A New Addition to the Baby Bud Family! :)

Coffee of the Day - Maple Vanilla

I would love to take this opportunity to introduce you to the latest member of the Baby Bud Designs cutie family, Noelle! she just makes me smile with her precious little boots and adorable winter hat!

Unfortunately I am a few days late with my release project since being sick, so please check the BBD blog for the other DT members' creations. Every one is a treat indeed!

I have made this card for one of my fave people, who happens to look just like a Baby Bud! Jocelyn, close your eyes for this post, sweetie, 'cause it's coming to you in the mail! She loves all things purple, so I paired Noelle with the beautiful papers from the Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather collection. in order to get the beige portions on the card with my watercoloring, I took a dry brush to the SU! vanilla craft ink. works like a charm! that also gave me the chance to add a few little polka dots to her winter cap! The buttons down the front were covered with rock candy distress stickles to maintain the cream color but still add some sparkle. I added the same distress stickles along the ground to simulate a light snow cover, just like the one we had here over the weekend! ;) The sheet music covers a chipboard coaster. it was distressed and sprayed with walnut gold glimmer mist. I then added this amazing snowflake sticker from Making Memories. doesn't that baby glow like all get out?! The sentiment comes from Create with TLC. a vintage button and some scrunched seam tape finish it all off.

Ryan's play opened last night and it was fabulous!!! he did such a wonderful job! Tyler comes home Friday so that he can go. I sure wish there was some way Mick could be here to see his little bro hamming it up on stage. we will try to videotape if possible.

Everyone have a most glorious day!

Paper Sundaes - Let it Snow

Stampin Sisters in Christ - weather

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Belli Challenge - Old, New, Borrowd, or Blue (old- button & chipboard coaster, new-snowflake sticker & digi, blue- bg paper)

Crazy 4 Challenges - square card (I think that is all I make anymore!)

A Baby Bud Bee Hive

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Spice

Good morning! We are all moving a bit slow around here. Last night was our little town's trick-or-treating. While we don't really celebrate Halloween, there is one tradition our family proudly upholds every year. We get together with another family and give out hot dogs, chips, hot cocoa, & water to the people out trick-or-treating. The house has become known in the community as the 'hot dog house'! We have such a great time doing it! Tyler even came home from college for the weekend so he could help pass out hot dogs again. It began over 10 years ago as an outreach from our church, but then the church stopped doing it. We decided it was too good of a project to discontinue, so we started doing it on our own. Neither our friend nor us attend that church any longer, but God's love supercedes church walls anyhow. Everything is given out for free and no donations are accepted. God just says give to our neighbors, so we do. and people love it. they can't possibly know that we ourselves are gifted far more than they will ever be. :)

"Love your neighbor as yourself" Luke 10:27

So in that same spirit of sharing, I want to move on to my card project for the day. it is another card for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges at SCS. but again, I made 2 so that I could pass along one for the card drive I mentioned yesterday for children with spina bifida. This one is going to Bekah, an 8 year old girl. I sure hope she enjoys it as much as I enjoyed making it!

The cutie little bee comes from Baby Bud Designs. (hey, the 2 freebies are still up at the blog if you haven't snagged them yet!!! hurry hurry!) I wanted to put her next to a bee hive and finally found a coloring page of one online. this was printed onto paper from the Basic Grey Lemonade collection. such a happy line of papers and perfect for precious little bee girls! The challenge was to use 3 designer papers, 2 embellishments, and 1 ribbon. So my embellies are these great little rhinestone flowers that I colored with my SU! daffodil marker to match the paper. Of course every bee needs to have some sparkle, so I painted her wings with opal shimmerz, her antennae with beeswax shimmerz of course, and her black stripes with sparkle spritz shimmer spray. so shine she does!

