Courage

Coffee of the Day - Pecan Pie

Happy Monday to you! oh you think I don't hear the grumbles over here?! it's a brand new day of a brand new week - all brought to you in its glory for some wonderful bit of blessing just for YOU! can't wait to hear what beauty is just outside your door! :) hope the bluebird of happiness is singing sweet songs beside your window!


Today also brings a new challenge over at the Digi Makeover by Paper Makeup Stamps. the challenge this week is to create a Tent Topper card. I had never made one of these before and was surprised at how easy it was. you can find a tut here at Split Coast Stampers. Please be sure to stop by the blog today. We have a new DT member, Ardilla, as well as a guest designer, Rachel Fisher. You can also see all of the lovely inspiration projects by the rest of the DT. so many reasons to pop by to tell everyone hello! :)


My card uses the 'Courage is Not' sentiment and Pink Paislee Declaration paper. This sentiment touched my heart in a special way and is so very, very true. It can apply to so many aspects of life. As I have said many times lately, gotta put those brave boots on and plow right on through! I am also reminded of what God tells us in Psalms, we walk THROUGH the valley of darkness, we don't stay and hang out. the only way to do that is with Him by our side. gosh, that brings a lot of comfort! :)

I picked up these fun tickets at the paper store last week. David took me for a little splurge once I got out of the hospital and those icky poo tests. Color actually matches perfectly irl. senti is borderd with distress stickles as is the little cardboard banner. buttons are vintage, stamps happened to come on an envie last week & I knew they would be perfect on some upcoming papercraft project. didn't know how fast I would be using them! giggles! trim is May Arts & rose is Prima. card base is embossed and then highlighted with vanilla craft.

Don't forget the big blog hop is coming Aug. 29! There is still time to sign up if you would like to participate. Check out this post at Party Time Tuesdays for more info. I hope all of you can make it! :)

Challenges:
Cupboard Trilogy - embossing
Joanna Sheen - Totally Sentimental
Robyns Fetish - use a digi
Sentimental Sundays - banners/pennants
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - no images, sentis only
Crafty Pad - dies & punches (MFT & Spellbinders)
Crafty Mess - words only
Card Makin' Mamas - try something new (technique)
Word Art Wednesday - inspiring senti
Paper Play - upcycle/recycle (postage stamps, cardboard)
Paper Pretties - primary colors

Keep Your Face to the Sunshine!

Coffee of the Day - Maple Pecan

Happy Monday to ya! Last week on my one day of feeling good, I had a chance to play with the wonderful "Jen's Sunshine" digi stamp set created by Paper Makeup Stamps. every time I see all of the fun bits from that set I just smile so BIG! :)


well the challenge today at the Digi Makeover is 'Endless Summer", so what better time to have a card about sunshine! There are 2 fab designers playing along, too: Carla Aerts is a new full time DT member and Sammibug is our Guest this week. Please stop by their blogs to tell them hello!




My card uses the sun, which I paper pieced, and the Helen Keller quote from the set. You can find it here in the Paper Makeup Stamps store. thank you again to Katie, Michelle, and Jenn for all they are doing to help my family! papers are Bo Bunny Vicky B, flowers are Prima, seam tape is vintage from our fave little antique store, and washi tape is from Etsy. the main senti piece was left in its Spellbinders die and sprayed with 2 colors of glimmer mist. the card size is to fit in a legal envie.

A blog hop is planned for Aug. 29 if you would like to join along. you can get in touch with Jenn through the Digi Makeover blog or send me an email if you would like. there will be prizes and lots of fun. I hope you will join us! :)

Challenges:
Crafty Bloggers - anything goes
Creative Stamp Friends - summer, sun, beach, and sea
Cupcake Craft - Great Outdoors
Squigglefly - speak to me
Tammy's Scrappin Corner - anything goes
Victorine Originals - summertime
Dream Valley - summer
One Stitch at a Time - use a digi
Robyn's Fetish - summer fun

Kinda Overwhelmed....

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Spice


I confess to spending a great deal of today pretty much in shock and awe... it isn't often you find me speechless. just ask my friends - it's tough for me to write an email message that doesn't turn into the Great American Novel. but today has been so very different. it's been hard to express every emotion that has passed through both my wonky head and heart.


