LEJ Designs - recycle, upcycle, or use household items (stamps, envelope, ticket)
Our Daily Bread - red, white, and blue or patriotic
Party Time Tuesday - patriotic (badge is about half way down sidebar)
Tuesday Throwdown  - stars and stripes (bg paper is also little stars)
Craft Your Passion - red, white, and blue
Digi Darla - stars and stripes, red & white or red, white, & blue
Eureka - stars and stripes (bg paper is also little stars)
Get Inky - red, white, and blue
Kaboodle Doodles - national day or flag colors
Mema's Crafts - paint your patriotism
Paper Playtime - red, white, and blue
Simon Says Stamp and Show - anything goes
Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards - July 4th
Clearly iStamp - red, white, and blue
Simply Create Too - flag colors
As You Like it - fave 3 embellies (vintage buttons, paper flowers, and trims. I do love the little tidbits I save to use on my crafts like the stamps, too. it's fun to repurpose things!)
Natalie and Amy - trash to treasure (stamps, envelope, ticket)
Sparkles - steampunk or vintage
Simon Says Stamp - patriotic
Sassy Studios - red, white, and blue
DLArt - patriotic
Scrap It Girl - red, white, and blue