Have a most beautiful day! It is in the 40's again here today, but the sun is just as happy as can be in the sky shining down upon us all! May you find comfort in the Son that provides love, peace, and joy to you today! :)

A New Challenge begins at Baby Bud Designs! :)

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Spice!!!! woooo hooooo! I am drinking coffee again! :)

Welcome to a brand new challenge with Baby Bud Designs! I am going to try to be quick today, because I want you to do 3 things for me:

1. race to the Baby Bud Designs blog to pick up not one, but TWO adorable freebies today and

2. be sure to stop by the other Lady Bud's blogs to leave them some lovin' for their beautiful contributions! :)

3. get started making your card so you can have a chance at winning the fun digi and card making prize pack!

now here we go ~

the challenge for this upcoming month is "Scallops, Buttons, and Bling", so baby I went to town! first I used one of the free images available today, "Woof Doggie". His little leash is part of my bling although David tells me no self respecting dog would allow a bow on his leash. I beg to differ! grins! The scallops are obvious in the lace and canvas portions, as are the fun buttons, but it is some of the other 'bling' I want to tell you about.

As I was taking my dogs out for a walk the other day, I was once again marveling at the beautiful colors of fall and the leaves scattered around me. I picked up a handfull and thought I would see what I might create with them. About that time a very fun package arrived at my door from i {heart} papers containing some birthday bash goodies I had won. inside was the spritz shimmer sprays I have been telling you about. I already had the frost and loved it, but I now have the sparkle and copper in my collection. Today's card is pretty much covered in the copper spray! The Jenni Bowlin Afternoon Tea papers were sprayed with it, the SU! canvas scallop strips were sprayed with it, and then the leaves were also sprayed with it! yes, way! you can spray leaves!!! and oh my stars, it is so beautiful irl! the little flecks of copper mingle with the various shades in each leaf. They were sealed with cheapo hairspray on both front and back, which helped to add some shine all in itself.

so there you go - 'Scallops, Buttons, and Bling'! please join us and play along. and a big hearty congratulations go out to Nataliya for winning the first BBD challenge! way to go! :)

• City Crafter - Autumn Leaves Falling

Happy to be Square

Coffee of the Day - Tiramisu

Hello everyone! Sorry to have been away for a bit. We had the entire fam at home for the weekend. Mick had Fall break until Tuesday, so what a joy to spend some extra time with him! didn't even know such a thing existed, so that was a treat indeed! then had a few other not-so-treatful things to deal with, but don't wanna talk about ickies here.... so suffice it to say, my crafting has been on hiatus for a while.

But now I am back and better than ever! tee hee! I don't know about better, but I am back! :D

I have a card to share with you made for the SCS Hope You Can Cling To challenge - Let's Dabble in Some Scrabble. The idea is to make a square card with pink and then add at least 4 other squares. I chose to use this adorable little Baby Bud Designs image called 'Heidi'. I used fun papers from the Cosmo Cricket DeLovely collection, added some faux stitching with my white gel pen, popped up the main image with some foam tape. added a few highlights with shimmerz paints, and then put on a few more little embellies to accent. The card is a smaller square than I usually make, coming in at 4 1/4" square.

I hope all of you have been well! see you tomorrow! :)

Digital Tuesday - Stitching

Wild Orchid - Stitch it Up

Thanks for You

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Spice

Good morning! Just a quickie little post to start us off. It was a BRISK 45* here this morning when I woke up. add the rain on top of that and my toes were chillin'! think it is time for a new pair of pink fluffy slippers for these tootsies! hope you are comfy cozy wherever you are today!

I wanted to send Tyler out the door this morning with a card for his girlfriend. He told me that her fave flowers are daisies, so I printed out this precious little one from Baby Bud Designs.

To do something a little different, but still try to keep with a fall feel, I went with paper from Basic Grey's Sugar Rush collection. I like the fun, fresh colors in this pack, in addition to the funky, hip mood it inspires. Added a bit of vintage lace tied with some buttons, a scalloped photo corner, and Prima with rhinestone center. a few little glitter pen accents complete the card once a rub-on sentiment was added. Pretty simple, but I think she will like it.

The fall/Halloween challenge is still going on over at Baby Bud Designs throughout the month, so we would love to have you play along! A great prize pack is up for grabs! :)

• Digital Tuesday - Thank you/Give Thanks

Celebrating Autumn with Baby Bud Designs!