You see, yesterday, the most lovely Cath, editor extrodinaire over at Paper Crafts magazine and writer of all things Moxie Fabilicious, sent me an email. She asked ever so politely if she could mention on her Moxie Fab blog about the Paper Makeup Stamps digi set that is being sold for my family. wow! now you have to understand that Cath has been emailing me almost weekly since my cancer diagnosis to check in with me. even in the midst of some of her own health issues, she still took the time to make sure I was doing okay. how freaking amazing is THAT?!?! I mean, she is like the Queen of papercrafting, and she was checking on ME? whoa nelly.....talking about feeling unworthy.... sheesh yeah! then she sends me this email yesterday. okay. I was done. tears they were a' falling!

So I emailed a few of my peeps to let them know what was going on, all the while in this weird fog, trying to wrap my head around all of this kind stuff happening..... not because I want stuff for or about me, but because a LOT of REALLY nice people have put a LOT of time and energy into this. I want them to see something good come their direction in any way I can. me, I'm over here hiding in my cave. truly.

then I wake up this morning after tossing & turning all night.... I'm serious when I say that this has really not been my thing and has me wanting to run for the hills... I sign into my email account and find a message from the lovely ladies over at Milk Coffee. they tell me that there is a little something on the main blog for me to stop by to see. I'm just gonna send you over there yourself so you can take a looksie, but suffice it to say, Niagra Falls. (quote from a family fave movie around here, "Scrooged" with Bill Murray). yep, the tears started all over again.

so if you could please do me a HUGEY HUGE favor. stop by Moxie Fab and tell Cath what a sweetheart she is. then hop over to the Paper Makeup Stamps blog and let Katie, Michelle, and Jenn know what angels they are. then make one last trip over to Milk Coffee and let them know that you are all about "Fighting Like a Girl" with them and how fabby they are.

I am humbled. there are so many beautiful people out there in this big ol' bloggy world. and I really do thank God that He has blessed my life by allowing me to know YOU! I am the one who has been made richer. I am the one who is so very thankful. and I rejoice in every moment! :)

Paper Makeup Stamps ROCKS!!!

Coffee of the Day - Girlfriends Blend (so appropriate today! hazelnut, cinnamon, vanilla, & chestnut)

I have to tell y'all about the most amazing, kind, wonderful thing being done over at Paper Makeup Stamps..... Katie, Michelle, & Jenn got together with artist Diem Pascarella and created the most precious digi stamp set for ME! :) You coulda knocked me over with a feather when they told me what they were doing.


This adorable digi stamp set goes on sale today in the Paper Makeup Stamps store. you can check it out here. You can also stop by the Digi Makeover challenge blog to see some of the cutest projects this side of heaven created by members of the DT.

I confess, I don't deserve this kindness. not in the least. but I am so very thankful to be surrounded by so much generosity, so much love. I am in awe and the tears just flow.

------> I will keep saying it - the sun is still shining, the birds are still singing. and this just proves that there are still blessings EVERY day. thank you from the bottom of my heart.

p.s. There will be a blog hop using this stamp set on Aug. 29. Be sure to watch the Paper Makeup Stamps blog for more details if you are interested in participating. :)

TLC Blog Hop!!!

Coffee of the Day - Salted Caramel Pecan


WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! It is time for the Create with TLC Blog Hop!!!! Aren't you excited?!?!?! is your coffee cup full? do you have a yummy treat with you so you won't have to get up and miss even one little moment of the gorgeousness that is being shown!!!

You should have arrived here from the awesome blog of my teamie Sara. if you get lost at any point along the hop, head over to Create with TLC for some guidance from Paulette, our beloved leader! :)


I was given this precious elephant mom and child image called, "Help From Mom" to play with for the hop. I love this one!!! paper is Basic Grey Curio, lace trim is some from my stash, buttons are vintage, tea tag is one I saved from a cuppa!, and guess where that fabby senti came from? yep, Paulette and Create with TLC!

and here is your free image ...... have fun crafting! be sure to send anything you make with it to Paulette! she loves to show your creations on the Create with TLC blog.

if you have any trouble saving the image, head over to the Create with TLC blog and Paulette will have the cutie image for you there as well. :)

your next stop on this fabby hop is my friend, Georgia! be sure to tell her I said hello! :)

Fun with Shapes and More - shabby vintage
Totally Papercrafts - animals
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - distressing
Forever Friends - use sentiment
Paper Crafting Journey - die cuts and punches
Sentimental Sundays - anything goes

Cute Critters with Happileigh Scrappin

for the Kaboodle Doodles challenge post, please click here. thanks!

