Some challenge cards...

Coffee of the Day - Cinnamon Hazelnut

Whew - I have several cards to post, but was busy with some other things today and forgot that one of them had a time deadline today..... just barely got it posted in time.....

The first card is for several challenges - one at Saturday Spotlight (to use snowflakes), Fussy and Fancy Friday (winter), Little Red Wagon (to use snowflakes also), and the other at Whimsy Stamps (to make a warm and cozy creation). The papers are from the new Basic Grey Sugar Rush collection. They seemed perfect for a warm, cozy feel! The felt snowflake trim is from Martha Stewart. I used red shimmerz paint on the tassels of the hat and scarf. Frosted stickles cover the snow on the ground as well as the highlighted portions of the snowman. The card is 5 1/2" square, and the edges are inked in white craft, as is the main image matting (which was also distressed).

My next card was made for both the Sweet 'N Sassy Digi Day at PCP yesterday and the Stampin' for the Weekend challenge to use a sketch. I used the adorable new SNS digi Fenton the Frog along with some glittery KI papers. His bright green spots are painted with evergreen blingz paint. I added some fun buttons, a Prima flower, and this gorgeous Shirleys 2 Girls organdy ribbon. by the way, the S2G blog hop has been extended until Wed. Jan. 27! you can play along and possibly win phenom prizes here at this post. The card base is white, so it shows kinda funky in the scan.

My last card uses the adorable stamp from Shirleys 2 Girls called Mazie at the Beach. This card is being used for several challenges: the sketch from Mojo Monday, Charisma Cards (fruity colors), and the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge. Papers are again Basic Grey Sugar Rush, flower is Prima, and the neat orange twill is a JoAnn's find. of course there are little touches of shimmerz all over this card - her flip flops ( every girl NEEDS a pair of glittery pink flip flops - 'nuff said!! giggles!), the flowers, the peace medallion, and the shell.

All cards qualify for the Dare You to Digi Stamp Challenge of using buttons.

Check back tomorrow for the new Squigglefly releases! :)

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.

Last Day for S2G Blog Candy Chance!

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Biscotti

You have until tonight at midnight to get your entry in for the big Shirleys 2 Girls blog candy chance! Hurry hurry hurry! I don't want you to miss out! The winner will be announced tomorrow at the BLOG HOP!!!! so be sure to stop by! :)

Yahoo Email Announcement...

Yahoo Email Announcement ~

If you have tried contacting me in the past few weeks and I have not responded, please re-send your email. I am NOT ignoring you, I am just not receiving a large percentage of my emails through yahoo for some bizarre reason.

I have made a few adjustments to my email options, so perhaps this will make a difference.

I am so very sorry for any troubles this may have caused. Please accept my most sincere apologies........
Jennifer

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

You Make Life Brighter in Blue

Coffee of the Day - Texas Turtle

Good morning to all of you! Today is a new challenge over at Squigglefly - CAS - Clean and Simple, with the color blue. the blue wasn't a problem for me - but CAS?!?! oh my stars, you KNOW me! what about me is clean and simple? nothing, my darling friends...... absolutely nothing. so this was the biggest challenge I have faced in a while. I did my best. I really did. I wanted to add buttons, frillies, all kinds of other embellies to liven this up. but no...... I couldn't. (I might still do it, but shhhhhhhhh.... don't tell Maria..... grins!) But I did give it my own special touches..... hang on - you'll see! :)

I found this wonderful new image called 'Bright Life' over in the store. isn't it fun? I see so many fun uses for this one! because the sentiment is separate, you can place it wherever you would like when laying out your digis prior to printing. I knew that I was going to add some 'light' from the lamp, so I put the sentiment down toward the bottom. That left a bit of 'white space' on the card - something that usually gives me the heeby jeebies and screams for some buttons or a beautiful prima flower....... but I was semi-strong here! grins! Instead I added a blow tied from the corner of the card with some matching vintage seam tape. Now I told you about my special touches (other than the distressing with the ink.....) you know of my love affair with shimmerz paints - yep, y'all are nodding your heads in agreement..... well, almost the entire lamp is painted with it. tee hee hee! it sparkles soooooooo pretty irl! The lamp itself is painted with the coal shimmerz, and the little frills of the shade are painted with wintergreen blingz. The beautiful paper is K & Co. Charlotte. it just seemed perfect for that vintage parlour feel.

