Flowers and Candy, wait, did someone say CANDY?!?

Coffee of the Day - Texas Turtle (caramel, pecan, and chocolate)

Hello! well y'all have to bear with me. I have another few cards to post this week where we were given an image for free as long as we promised to play in the challenges. deadlines are quickly approaching, so I am trying to hurry to get my projects finished. was sick in bed this weekend, so that threw me off a bit. plus Tyler was home so I wanted to spend time with him when I could.

This cutey image, Lollipop Leslie, comes from a new to me Etsy store, Art by Miran. she has some really pretty images that are waaaaaaaaaaaaay out of my coloring range. this one seemed like something I could handle, so thought I would give it a try for the Facebook 'Make it Girly' challenge.

papers are from the new Basic Grey Fresh Cut collection, sentiment is Create with TLC, flower is Wild Orchid Crafts, enamel dots are Teresa Collins, and chalkboard tag is MME. the sentiment portion was cut with a SU! punch and then sprayed with Mr. Huey's mist. scan got a bit wonky because of the big flower.

I hope to be back in another day or so with a project to share if all goes well. take care and  have a most wonderful week! thank you for stopping by!

btw - I am having a horrid time with blogger loading the blogs I follow on my dashboard. it's been more than a week since I've been able to see them, no matter how often I refresh. I promise to try to get around to your blogs to visit as soon as I can see them again.

Challenges:
Glitter 'n Sparkle - bright & funky colors
One Stitch at a Time - girly
Squirrel and the Fox - something spooled
Outlawz Greeting - anything goes
Di's Digi Designs - bingo: digi, die cut, flowers
Inkspirational - bingo: flowers, buttons or brads (button), punches or dies (both)
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes with patterned paper
Feeling Crafty - dies and/or punches (both)
Creative Fingers - anything goes
WAW - anything goes that is encouraging

It's Your Birdday!

Coffee of the Day - Salted Caramel Pecan

Happy Friday!  wooo hoooooo! it's the weekend! isn't that such a wonderful feeling? Tyler came in this afternoon to help work at Camp this weekend, and Ryan comes home next weekend for a long Spring Break. doing some cooking for my guys, which always makes this momma happy! hopefully Mick can get here for a day or two when Ry is here to visit, too. :)

I have a very special bird-day card to share with all of you today. I have started back up on Facebook again, in case any of you weren't aware. several friends invited me to 'like' a page about a special young man celebrating a birthday in just a few weeks. I knew I wanted to make him a birthday card, and when the new image was sent out for the 'From the Heart' progressive challenge, it was absolutely perfect!

I also used the sketch from this week's i {heart} sketches challenge. papers are Basic Grey Cupcake, bg was made with gelatos and Mr. Huey's white spray mist. I also used the gelatos on the edges of the main image. these little gel sticks are fun, fun, fun! :)  since the card is for a young boy, I wanted it to be something to hopefully make him happy, so I added the candle and balloons for the primary embellies. shimmerz paint accents the candle flame.

sorry the card scanned a bit wonky due to the bulk of the candles and balloons.
have a most wonderful weekend! :)

Challenges:
From the Heart progressive Ch - use required image
i {heart} sketches - use sketch #54
Sister Act - anything goes
Outlawz Greeting - animal planet
The Stamping Boutique - punch or die (Spellbinders die)
4 Crafty Chicks - things with wings
Aud Sentiments - bingo: 3 word senti, die cut, texture (candle & balloons)
Crafty Ribbons - anything goes
Little Miss Muffet - happy birthday with balloons
Paper Pretties - ribbon (on the left under my watermark)
WAW - anything goes with encouraging sentiment
Crafty Sentiments - anything goes
Loves Rubberstamps - use a funny sentiment
TTCRD - anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown - anything with wings
Artistic Inspirations - anything goes/masculine
Eureka - animal friends
Melonheadz - for the boys
613 Avenue Create - RAK for someone who might not expect to receive it (the boy doesn't know about the card drive)
Floral Fantasies 5th Anniv - fave item: buttons and Spellbinders dies