Hello again! I am back with my first posting as a member of the Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge Design Team! lots of exciting things have been happening in my little world, as you can tell! :)

For the challenge this week, we get to use our fun critter images. any kind of little animal will do - mice, cats, dogs, even..... horrors........ monkeys, although I would be the very last to call them cute or cuddly. ;) wouldn't you know it, Mick is dating the most amazing girl whom we love dearly, but goodness gracious me, her favorite animal in the whole wide world is those dreaded monkeys..... poor thing. my goal is to tell her of their ickiness if it's the last thing I do. but I digress.....

ahhhhh.... cute bunnies. much better! lovely little bunnies! and this one is about the cutest of them all! and isn't she sporting an adorable PINK bow in her hair, I mean ears?! giggles! I will be sending this off to Jocelyn, so I used her 'other' favorite - purple. I will craft the days away with purple..... can you tell how much I am scared of monkeys? well God tells us not to have a spirit of fear and I really work on it around those guys! ;)

on to the deets - papers are from K & Co. Flora & Fauna collection. the vintage book page was sprayed with a purple shade of glimmer mist.... sorry I don't have the exact color in front of me right now. the 'friends' tag was made using one of my vintage book page scraps. the gorgeous flower was made using some petals sent to me by one of my favorite Etsy sellers. I added a vintage button to the center. a scattering of dew drops across the bottom finish off the card.

Now I know we all have some fun animal images, so I do hope to see you at the challenge! have a great day! :)

Sundays with Crissy - distressing
I Did It - floral
Creative Craft - pretty blossoms
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - fave stamping item (gosh, they are all on here - vintage papers & buttons, trims, flowers, tags, florals, PINK!)
Try it out Tuesday - flower power
Crafty Pad - texture
Paper Shelter - lots of dots

Cut it Out at Kaboodle Doodles

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Macadamia Nut

Good morning! I hope you are starting out your week on a happy, happy note!

I am sharing my first post as a member of the Kaboodle Doodles Challenge Design Team! in fact today is going to be one full of several first posts, so please check them all. :)

This week we are being asked to cut out something with our scissors. I decided to do this on a few levels. First I tried a new-to-me technique - out of the box. gosh, it was so fun that you are going to be seeing a lot more of this, I can tell you! also, this cute little sun was cut out after being printed on that gorgeous yellow paper, which is part of the Basic Grey Junebug collection. then the leaf, heart at the side, & flower were all popped up on dimensionals. the clouds were die cut from writing paper & edged in stickles. the tips of the sun rays were also dotted with stickles. oh gosh I almost forgot, this cutie little bear as well as the sun come from The Stamp Fairy who is sponsoring the challenge this week. The prize is 3 images from her store. so cool!

I do hope you will play along this week & welcome the other new DT members, too. :)

One Stop Craft - summertime
Totally Gorjuss - summertime
Wee Memories - summer
Fresh Brewed Designs - 2 shapes, 2 patterned papers, 2 embellies
Stamp Fairy - try a new technique

Celebrate Good Times!

Coffee of the Day - Caramel Creme

Howdy folks! sorry it has been a week since I last posted. Blogger has been giving me some fits again lately, so it was tough for me to post. hoping hoping that this one goes through...... keeping fingers crossed that they can get all of the problems fixed. honestly, in light of the tragedies with the storms across our country and around the world, blogging woes pale in comparison. my prayers to all of those affected.

Be prepared - in the next few days (again, crossing fingers Blogger co-operates!) you are going to be bombarded with lots of papercrafting posts here! so grab your coffee or tea and get ready! :)

This evening's card uses a fun cupcake turtle image from Whimsy & Stars. I paired it with a sentiment from Raindrop Echo, which was sprayed with candy apple glimmer mist. the cupcake icing, hat ruffle & pompom have been covered in stickles. the candle flame was painted with shimmerz. papers are from the new Basic Grey Hellow Luscious collection - what a fabby one!!!!! The gorgeous flower is a Prima. buttons were salvaged from a shirt David was throwing away...... love to do that!

see y'all tomorrow! love ya!
Jennifer

Do You Stack Up - animals
Crafty Sentiments - Special Occassions
Digi Doodles Shops Best - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties - birthday
Crafting For All Seasons - Anything Goes
Truly Scrumptious - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - anything goes
Partytime Tuesday - animals
Karen's Doodles - make it sparkle
Stamps R Us - going digital
Simply Create - special event
Corrosive Challenges - cupcakes

'Owl'Ways Together :)

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Biscotti

Hello there! Sorry to have been away again. Once we got over the icky tummy bug, I came down with pneumonia and a sinus infection. I am sooooooo ready to not be sick anymore. So I am done with it all - okay? sound good to y'all? deal! :)

For today I am playing in the challenge over at Isabella's Sketchbook - use the sketch provided. well, I turned it upside down, being the rebel that I am. I tried to keep in mind that I am sending this to my sweetie, so kept the frilly frou frou to as much a minimum as I could. Even added some sticks to make him happy! giggles! guess which owl is me? yep, it's tough I know, but give it a go anyhow.........