So please be BRAVE and play along! and check out the creations from the rest of the DT, too! there is a fun prize for the winner this week! Link your project back to the site with Mr. Linky. and c'mon, if I can do it, ANYONE can do it! :D

The Challenge that never was.....

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Biscotti

Last night on SNR at the Squigglefly Pajama Party we had lots of fun playing and chatting up a storm! I hope that some of you were able to stop by for a bit. Maria and I had offered a bit of help to Holly in the planning stage of the party, and we had come up with a few technique dares to be completed. Well, as many digi parties go, we just ran out of time. So I wanted to show you the sample I created for the challenges that never took place. :)

The first set is for a dare challenge to make card candy - the fun little accents you can use on cards, scrapbook pages, or other paper crafting projects. I started with these fun new digis by Robin Willis: You Hold the Key to My Heart, Owl Love, and Cupcake Sweetie. They were sized to fit in my 1 1/2" circle punch. I love being able to re-size my digis! All of these use the same bg paper - Wild Raspberry by K & Co. The gorgeous flowers are Prima. The dsp is edged in rock candy distress stickles to give a beautiful sparkle irl. Each of these also has shimmerz painted on different accents - of course! you know me and my shimmerz love! :D I went ahead and made up a card with one of the flowers to show what it would look like. The dsp piece is also edged in the distress stickless, as is the little heart accent.

The next card is for a chocolate dare - make something chocolate themed: either the image, embellies, or colors. I used this fun sentiment 'Forget Love...' and created a tag. The papers are Basic Grey Sugared (just seemed appropriate! grins!). Flower is Prima, trim is Webster's Pages.

I hope you will check back tomorrow as it will be my team's turn for the weekly Squiggelfly challenge. and it was a tough one for me! but that is what challenges are all about, right?! have a great day!

don't forget my Shirleys 2 Girls blog candy chance going on also!

Create it Green with Squigglefly! :)

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Macadamia

Good morning! Happy Saturday to ya!

I have to start off this post by giving Deanne of Create It Green a ginormous apology....... yesterday was the first challenge of the year and I was late with my submission. no excuse other than I had my dates wrong. whack-a-doodle here thought it was supposed to be due on Monday. nope, it was to post yesterday. and Deanne is such a trooper. never in all of my time on DTs have I ever mixed up dates like that. I have been sick and not been able to make a project, but never have I been so lost in space that I completely got my dates wrong. must have been visiting Pluto, although I still can't used to the idea that it is no longer a planet..... what a blow to the self-esteem...... floating through space - thinking you are king of the universe, or at least the 9th wonder of the solar stystem, and BAM! you get knocked down to a moon, or a star, or whatever they call it these days....... but I digress...... I must have been out there offering some encouragement or something 'cause I sure didn't have my head on straight!

Check out the neat sketch that Deanne has created and be sure to play along! I have created 2 cards for this challenge - mainly because I felt so bad about my big mess up.... Both cards use new release digis from Squigglefly.

The first card uses the Shy Bear Morning Paper Bear image. I paired it with papers from the Basic Grey Indian Summer collection. I thought it would be fun to use some actual newspaper bits on the card, so I punched some circles, crinkled them a bit, and then did some distressing with caramel ink. 3 went down the side as shown in the sketch, while 2 were used to make the fun lollipop embellie. I did flip the elements on the sketch a bit, putting the sentiment, a rub on from SU!, at the bottom. you know I din't really do any sewing, but there is a bit of the 'X' factor in the buttons! grins! the twine for the buttons is some of the twine I save from our big dog food bags. I use this stuff all the time! The donuts on the main image have been painted with pink shimmerz. I think every guy loves sprinkle donuts! :D The card base is more of my coffee paper. I haven't shown any of this in a while - coffee grounds sprinled on cs, allowed to dry, and then dusted off into the garden or compost.

