Boys and Their Pumpkins...

Winner at Joy Clair

Coffee of the Day -  Bourbon Pecan

Please forgive the tardiness of my post, but a new challenge began YESTERDAY over on Elisabeth Bell's beautiful challenge blog. I was so busy working out at Camp for several groups that were there through yesterday that I completely forgot to schedule my post. shame on me! please pop over to see the lovely projects created by my teamies to inspire you for our new theme, 'Autumn or Halloween.'

I chose to go with the 'Autumn' theme for my card, using this adorable little fella from Elisabeth's line at Whimsy Stamps. he is 'Little Jack Happy Harvest' and just as cute as can be! I stamped him with a neat ink by Ranger called graphite that looks just like pencil lead. it is super cool irl. almost gives that 'no ink' look you see on some digital projects that some of the really talented folks do, but is easy for the not talented people like me! :)

papers are from the Authentique Grateful collection, seam binding is from Zipper Stop, and flowers are by Wild Orchid Crafts. pumpkin template is from Shape EZ and little wooden veneer leaves are from SU!. matting die is by Spellbinders. some vintage buttons and ribbon snippets along with a sentiment from a label maker complete the card. the little pumpkin he is holding was paper pieced.

thanks so much for stopping by! hope your week is fabulous! :)

Challenges:
Catch the Bug - color inspiration
Double D - plaid
{pin}spirational  - photo inspiration (plaid, pumpkin, colors)
WAW - anything encouraging goes
Joy Clair - color inspiration
Crafty Gals Corner - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wed - anything goes
Sisterhood of Crafters - pumpkins or orange
Kraftin' Kimmie's Wonderful Wed - anything goes
Dare 2B Artzy - fall

Sun Fun Beach Kitty

Winner at Show Us Your Cats
Winner at Crafty Calendar

Coffee of the Day - Salted Caramel

I have a fun little shaped card to share with all of you today. I know it seems like it's been ages since I last shared anything with you. so very sorry about that. been so busy behind the scenes getting projects made for upcoming posts. :) horrid tease, aren't I?!

I am also joining the Doctor Digi DT over on their Facebook page, posting every other Thursday. the images are a hoot, some causing eyebrows to raise! not in an offensive way by any means, so don't worry.

edit - sadly some health issues have come up so I am now a 'one hit wonder' with this team. I'm not going to be able to be a part afterall, much to my dismay. but please do head to the store and Facebook group to see all of the fun things they have to inspire you.

Today is my first day posting, so pop over to the group. if you head to the store, you'll find sections of both free images as well as some called 'cheapies.' both of the images on my card today come from these 2 areas.

I placed the fun cat, Schrodinger (ha! the nerd in me loves this!!) under the beach umbrella and then fussy cut the scene. I then painted in a little sand and ocean for him. the great sun card shape is a template from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

papers are from the Basic Grey Shine On collection, buttons are from my vintage stash, red twine is from Michael's, and little flower is by Wild Orchid Crafts. sentiment was generated on the label maker.

p.s. I have a secret I have been hiding. Moon Pie, our rescue cat from 2 months ago, has an online girlfriend. yep. it's out now. meet Princess Anna. she is the model for my cat coloring these days. because it's not easy to paint a black cat and not have it look like a blob. so I seem to always paint Anna. grins! isn't she a beauty though? he comes up to the monitor every time my friend, Debra, posts a piccy of her. isn't that a hoot? he is smitten!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a most amazing day! :)

Challenges:
Crafty Creations - on the beach
Double D Challenges - I love polka dots (why, yes, I do!)
Creative Moments - anything goes with circles option
Show Us Your Cats - anything goes with a cat
Deep Ocean - seaside/beach
Classic DT Open Ch - anything goes
Critters and Creatures linky party - anything goes with a critter or creature
Cutie Pie - cute plus work, rest, or play
Animal Friends - summer
Country View - hot summer days
Creatalicious - sea/beach
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes w/patterned paper
Sisters of Craft - anything goes
Allsorts - spots and stripes
Crafty Calendar - summer fun
Dare 2B Artzy - animals

Sailing By, Little Crab

Coffee of the Day - White Chocolate Macadamia

Today's little crab is sailing by to say 'hello' to all of you! :) actually, he'll be sailing into the mailbox of one of our sons soon! I wanted a little something to brighten the day of one of our guys, and this fella seemed the perfect way to do so!

it's also Oldie But Goodie day over on the Bugaboo inspiration and challenge blog, so do pop on over to see what several of the DT members have created to inspire you. the big sale will soon be ending in the Bugaboo store, so be sure to grab those images you have had your eye on! the 50% off sale only lasts until the end of the month.

I have used the cutey 'Crab Boat' image on my card, in addition to papers from the Basic Grey Adrift collection. stitched cloud dies are by La La Land. it's a fairly simple card, but I wanted something easy to put into an envelope. burlap ribbon is from May Arts.

thanks so much for stopping by today! have a good one! :)

Challenges:
Paper Shelter - anything goes
Scrapping 4 Fun - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wed - anything goes
Male Room - red, blue, plus one color other than neutral (several shades of blue, hope that is okay. other color is golden yellow)
4 Crafty Chicks - fave designer/paper/company (Basic Grey is and always will be my ab fab fave EVER paper company!!)
CRAFT - summer
Creative Knockouts - anything goes
A Snowflake's Promise - summer

So We Live in a Nut House....