Papers are the new Basic Grey Green at Heart. This is an AMAZING collection! I love the colors and designs! The curry areas have been painted with beeswax shimmerz for a little extra shimmer shine! I have had this vintage/retro lace trim in my stash for a while, and thought this would be the perfect time to use it, since it is more of an accent on this card. I used the distressing technique I told y'all about a few weeks ago again - distressing with water and ink. That hot pink turned out much hotter than I anticipated once I got going with it (not so hubby-friendly), so I pulled out my ink squirty tool and 2 different markers - celery & cocoa, to help create a more subtle look to the main image. I also gave a wash of caramel ink to the bg to help as well. it is amazing how several little tricks can create a totally different overall effect.

Thursday starts the big Create It Green Earth Day blog hop, so I hope you check back. I also plan to have a little Squigglefly something for you tomorrow if all goes well. Thanks for hanging in there with me! It sure means a lot! :) love ya!!!

Paper Sundaes - Card with no people
Stamp with Fun - Animals

Smile and the World Smiles with You! New Releases with Shirleys 2 Girls! :)

Coffee of the Day - Caramel

Well who should appear today, (or did he?! grins!), but our favorite cat - The Cheshire Cat! Shirleys 2 Girls have outdone themselves with this fabulous new line featuring our favorite characters from Alice in Wonderland!

and today, yes, I actually have a card to show you! I am using some of the new digi papers that the Girls have created to go along with these fun new characters and digis. Please be sure to check them out here at the store. My wonderful teamie, Gina, has a project to show you, too, so head over to her blog to see what she has to show you!

My card also uses Basic Grey Origins paper for the tree. I punched some small leaves and popped them up on foam tape for extra dimension. The Cheshire Cat is also popped up on foam tape. The street signs on the post have been covered with crystal effects. I love the funky bizarre, but true Alice-y feel of this card! Looks as if it would be perfect to send to someone who is lost down that proverbial rabbit hole! giggles!

Don't forget to play in the Twisted Thursday challenge this week - use green on your creation. Link your post to the challenge blog using Mr. Linky. can't wait to see what you make!

Challenges, Challenges!

Coffee of the Day - Creme Brulee

I am probably breaking every cardinal rule of posting today, but I am combining 2 challenge cards into one post. mainly because I am so whooooooped and so busy with catch-up projects and just don't want y'all to have to wade through lots of stuff on my blog. plus I know you get tired of all of my blathering anyhow! grins!

so here goes.......

My first card is for the challenge today over at Crafts 4 Eternity. this is my first card as a DT member with them, and I am so excited! The challenge is a sketch and a recipe - use an inking technique and fabric. The card is a bit busy, but my guys did all really like this. It is going to a guy who is a good friend of ours. We have known Geoff and his family for over 10 years. He plays football and injured his wrist very badly this year. Ended up going to the Mayo clinic in MN for some pretty serious surgery that involved bone and nerve grafting, so will be out of school for quite a while. Anyhow, I used some fabric scraps, cork bits, strips of burlap, and knotted twine to create the bg. The piece of Basic Grey Boxer cs was burned around the edges to create an old world feel. I took a chipboard frame from Making Memories and inked it over with navy, then marked the circles with a silver sharpie. The image is from Digital Stamp Oasis.

Creative Card Crew - Get Well

Crazy 4 Challenges - 3 Textures

Incy Wincy - textures

My next card is for the challenge at Paper Sundaes, sponsored this week by The Stamping Boutique. As soon as I saw that pretty pink Vespa I showed you earlier this week, I knew I was going to have to create something with Tracey's adorable Princess Late Vespa image! The sketch challenge offered at PS this week seemed perfect! My papers are again Basic Grey, but this time from the Sultry collection. I painted parts with my pink shimmerz to give that extra bit of glitter that every Princess needs and of course, wants! Added some rhinestones to give a bit more glitz, as well as some vintage and new buttons. The lace trim seemed to be the perfect way to finish off the sketch. The SU! sentiment applies to both the Vespa and the Latte, of course! giggles! oh some day, pink Vespa, you will be mine...... some day! :D the larger Latte cup on the side in popped up on foam tape.