Coffee of the Day - Maple Vanilla

What a most glorious Friday it is here in northeast Ohio! oh my goodness gracious me, the air is crisp and clean, the trees are marvelous in the colorful splendor of oranges, browns, yellows, and reds, and you can see pumpkins popping up all across front porches everywhere! What a beauty to behold! I am truly blessed to live in such an amazing area! :)

Baby Bud Designs is kicking off their first challenge EVER in honor of this wonderful season!! From today through October 27, make any kind of a papercrafting creation that celebrates autumn - it can be through colors, images, embellies, papers, you name it! You can make it Halloween, fall, Thanksgiving - the sky is the limit! If you would like to use a Baby Bud Designs image, for today only there is a cutie free one avavilable on the blog as part of the monthly Freebie Friday promo. But remember, she is only there for free today. After that Orlagh the Golden Fairy Queen will be found in the Etsy store for sale with all of the other adorable Baby Buds.

Now for this kick-off challenge, there is a most fabby prize package up for grabs. All challenges from here on out will offer the winner's choice of 2 digis from the Etsy store, but for the premiere challenge, the winner will receive not only their choice of 2 digis, but also 2 rubber Baby Bud Design stamps, and a fun card making kit chock full of goodies! So please please play along with us!

I have made 2 samples for the challenge. My first uses the precious Orlagh that is today's Friday Freebie. Her wings have been painted with beeswax shimmerz. I used the new Basic Grey Pyrus papers. LOVE the fall feel these papers bring! The papers as well as the seam tape were sprayed with frost smooch spritz for a most subtle shine! whoa, is that spray fun to use! A skeleton leaf and felt/music sheet lollipop finish off the card. of course I had to add some pretty lace trims for such a pretty fairy! :)

My next card uses the newly released, Autumn. I couldn't resist making her into a Halloween card. used some papers that were gifted to me, so I apologize that I don't know any info about them. I made a little embellie with some very old crepe paper I came across, May Arts pom pom trim, and tiny black ric rak. buttons and paper sunflowers complete this festive card! Spiced Cider shimmerz was painted on all of the orange areas of Autumn for a little more shimmery shine!

Please check out all of the phenom creations posted by the other DT members today. This is a most amazing group of crafters, so leave them a bit of love, too! :) Happy crafting!

*Paper Sundaes - Fall or Halloween colors (Halloween card)

Happy Fall Kitty.... Meow! :)

Coffee of the Day - Butter Rum

Oh How I so love this gorgeous fall weather! It is so brisk and beautiful! gosh, God is soooooo in His majesty! The colors are just as vibrant and fresh as can possibly be........

So without further adieu I shall introduce you to our precious little Fall Kitty. He is from Baby Bud Designs, and yes, you have seen him before. but goodness gracious me, I so love this precious little bundle! He loves to go chasing after the leaves as the wind gently blows them from the trees. He plays hide 'n seek with the little chippies in the yard, but watch out for the big squirrel who is out gathering nuts for the winter! ;) and then he curls up ever so close to the back door with his brothers and sisters all in one adorable bundle of fluff...... doesn't he just makes your heart smile?

I used all kinds of fun little goodies on this card - papers from my ever favorite collection from Basic Grey - Indian Summer, little itty bitty tickets from Maya Road, fall leaves from Prima, glitter trim & ruffle ribbon from May Arts, and of course, my buttons. The card base bg is stamped in craft ink with this gorgeous wildflower stamp from Rubbernecker.

Have a most wonderous day! :)

• Papercraft Star - sketch (loose adaptation I am afraid! grins!)
• Creative Card Crew - Autumn or Fall

My first official Lady Bud card.... that name just makes me smile! :)

Well by all rights I should have had this finished to go with this morning's big Baby Buds Designs announcement post, but with this wild and crazy weekend, there was just so time for crafting. shocking, I know! ;)

so I spent some much beloved time this afternoon playing with these 2 cute little buds..... for a card for Mick to give to his special someone....... she is loving the cards so far, and golly gee, these girls just remind me so much of her. and actually the hair on these guys is so much like Mick's it's craaazy!