My next card uses 2 new digis, Growing Love and I Heart You. The paper is Basic Grey Euphoria. The pink paper for the heart and border is actually the re-purposed portion of the project. It was a manilla type paper that was wrapped around something (I think a candle) that I had purchased a while back as it was being packaged to put in the shopping bag. I saved the paper thinking I would do something with it. Ta Da! I sprayed it with 2 coats of rose tea glimmer mist prior to punching. It really shines irl! Of course every little girl needs shiny shoes and bows,, so these were painted with pink shimmerz. The flower is by Prima. Now I will have you know that I actually sewed on this card - yes, shock of all shocks! some of you are actually picking yourselves up off the floor right about now. don't expect it again anytime soon though...... grins! I do it about as often as I iron..... once or twice a year.

Please try to play along with the Create it Green challenge! it really is fun to see how you can re-use different things on your papercrafting projects. and tonight is a Pajama Party with Squigglefly over on SNR! lots of fun and games, to please join us there!

Have a great weekend! love to you!

Jennifer

Love is in the Air with Shirleys 2 Girls! and Blog candy!!

Coffee of the Day - Peppermint

It is another Twisted Thursday challenge with Shirleys 2 Girls! I just love these! :D I hope you will play along with all of us! The challenge this week is to create an ABC Valentine - Anything But a Card.

I decided to make a companion tag accordian book to the card I made last week. I used the fun Hearts Aplenty digi set, in addition to the Zola Fetch, Simplify, and Cup of Coffee. This is the link to the digis. Remember that there is a big sale going on over at the store right now.

For the accordian book, I used papers from the Basic Grey Porcelain collection. Flowers and sheer glitter heart are by Prima. Brads are Making Memories. Ribbons are Stampin' Up! and May Arts. Punches are Martha Stewart and Stampin' Up! Lots of distressing, both with ink and the distressing tool. I am giving this to my hunny bunny for Valentine's Day, so will be writing on the backs of the tags, but NO, I am not telling you what I am writing! giggles! :) and boy, did he make it hard to get this finished. he likes to watch while I make things, so keeping this a secret was reallllllllllllllly hard!

Now for the blog candy ~

In order to qualify for the drawing, I would like you to visit all of the other members of the S2G DT blogs. Please leave comments for them - not because you have to, just because it makes them feel nice when you do! Also, if you would like, join one or both of the S2G groups over at SNR and PCP. There again, you don't have to, but it really is great fun! I am not a believer in making people become followers of blogs or things like that. I figure, if you want to, you will. if not, no biggie. :) But after you visit the other DT blogs, come back and tell me how you were inspired by their AWESOME projects. I know you will see some wonderful things! They have so much talent!

I have some fun S2G buttons (I LOVE these things!!!), a few stamps (individual ones such as smooches), some ribbon, and maybe some other goodies I will throw in for good measure. :) I want you to experience the wonderful quality products of S2G the way I have! it's not a lot, but just a sampling...... The blog candy will be open until Wed., Jan. 20. I will announce the winner next Thurs., Jan. 21, when I do my next TT post.

Have a great and glorious day! Jennifer

Lotsa Sweet 'n Sassy love for YOU!

Coffee of the Day - Cinnamon Hazelnut

Hello! I hope that you are having a truly glorious day! I am showing cards that use Sweet 'N Sassy digis that were released this past week. They are just the cutest images and such fun to play with! :) Also, check out the 'Motivate Me Monday' over at SNR for a fun challenge going on this week. I hope to play later on.....

In both cards that I have made, I paired the digis with Basic Grey papers. The first card is made with 'A Note For You'. The papers are Basic Grey Junebug. I painted the envelope's heart with shimmerz to add a big of shine. I added a few buttons and used a fun Fiskars punch along the border. Of course he needed a big ol' heart! Some neat polka dot ribbon finished off the card.