Stamp, Scrap, & Doodle Sat. - Sparkle & Shine

Treehouse Stamps - Bling

I hope you can play in some of these fun challenges with us!

It's a Pocket Patootie Blog hop with Stamping Boutique!

Coffee of the Day - Texas Turtle


Welcome to Day 2 of The Stamping Boutique's Pocket Patootie Blog Hop! if you were able to visit the DT member's blogs yesterday, then you saw some GORGEOUS creations with these cutie patootie new images that Tracey has drawn! She is one talented lady and I am just as blessed as can be to be a part of this team! :) If you missed any of Day 1, please start over at Rhonda Z.'s most fabby blog! (the master list is also here in case you lose your way)

Well grab your coffee cups and let's get going! I am using the cute new image, 'Birds Pocket Patootie' for my card today. All of the PP designs can be found here at the store, but I know while you are there you will want to wander the aisles and do some more shopping, especially since Tracey has a special discount code available for this weekend only that allows you 35% off your entire purchase!!! just type in the coupon code 'bloghop' prior to check out. easy peasy pumpkin pie!

I am also using Stef's sketch challenge from the TSB challenge blog. Be sure to play along if you get the chance! These are always fun, as well as great to use any time you find yourself in a quandry for a great card or scrap layout. The papers are from the Cosmo Cricket Early Bird collection. How appropriate is that?! giggles! The little heart on the pocket tag as well as the music notes have been painted with shimmerz. the little highlights have been accented with my spica glitter pen. I used an assortment of both new and vintage buttons. Because birds love to gather all kinds of things to make their nests, I took a piece of string from an old tea tag for tying my buttons. I left the twine dangling, as well as the little staple showing. I thought this created a fun look with the birds and nest. Kind of a vintage feel with the papers, too. A SU! rub-on (you know how addicted to these I am!) finishes the card. The card base edges were inked with vanilla craft, as well as all paper edges being inked. The matted main piece is distressed.

Now hoppity hop hop on over to *Tobi's most wonderful blog* for more cutie patooties! you don't want to miss one bit of the fun! thanks for stopping for a cuppa with me! :)

Other challenge categories:

Paper Sundaes - distressing

Cupcake Crafts -friends

Stamp Something - recipe: dsp, buttons, ribbon

Cupcake Inspiration - buttons & thread

A Digital Stamp Oasis Get Well :)

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Macadamia

Several people I know have been sick so I thought it was time to make a few get well cards. I love this cute little butterfly and inchworm digi image from Digital Stamp Oasis, so thought it would be fun to use for one of them. I decided to pull out my Cosmo Cricket Early Bird paper pad for this card as well as another card you'll be seeing. These colors are such fun to use!

I added some stickles to the circles on the mushrooms and shimmerz on the butterfly. just a bit of sparkle to brighten a day for someone not feeling so good! :) Toss on some buttons with ribbon and we are good to go! Thought to do something different by stamping the sentiment right on the punched flower. I think it turned out kinda cute!

Card qualifies for the following challenges:

Pile it On - get well

Crafty Sentiments - sketch and kraft cs

Creative Card Crew - get well

Flutter By - open

Creative Belli - Butterfly or Dragonfly

Stamp, Scrap, & Doodle Sat. - Charming

Stamp Something - recipe: DP, ribbon, buttons

Rain Rain Go Away..... but bring the snow! giggles!!!

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Macadamia

Hello everyone! I was actually able to drink coffee today! yippppeeeee! also tried some card making..... not my best by any means, but hey - I got a card made! I think perhaps I will wait another few days before trying again, but it did feel good to get some ink on my fingers again!

I used this cute little squirrel friend from Digital Stamp Oasis. I was doing a bit of catching up on my over 3000 emails sitting in my mailbox, and came across this wonderful card over at Thinking Inking - a blog I visit as often as she updates. I CASE'd Debbie's adorable sketch layout (3rd project), but not to fear, my card doesn't even begin to come close to that adorable card! That is what inspired me to get crafting today. Of course I made to with the tools I have and what I wanted to convey with my card. Not only that, I was challenging myself with this glitter paper - some that I had picked up a while back as part of a pack even though the bright colors are not my style at all. I added some shimmerz paint to the flower center as well as the puddle. The rain has been higlighted with my glitter pen. The primas are dotted with fruit punch stickles in the center & then accented with punched leaves. Vintage buttons complete the scallop double border punch. Love the look of the big grosgrain bow! The sentiment is a rub-on from Basic Grey.