A Merry Merry Santa Dragon Tag

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Spice

Hello! Well I am just all over the place with my holidays today. drinking pumpkin spice coffee and showing you a Christmas tag. what in the world is going on in my wonky little world? probably best to not ever ask THAT question! ;)

but really, I am playing along in the Progressive Christmas challenge over at Digi Stamps 4 Joy. if we participated last month, we were all sent this little Santa Dragon image to use for this month. I thought he would make a fun tag.

the tag itself is embossed and lightly inked with white craft, paper is Basic Grey 25th and Pine, enamel dots are Teresa Collins, flower is a Shape EZ template edged in stickles. shimmerz paint and stickles are also used on the main image, which is popped off of the tag with foam tape.

I have several things going on 'behind the scenes' so to speak and have been really busy working on getting some organization done in my craft room. now that could take me til the end of next year, but I try to do little bits here and there....

hope to be back in another day or two with another project. take care! :)

Challenges:
Digi Stamps 4 Joy Progressive Christmas Ch
Outlawz Twisted Thursday - 3 of something
Crafty Ribbons - anything goes
Crimbo Crackers - Santa (if my Santa Dragon doesn't count, please just delete my entry. thanks!)
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - dies or punches (used both)
Lil Red Wagon - anything but a card, with paper
Paper Shelter - punches and dies
Penny's Paper Crafty - lots of layers
Shopping Our Stash - make your own embellies (flower)
TTCRD - anything goes
{Pin}spirational - anything goes
All Crafts - anything but a card
Eureka - animal friends

When I Gaze in Your Eyes....

Coffee of the Day - Salted Caramel with pecans

Happy Valentine's Day to you! even if you are not part of a 'couple', I want you to know that you are loved, truly. don't let this day make you feel 'less' than the most amazing wonderful person that you are! :)

I share with you the last of my Valentine cards - the one I made for my Hunny Bunny. He is most precious to  me, the love of my life. He is the reason my heart beats. when I saw this image from Tammy over at A Day for Daisies, I immediately knew I would use it for Dave's card. do you see how they complete each other? one is not more than the other, but they together make one, beautiful circle, full of love. and that love then overflows and spreads to others.

papers are Basic Grey True Love, die is from Spellbinders, sentiment sticker is SRM. shimmerz was painted over all of the hearts on the main image. everything else is from my stash.

I want to say thank you to each of you for stopping by. I wish you love. you are important to me. :)

Challenges:
Alphabet Ch - always and forever
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards - 1 button, 1 bow, & 1 flower
Craft for the Craic - heart
WAW - anything goes inspirational
Craftitude - anything goes or Valentine/love
Cut it Up - Valentine's Day
Pinspirational - photo inspiration: colors, boy & girl, streamers, rose, hearts
Digi Haven - Valentine's Day
Fussy and Fancy - be my Valentine
Stamping Boutique - Valentine/love
Totally Papercrafts - Valentine/love
Wags 'n Whiskers - bingo: die cut, heart, flower
Pile it On - stripes and/or dots
Delightful Ch - Love Notes
Paper Crafting Journey - love is in the air
Path of Positivity - love
Aud Sentiments - bingo: 3 word senti, die cut, texture
Crafting for All Seasons - romance
Paper Shelter - be my Valentine
Ladybug Crafts - for the one I love
Paper Minutes - love is in the air
Bunny Zoe - hearts/love
Kaboodle Doodles - to my sweetheart
Stamp and Create - love is in the air
Crazy Ch - love is in the air
Digitally Sweet - photo inspiration (hearts, rose, red)
Paper Girls - love your love
Catered Crop - heart of the matter
Squirrel and the Fox - love

Cupcake Inspiration - photo inspiration

Wild About You, Valentine

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Spice

Today I am showing you the Valentine card I made for Mick. he loves animals and all things nature. this image comes from Aurora Wings, and I was blessed to win it in a fun Facebook contest about a month ago. I knew it would be fun for my guys, and Valentine's Day seemed the perfect time to try it out. I know that those of you who excel at using Copic markers would do a lovely job with this image. for now, you'll have to put up with my scrawny attempts watercoloring it. ;)

I was afraid if I reduced the image size too much, it would get really tough to color. therefore, it is BIG on this card. papers are Basic Grey Aspen Frost, a holiday collection that I happen to like for year 'round. I added some small touches to the main image with both silver and white gel pens. the man's cape is actually artichoke, but it turns a funny shade when used for watercolor.