Coffee of the Day - Irish Cream

Thank you to those of you who took the time to leave comments on my post yesterday. we all have our own opinions, thoughts, and personalities which is what makes this world so great! I did post EVERY comment.

for those of you who have trouble receiving prizes you win, boy howdy, do I ever hear you on that one. but over the years I have come to accept that I am only going to receive about half of the prizes I win. it's just the way it goes. and there are some companies/stores/challenge blogs that I no longer visit just for that reason - they don't follow through on what they sponsor.

I do agree that there are some fabulous challenge blogs out there. some are just amazing about leaving comments, and for that I am most appreciative! :)
for the others, I do put a lot of blame on people who over-burden themselves by joining far too many DTs and then can't fulfill the commitments. I think we all know some people like that. my complaints have NEVER been for those that have life struggles get in the way from time to time. it  happens to all of us, and I truly do understand.

so back to crafting fun!
our wonderful son, Mick, is moving about 5 hours away..... sigh.... so of course I needed to make him a card. a little while back I came across a handfull of stamps from this neat company called Lavinia Stamps. I did a bit of investigating and discovered they are based in the UK, went to their site, and good golly! what gorgeous stamps and digis! I need to do some shopping very soon! grins!

Mick is our nature/woodsy guy who is studying wildlife conservation. so of course this cute little acorn fairy house stamp seemed just perfect to wish him all the best in his new home.

papers are from the Authentique Durable collection, flowers are by Prima and Petaloo, neat grey buttons are MFT, while the little clear one is from my stash, great natural wired trim is some I found at World Market at Christmas, zipper pull piece is off of a pair of jeans that were going to be tossed, and ticket is from my stash as well. little 'home' word was printed on the label maker. some faux stitching was added to paper edges, but my white gel pen is almost out of ink, so it's a bit faint. sorry! twigs from the yard finish the card.

Today is filled with loads of laundry, as my guys are here just until this evening from Camp. trying to get all of their things washed before they head back out. have a few card commissions to work on as well, so it's a busy, busy day!

be sure to sign up for the blog candy! have a great weekend! :)

Enjoy Every Moment Mice

Coffee of the Day - Creme Brulee

It has been YEARS since I took out my poor little mousies, my House Mouse stamps I mean. I was leaving comments on some blogs I follow when I came across a fellow blogger who was playing in the current House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge. it reminded me of the days when I use to play with my  mousey stamps all the time! not only do I have a bucket load of these cuties, but a friend I knew at the time let me play with a bunch of hers, too.

so up into the attic in the barn I went to track down my stamps. yes, it's a sad day when the mice are left in the barn.....and out came this cutey patootie stamp. it's called 'Walking in the Rain', but I am having a doozie of a time trying to track down anything on the House Mouse store site to try to link it. so very sorry.

the card is larger than the average bear to accommodate the large stamp. thank goodness I still buy 12x12 cs! grins!

papers are from the Basic Grey Fresh Cut collection, flowers are a combo of Wild Orchid Crafts, Petaloo, & Prima, buttons are from my vintage collection, gorgey ribbon is SU!, and tickets & doily are from my stash once again. used my label maker to create the remainder of the sentiment. the little banner is part of the Basic Grey collection, too.

raindrops were highlighted with my clear spica glitter gel pen, and tiny accents were added to some of the flower centers with a white gel pen.

boy howdy, I forgot how detailed these stamps are to color and tough to get a nice, clear stamped impression, too. I've been playing with digis so long, it's kinda nice to be using an actual big stamp again. :)

enjoy your weekend! it's Maple Festival here, which of course means lousy weather. we've had snow for several days, but now it's just cold. good to keep the sap running though.

don't forget to enter my blog candy while you are here. :)

Challenges:
House Mouse and Friends Mon Ch - April Showers
Sweet Sketch Wed - sketch
Pile it On - April Showers bring May Flowers
Craft for the Craic - die-ing for Spring or Easter (Spellbinders die)
Crafts 4 Eternity - anything goes
The Crafter's Cafe - ribbon or lace
Time Out Ch - 'You Can't Make a Rainbow Without a Little Rain' (I went with the rain portion of the theme)
Gruffies & Guests - patchwork with anything goes option
My Time to Craft - spring flowers
Lia Stampz - use ribbon
Art by Miran - anything goes
Dragon's Lair - add an animal
Art Impressions - April Showers bring May Flowers
Dream it Up - showers of showers
Throwback Thurs - any stamp older than 1 year (oh yeah, this poor guy has been in my barn longer than that!)
WAW - anything encouraging goes
Cuttin' and Stampin' - cute critters
Digi Sketch Ch - not sure if the theme is furry friends or flowers because both are mentioned, but thankfully my card covers both. ;)
Stamp and Create - anything goes
Sentimental Sundays - Animal Love
Whimsy - color an image