Challenges:

Fussy & Fancy Friday - Dazzle

Digital Tuesday - Animals

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Punches

Paper Sundaes - Glittery Spring

Pink Elephant - Ribbon

Pile It On - Flowers

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - digi coloring

Creative Belli - Ribbons

Please Feel Better Berry Berry Soon! :)

Yep, you don't hear from me for a week 'cause I am out sick, and then suddenly you get 3 posts in one day! it's like a great big banana split of fun with not one, but a whole jar of cherries on top! :)


I wanted to make a card for my son, Mick, who had a bit of an accident yesterday. He was out rock climbing with some friends - getting ready for a big trip they are planning to Kentucky over spring break. Took a tumble and sprained his ankle. (at least we are hoping and praying that is all that has happened) He is such a trooper, but I realized that I haven't made him a card in like, FOR-EV-ER!!! shame on me! I make cards for David all the time, but rarely do I make them for the boys anymore. I have GOT to do something about that. So I sat down tonight, looked at my notebook of challenges, and got busy.


I started with this cute little 'Sammy Squirrel Eats Strawberries' image from Digital Stamp Oasis. Mick loves strawberries almost more than anything else in the world. and I wanted something to make him smile. Kinda hard to find something to make a 17 year old young man smile when it comes to digis!!! but I knew this little fella would do the trick. I grabbed some fun K & Co. paper that just came in from my prize winnings from All That Scraps. I used the sketch challenge from Paper Take Weekly. Because this card it being tayored especially for Mick, it qualifies for the challenge over at One Stop Craft - to make something personal for someone. The darling felt strawberry is from Martha Stewart, as is the border punch I used. Added in some of my wonderful vintage buttons, and yep, he DID smile when I gave it to him! I think he was very surprised to get something from me. Since I used a digital image, this works for the challenge over at a brand spankin' new challenge site, I Love Digi Challenge Blog. You need to go check it out and add it to your regular challenge list. I plan to! :)

Other challenges :

Stamp, Scrap, & Doodle Saturday - Open challenge

The Craft Garden - card for a boy

A Spoonful of Sugar - Freestyle

Did you know today is Thursday? :)

well...... not really, but I AM showing you my contribution for the current Twisted Thursday challenge at Shirleys 2 Girls! since I was sick last week and didn't get mine posted on the proper day, I am showing it to you today, so in a way, it IS Thursday..... let's all say 'Time Warp'! are you singing and doing the dance with me? visions of Rocky Horror and Tim Curry going through your head? okay..... must be my fevered state, but I do love that movie, although it isn't quite the same on DVD as it is at midnight in a theatre full of screaming college-aged fans......... okay... moving on......... giggles!

Before I share my card, I want to let you know that the winners for the Indulgence blog hop have been posted here on the winners page, so head on over! congrats to the lucky ladies!!!! You can always find the winners for all challenges, hops, etc. here. (shhhhh...... here is a little secret for you - Feb. is the birthday celebration month for S2G and there are going to be soooooooooo many chance for prizes that your head is gonna be spinning! but you didn't hear it from me! grins!)

Now on to the sketch and my card ~you are gonna love the twist for this week - CHOCOLATE!!!! how much sweeter can life get? you can use the actual image of candy itself, the color, or get creative! I used Basic Grey Bittersweet paper and this cutie digi called 'Coffees'. surprised, aren't ya?! :D that will always be one of my fave ever indulgences....... oh sweet bliss....... whoops, getting off track again......... The whipped cream on the drinks is flower soft I added little red beads for the cherry sprinkles on the one mocha drink..... yum yum! For the circle elements of the sketch, I chose to use vintage buttons - 1 with a prima flower and the other with some vintage seam tape. just goes to show how you can stick to a sketch but still mix it up a bit and make it your own! added in a rub-on and the card is ready to send off! The doily adds the perfect coffee shop effect!

So please be sure to play along in the challenge with us! 2 winners are chosen each week. who knows - one of them might be YOU!!! :)

Don't forget that a hugey hugey huge sale is still going on over at the store! great deals are still to be had!!!!

New Challenge at Squigglefly

Coffee of the Day is actually tea 'cause I am fighting the flu - Earl Grey with Lavender (hubby was so sweet and picked this up for me! he's such a blessing to me!)