See you tomorrow! thank you so much for popping by. :)

Challenges:
Sassy Studio Designs - Valentine's Day
Male Room - Valentine
Ruby's Rainbow - spots and stripes
Cardz 4 Guyz - truly madly deeply
TTCRD - anything goes
Craftitude - anything goes or Valentine's/love
Pile it On - stripes and/or dots
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Valentine's Day
Crafting From the Heart - anything goes/use red
Crafty Bloggers - all about boys
Crafty Cardmaker - it's a man's world
Squirrel and the Fox - love
Open Minded Crafting - show some love
A Little Bit Crafty - man up
Animal Friends - dots
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper - anything goes
A Creative Need - wild thing

A Precious Valentine Hobbit

I wanted to quickly post this Valentine for Tyler before one of the challenge deadline ends this evening......

we all LOVE LOTR in this family, but none more so than Tyler. we all defer to him if we ever have questions. so when I saw this fabulous Hobbit image over at MelJen's, there was no doubt in my mind that it would make the ideal Valentine for him! :)

papers are Basic Grey Kissing Booth, brads and canvas heart are SU!, sentiment was typed on my computer, and a touch of shimmerz paint was added to the cape's clasp on the main image. a simple card design, but perfect for my guy! :)

Challenges:
MelJen - i (heart) you
Crafter's Cafe - hearts
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - add a heart
Male Room - Valentine
Papertake Weekly - with a heart
Outlawz Paper a la Mode - Valentine
Artistic Inspirations - anything goes/Valentine
Crafty Bloggers - boys
Digi Makeover - hearts (hi to my old teamies!!!)
Eureka - hearts 'love is in the air'
My Sheri CRAFTS - Valentine
Send a Smile 4 Kids - for the boys
Sunflower Field - Valentine's Day/hearts
A Little Bit Crafty - man up

Be Mine, Porcupine! :)

Coffee of the Day - Eggnog

Tonight Dave is doing a big Camp presentation and Bible Study at a church in our District. Jocelyn, Mick's lovely girlfriend, is going to be there helping, so I wanted to send along her Valentine goodies with David. she absolutely ADORES the color purple, so whenever you see me make something with it, odds are that its a project for her. ;)

I saw this precious little porcupine image from over at A Day for Daisies and though it just about the cutest thing. don't know why it struck me this way, but I knew I wanted to use it on a frilly card for Joce. so I added some Basic Grey Kissing Booth papers, WOC flowers, a Create with TLC sentiment ticket, Prima trim, and fab pearl button. the little hearts on the main image are painted with shimmerz.

Just 2 cards left to make and then I'll be done with Valentines. whew..... then I have some other things to get caught up on. still feeling very wobbly from my fall. my head is all messed up and you so wouldn't believe the bruises I have. I am about as purple, red, and technicolor as this card! grins! :)

Challenges:
Paper Shelter - be my Valentine
Crafting By Designs - anything for love
Creative Moments - anything goes/love
WAW - anything goes encouraging
Outlawz Greeting Ch - love is in the air
Inky Chicks - use a cute animal stamp
Artistic Inspirations - anything goes/Valentine's Day
Cutie Pie Ch - my Cutie Valentine
Come and Get It - make it girly
Glitter 'n Sparkle - Valentine/ add some red
Robyn's Fetish - animals or birds
Di's Digi Designs - love and/or Valentine
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes w/patterned paper
Seemacrafts - Valentine/love
Brown Sugar - Valentine
Craftitude - anything goes or Valentine/love
Creative Corner - seeing red
Get Inky - Valentine/love

Valentine, I Think You're Super!

Well I have been one busy little crafter bee today. feels good to get some of my Valentine cards made. still have a few left to do, but this is a start. sure would be horrible if the people I love didn't know come Friday! ;)

The first card I'm showing you is one that has already gone postal today. needed to get it in the mail along with a fun package of candy for Ryan so it would get to Indiana on time.