I happened to see that the challenge this week over at The Shabby Tea Room is to make a project using tags. I originally printed out these 2 side by side, but then decided to turn them into tags. I found this beautiful heart in my collection of bits from Making Memories Vintage Findings, as is the bg paper. I spruced it up a bit with some glimmer mist - first spraying with walnut gold and then laying a piece of salvaged lace across the top and spraying with tea rose. the lace pattern just ever so lightly shows through........ so pretty irl! I adhered it as a pocket, poofing it up in the center to give some extra dimension. the beautiful Prima flower is also sprayed with the walnut gold glimmer mist. the little pink hearts in the upper corner are part of the MMVF line, too, the big button is vintage, but the others are MM, and the sequin trim is May Arts. I edged the girl tag and the heart in lavender lace distress stickles. The little girl's dress, headband, and shoes are painted with shimmerz and the boy's overalls have baby buttons added. Base card is edged in craft vanilla and tags are edged in the new SU! kraft ink. Baby Buds are watercolored as usual.

again, please check out the blogs of the other amazingly talented ladies on the BBD DT! you will be in for a treat! :)

• Paper Sundays - Mixed Mediums (watercolor, glimmer mist, craft & dye inks, shimmerz paint)

Exciting News - I'm a Lady Bud! :)

Coffee of the Day - Maple Vanilla

Whew... I don't know about you, but this was another whirlwind weekend for me. The guys were home, so to speak, but spent a big portion of it with their girlfriends, which was cool, as they are the sweetest girls in the world! we had a big cookout for them all yesterday after they spent the day at the County Fair. Then it was off on a rollicking 6 hour round trip ride to drop off Mick back at school..... wasn't any easier to leave him this time than it was the last.... oh well. He and Tyler both are really enjoying college life, as they should, so that does make me feel good. They are exactly where they are supposed to be doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing, and God has His loving arms wrapped tightly around them. so this Mom needs to let them fly........

Now on to my exciting news - I have been accepted onto the fun new Design Team over at Baby Bud Designs! so that makes me an official Lady Bud! I am just tickled pink to be a part of this fabby new team! Please take a moment if you will to stop by the other DT members' blogs to wish them a hearty congratulations with me! They are an amazingly talented group of women I am pleased as punch to be a part!

Calypso

Ellie

Giovana

Krista

Purple Lisa

Lisa V.

Margie

Maria

Silke

Sheri

Small Things Done in Great Love

Coffee of the Day - Toasted Coconut

To start - a few updates..... our son Tyler is doing just fine after the car accident this past weekend. We have all been extremely touched by the numerous emails, comments, and messages so many of you have left. I was telling him today how many of you have reached out to him with prayers and well wishes. He really was overwhelmed with gratitude. and he truly is just fine. God loves this young man more than I can possibly comprehend as a mother and has Tyler wrapped tightly in His arms, safe and sound.

secondly and on a much more minor note - yes, I am aware that Starbuck's has already released their Pumpkin Spice Lattes and frapps. but gosh, it is still so stinkin' hot here that I have not been able to bring myself to succomb to the deliciousness of my fave fall treat. even though the leaves are beginning to turn, with temps in the 90's, it just doesn't seem quite time yet to have my pumpkin drinks! :) but not to fear, I will stock up on the pumpkin coffees and drink more than my fill starting in the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted! :)

Phew, now on to my card for today. This cutie patootie image is the spitting image of Mick's gf Jocelyn. so I had to had to had to make a card with her. and of course he will just HAVE to give it to her this weekend...... but we are NOT talking personal date stuff here on my blog o' death to relationships..... nope, this mom is just making casual conversation about a card I made for someone I know.........

Papers are Basic Grey Wisteria, precious image is Baby Bud Designs, those bows were screaming to me to be painted with iced lavender shimmerz, and used this brand spankin' new floral trim by May Arts. oh yes, rub on is Stampin' Up! also used a few of their new colors - LOVIN' 'EM! you know I never get rid of my old SU! colors, so I am happy as a clam to have more for my collection. these new ones are as fabbylicious as can be!

heading off to Bowling Green momentarily, so will be back later this weekend to chat more! love ya! Jennifer

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!