Sorry that I have been away for a while, but man oh man, a nasty ol' flu bug grabbed a hold of me last week and still hasn't let go. I feel like I have been beat with a whammy stick, run over by a Mack truck, hit with a freight train, and then left out in the freezing rain for months on end. then my poor tummy is a whole other story, but no more of THAT!!!

Today is a new challenge over at Squigglefly! This week the challenge is to make a mostly white card that shimmer shines! Be sure to play along, as there are now prizes every week. All you have to do is use a Squigglefly image (there are freebies available at the store site), and link your creation to the challenge site.

Well, you know that white space is NOT a friend of mine, so this was really a BIG challenge for me. I decided to start with this precious image by Lynne Stansbery called Winter Friends. The papers are Basic Grey Wisteria. Now there is shine ALL OVER this card that didn't scan well, so I am gonna tell you about it! grins! To start, the pink boots ('cause every girl would want a pair of bright pink glittery wellies, dontcha think? I know I STILL want some!!! giggles!) are painted in pink shimmerz, the coat in celery shimmerz, and the mittens in December Sky blingz. The ground is coated with chunky glitter. Little snowflakes are added in the sky with frosted stickles. The papers are outlined with my spica glitter pen. The snowflakes along the card's edge & above the main image are actually silver sequins, as is the little baby sequin below the main image. The edge of the coat and hood are covered in white flower soft. I added some vintage laces (double row) and vintage buttons to finish it off.

Stop by the other DT members blogs to see their creations, and then go get started on your own! I know you will have lots of fun creating! :)

p.s. I found out that one of the cards I made has been featured at SNR for the week and another made the top 5 featured at Little Red Wagon. so play in those challenges and post your cards to the galleries! you just never know.......

News and a Masculine Card.....

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Spice

Good morning to all of you! I hope it is a glorious morning wherever you are! It is COLD and rainy here...... not cold enough to snow, but cold enough to make your bones creak and make you want a BIG cup of coffee or hot choco to keep you warm....... hey, who doesn't ALWAYS want a BIG cup of coffee or hot choco?!?! giggles! I have heard about a place called Mary Lou's in MA from my S2G teamie Ann that has PINK take out cups for their coffee!!! how much fun would that be?!?! road trip anyone?

anyhow, I digress as always........

I have several bits of fun news to share with y'all today. I meant to get to you yesterday with it but got sidetracked by life...... anyhow..... on with it you say? well here goes! :)

First off, I am now an official member of the DT for Digital Stamp Oasis!!! I know!!! Isn't that the coolest?! Ellie is just the nicest person, and I really look forward to working with her, her hubby, and the other PHENOM talented ladies on the team. You can see their work on the blogs listed in my sidebar. Please go leave them some congrats comments! I know it would make their day! Please join our group over at PCP. you know how much fun those groups can be! :) I have a card to share with you in just a sec.....

Next I want to let you know that in April I will be one of 2 Demo Artists at the Rubber Stamp Convention in Akron. I am super-dee-duper psyched about this! More deets will follow as I get them, but gosh, am I excited! I will be working with products by Ranger - the folks who make those distress Stickles I tell you about all the time.....

Now on to my card.....
I am using the ship digi by DSO and papers from the Basic Grey Marrakech collection. I haven't made a masculine card in a while, so thought it was high time. The watercoloring I do seemed a perfect fit with not only this image, but the whole feel of the card. The punch is from Martha Stewart, and I added a nautical button that I found at JoAnn's on SALE! wooo hooo - gotta love that! Thought a bit of heavy twine seemed to work better than lots of ribbon, although I like the way the ribbon accents the corner behind the button. The rub-on is from Stampin' Up! I am really getting into using rub-ons lately for my sentiments. yep, behind the times, I know, but so versatile!
This card fits several challenges:

• Pink Elephant - sketch
• Cooking It Up With Katie - 'non human' image, texture, something new
• Colour Create - kraft, blue, white
• Incy Wincy - Colour Me Wonderful
• Creative Card Crew - Punch It
• Simon Says Stamp - Punch It
• Stampin B's Design Team - Nautical Card

It's A Shirleys 2 Girls Blog Hop! :) Indulgences Abound!