The second card uses Basic Grey Nook and Pantry papers. The hearts, from 'All My Heart' are actually printed in 2 different sizes - one of the neat things about digital images. :) The centers of the flowers on the hearts have been highlighted with frosted stickles. I kept the card design simple here to focus on the fun hearts and sentiment. The trim is more of my JoAnn's find, and the flowers are Prima. little baby rhinestones were colored with sharipies and placed above the sentiment, which is part of this wonderful set.

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow! Check back for a fun blog candy chance! May your day be overflowing with blessings! Jennifer

Mosaic Sympathy

Coffee of the Day - Texas Turtle

Hello dear friends! I am sorry for the late posting today. I have been in bed sick, AGAIN, and just got up. I really don't like being sick. I realize no one does. But I just went through this last weekend for 3 or 4 days. Don't want to do it again. Do you hear me putting on the whiny face and falling on the ground, pounding my hands on the floor, kicking my legs like a toddler would do? ;) That is how I feel. Want it to go away and have the happy go lucky, birdies singing in the trees, flying in the window, landing on my shoulder like in Sleeping Beauty ('cause that is my favorite movie EVER in the whole wide world!!!) kinda mood to come back. Maybe tomorrow. Because God still sits on His throne and all is still right with the world even if I feel blechy. and He is just smiling at me right now as any Father would, 'cause He knows it will all be over soon.....

Anyhow... on to my card for today. I saw a few challenges as I was meandering around blog world and wanted to play in some more of them. They truly are quite fun. I hope you will attempt a few this week. One of my faves is Stampin Sisters in Christ. I wanted to play last week, but was just shy of getting mine finished in time. So this week I made sure to complete my project promptly. Based on this verse, we are to create somthing beautiful from something broken:

Hosea 6:1 "Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds."

This verse is so comforting right now. I decided to use the mosaic technique - one of my very faves and one I don't use often enough. The glitter paper is from Making Memories. Each torn piece was distressed with choco ink and the matted choco piece was distressed with my tool. Two ways to distress paper! The beautiful trim is from my JoAnn's stash, satin ribbon is Anna Griffin, flower is Prima, punch for leaves is Martha Stewart, and the button is a vintage one. The card base edges were sponged with white craft ink. The digi is from Doodle Beans. I painted the flower centers with caramel shimmerz and outlined the flowers & highlight areas with pink shimmerz.

Have a great evening! I will see you tomorrow!

Jennifer

Creative Card Crew Challenge - Distressing

Cute Daisy May - Flower and Ribbon

A wonderful Digi Designer - Phindy's Place! :)

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Macadamia

Good morning! I hope that you are finding this is a beautiful day! I woke up this morning feeling so gloriously blessed. Not in a financial or material sense by any means, but I am surrounded by the most precious family & friends a woman could possibly have. Our dogs and cats make me smile every single day. I see God's majesty in the nature all around me as I gaze out the window. I have met the most phenomenal people through this 'hobby' I call papercrafting. How could I possibly be left wanting? :)

I would like to take this post to introduce you to a most amazing artist, Philomena O'Neill, also known as Phindy. Her digis just make me smile - really BIG! they most certainly bring out the 'awwwww...... how sweet!' factor! Her store is called Phindy's Place and can be found on Etsy - and you know how much I love that spot!!! :) I have 2 projects to show you today, both of which I am entering in a few challenges. I will list those at the end of the post. These are some wonderful NEW images for me, and I was so excited to get ahold of them! n fact, the 'Cheep Cheep' image is a freebie to the members of her PCP group, so if you aren't one yet, what are you waiting for?! :D

My first card uses the image called "Counting Sheep. Isn't it just adorable? (the image, not my card... giggles!) The papers for both cards are from the Prima Nursery Tales collection. The edges of the main image were first sponged and then edged in frosted stickles. A good cyberfriend of mine, Dru, of Garden of Dreams, uses such pretty glitter on her vintage items. I am going to try to do more of that, so this is something NEW for me. Also, while I was enjoying the '12 Tags of Christmas' over on Tim Holtz' most inspiring blog last month, I saw him doing some REALLY neat things with stickles - none of which was just leaving the stickles in the plain line that comes straight from the bottle. He was always smooshing it around - so I tried that, too. another NEW thing for me. Added some wonderful vintage buttons from my stash and a bit of luscious satin Anna Griffin ribbon with a little pin. The card base edges are inked with white craft.