Ryan has always been our 'Super Ry', I think even before his fascination with all things Superman. it was just an easy choice to make a Superman Valentine card for him, using this great image from A Day for Daisies. in fact, when Tammy released the line a few years ago, I immediately snapped it up just for Ryan! :)

paper is Basic Grey True Love, wooden veneer is Studio Calico, linen thread is SU!. I added some faux stitching to the decorative paper and spayed the image bg with my ink squirty tool. the sentiment is one I typed out on my compy. little hearts are actually from a Spellbinders die. a big heart doily hides behind the main image.

Challenges:
ADFD - use a big heart
Crafty Sentiments - buttons or bows (I did both)
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Valentine's Day
Oldie But a Goodie - Valentine (actually everything on here is old!)
Papertake Weekly - with a heart
TTCRD - anything goes
Crafting From the Heart - anything goes/use red
Crafty Bloggers - boys
Eureka - hearts/love is in the air
Lexi's Creations - Valentine's Day/love
Melonheadz - Valentine/love
Ooh La La - use a heart
Open Minded Crafting - show some love
Aud Sentiment - Valentine

Hang in there....

Coffee of the Day - Salted Caramel

Hang in there folks, I'll have some Valentine card projects to post here on my blog later today (hopefully!) and for further in the week.  I took 2 nasty falls the end of last week that have really thrown a ratchet into things. I am so very sore and bruised. tough to move around very much. but on the positive front, I've been watching some great stuff on Netflix! ;)  gotta look for that silver lining whenever we can! right? One of the shows is called 'The Following' with Kevin Bacon. we are hooked!

Dogs are happy because I have to sleep on the couch, so they climb up and keep me cozy warm. it's a bit of a tight fit, but we somehow manage. lucky Dave gets the big bed all to himself!

see you back here later! :)

I Didn't Fall....but my son did....

Coffee of the Day - Texas Turtle (caramel, pecan, chocolate)

So last weekend our son, Ryan, broke his big toe while playing Ultimate Frisbee for his college team. he is now on crutches for the next few weeks. he'll be out of commission for about 6 weeks. it's really tough being so far away while he's going through this. so of course I had to make him a card. :)

Digital Delights by Looby Lou just released this fun image that is absolutely PERFECT! I can't tell you how hard it was to find something suitable. not many digis are out there for these kind of cards. papers are Basic Grey Carte Postal, sentiment is from Ginger's House. the card base was inked with the inside of a bubble mailer. pretty simple card design, but I think it works for a guy card!

Here is my ribbon storage tip for Top Tip Tuesday: I wrap my ribbons around manilla tags and store the tags in baskets by color. they look so pretty this way! :)

Challenges:
Outlawz - sketch
Glitter 'n Sparkle - buttons
A Little Bit Crafty - man up
Animal Friends - dots
Bastel-Traum - get well
Catch the Bug - anything goes
Drunken Stampers - anything goes
Crafty Catz - anything goes
QKR - anything goes
Sister Act - anything goes cards
Stempelsonne - animals
DRS Designs - under the weather
Penny's Paper Crafty - spots and dots
Top Tip Tuesday - use a sketch

Publication News! :)

Coffee of the Day - Eggnog

Hooray, hooray! I can share the news with all of you! I have been published in the latest issue of Quick Cards Made Easy! woooo hoooooo!

A HUGE thank you to Tammy at A Day for Daisies for submitting my card. it's an older card I made using one of her beautiful images. actually a card I made in honor of Mick and his lady love, Jocelyn. :) The section of the magazine is called Romantic images, and this one really lives up to the name! It's called 'The Perfect Gift' and I don't see it in the store any longer. it may have retired.

anyhow, I need to hurry up and order my own copy of the magazine while there are still copies available. thanks for sharing my happy news with me! enjoy your weekend! :)

edited to add this cutie pie piccy of Mick and Jocelyn that she just posted on Facebook.... they are soooooooooooooo adorable together! :)