Coffee of the Day - Caramel Truffle

Edited to add - The Girls have decided that we were all having so much fun with the hop that they want to keep it going for a few more days! So we are gonna keep hopping until next Wed., Jan. 27!!! wooo hoooo! :)

Welcome to the S2G Blog Hop! We are all about Indulgences today - those wonderful things that make you feel oh, so good! If you have arrived here from *CAT'S FABBY BLOG*, then you are right on track. :) if at any point you lose your way along the hop, just head over to the *S2G challenge blog* for a complete listing.

We have 3 Different Prizes you could win! There is 1 Grand Prize,
1 Second Prize, and a third prize of a gift certificate hidden somewhere
in amongst the DT's Blogs. So, sit back, grab a latte, relax and enjoy
the TOUR!

****Before you leave to go on the 'Indulgence Tour'...leave a comment
about one of your favorite ways you pamper yourself.
You must do this in order to be eligible to WIN.

GRAND PRIZE Winner:
spa gloves
spa slippers
eye mask
manicure set
bath fizzy
body lotion
felt coasters
shaped paper clips
chipboard buttons
3 mini glitzy frames
ribbon
small charms
rhinstones
glitter
2 clear stamps
6 DPs
chocolates
tea or coffee
3 digi images of Indulgence
2 jelly roll pens

2nd PRIZE:
1 set of Indulgence Images (the dreaming chocolate, cake, slice of cake, box of candy)

3rd PRIZE:
$15.00 S2G GIFT certifiicate

I decided to make a fun little coffee gift set using the new digis French Blend and Cake Piece, as well as the Coffee Sentiments. I took a cardboard box left over from a Market Day purchase and painted it with acrylic paints. The papers are from the Basic Grey Sultry collection. The gorgeous buttons are from S2G! don't you see why I love these buttons?! I turned the cake into a wonderful chocolate raspberry torte by going over the squiggles with a pink glitter pen. I added some little black polka dots with coal shimmerz, which I also used on the fleur de lis on the take out coffee cup & litle dots there as well. I really would have pink take out coffee cups if I ever had my own coffee shop! didn't it turn out cute?! giggles! The box is wrapped in the most luscious velvet ric rac trim tied in a bow. It is filled with 3 types of single serve coffees: chocolate velvet, caramel truffle, and french vanilla. so VERY yummy! the card obviously matches the box. oh yes, the fork is painted with Hi HO Silver shimmerz. The box is 5" x 5" square.

Now on to the winner of the wonderful Shirleys 2 Girls blog candy................

the winner chosen at random by my hunny bunny hubby is................................................


Angie!!!


and I am giving a 2nd place giftie of the new digi #112 'Chocolate Dreams' to................ Melissa S. and a 3rd place prize of the new digi #136 'Cake' to............. Tammy Miller as well! So ladies, please email me right away! (go to the 'my profile' area and you will find the area to contact me) You will have so so so much fun with these GREAT items!!!!

From here you want to head over to the *AMAZING BLOG of JUDY*!!!! You are in for a treat! :)

p.s. I would like to add - please if you would stop to say a prayer for our fellow S2G teamie Deanne Burton and her family. They have just discovered that her MIL, Linda's cancer has spread, and the family is obviously devastated. We all know that God is the Master Physician and the bringer of comfort. May He hold them close in His arms of love - now and always.

Sweet 'N Sassy Hearts

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Macadamia

Hello everyone! So how are you today? Did any of you have yesterday off? Did you get to spend some fun time with your friends and family? My guys all went bowling while I got to stay home and craft! Happiness for everyone! :) grins!


I have 2 cards to share with you today using digis from Sweet 'N Sassy.

My first card uses hearts from the digi set 'All My Heart', which was released the first week of Jan. I made the hearts 2 different sizes prior to printing. Thr dark lines were outlined with a spica glitter pen for some extra sparkle. The papers are from the Basic Grey Sugared Collection. Added some neat May Arts leaf ribbon and dew drops along with a Prima flower.


The second card uses the newly released digi set 'Blowing Kisses'. This teddy makes me smile! :) I used some fun papers from Basic Grey Two Scoops for this one. The hearts are painted with shimmerz. The bear is stippled with ink over the watercoloring to add more texture to his fur. Gives lots more dimension irl. I am using this card for the sketch challenge over at Paper Sundaes, a new challenge blog. I was blessed enough to win their first blog hop blog candy! super exciting! This also qualifies for the challenge over at One Stop Craft Challenge - Love & Kisses. so happy to come across these fun new challenge blogs! :)

I am having so much fun at Sweet 'N Sassy! Everyone is just so kind! Have a glorious day!
Jennifer