For the second card, I am using the brand spankin' NEW image 'CheepCheep' that just came out yesterday for all of the PCP members, as I mentioned above. I added some baby ric rac and gorgeous Prima trim. That beautiful flower is also a Prima and one that I just received as well, so it is NEW to me, too! A bit different than the Prima flowers I usually use, so I am trying to step outside of my box a bit, but still keep to my style. The card base edges here were also sponged with the white craft ink.

Now you may be wondering why I keep emphasizing all of the NEW stuff here........ well, some of these challenges are all about NEW beginnings and fresh starts. So I am trying out some NEW techniques, NEW products, NEW designers, and at the same time remember that every morning starts out with NEW mercies. Thank you, God for that! :) Your grace astounds me Every Single Day!!!

The challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - All New

Paper Take Weekly Challenge - New Beginnings

Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge - New

Stampin' for the Weekend - New Beginnings

Cards for Men - New

Squigglefly New Releases!

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Biscotti

Good morning! I hope you are having a wonderful start to your weekend!

I awoke to discover that my vintage thank you card from yesterday won the challenge over at Stamp, Scrap, and Doodle! Boy, was that exciting! The news was met with the usual enthusiam over here..... "oh that's nice, mom.... can I get back to my game now?" grins!

So on to the BIG news!!!! Today is NEW RELEASE DAY at SQUIGGLEFLY!!!!!!!!!! woooo hoooo!!! I am thrilled to show you 2 cards made with some fabby images 'Willow' and 'Load of Cakes'!

For 'Load of Cakes', I used Basic Grey Cupcake papers. Unfortunately the pale blue bg wash on the main image didn't scan well - but it's there irl. the candle flames are painted with shimmerz, and she is sporting some pretty fancy bright pink glitter shoes! I think a girl as fun as this one would wear pink shoes with EVERY outfit she owns, regardless of the 'matching' factor. I know I do! :D the cake sprinkles are covered in fruit punch stickles. I am using this card for the challenge over at Crazy 4 Challenges - birthdays.

For 'Willow', I immediately thought of the song "Lemon Tree" from when I was growing up. I have had that song running through my head for days now.... and I love it! giggles! bet you are singing along with me now, too, aren't ya? the lemons are painted with shimmerz. The quote is from a poem by Christina Rosetti. Papers are from the Basic Grey Lemonade collection. I used my spica glitter pen on the little fence, around the main image matting, to add some dots by the border punch, and to do some outlining along some of the other edges. Finally I added a leaf pin that is actually from the notions dept. at JoAnn's. what a find! I am entering this card in the Saturday Spotlight challenge, which is to represent love without using hearts.


Stop by the other DT members' blogs and the SNR group site to see some more fun samples. then head to the store to see all of the images released today.

Enjoy your weekend! Jennifer

A very very vintage thank you card

I needed a thank you card. well, I actually need several, but needed one for my MIL. then I came across several challenge blogs in the midst of my blurfing this week. Not one to turn down a challenge when I have the time to do it, I decided to try to incorporate them into one card. Now this one is a little more OTT for me than usual, so hold on to your seats before you scroll down. I don't normally go all out frou frou, but I think she will like it. I showed it to the guys and said I thought it looked like Grammy. Tyler proceeded to tell me that "Grammy doesn't look like a card, Mom!" of course he had that sly grin on his face at the time. smart alec..... :D wonder where in the world THAT comes from? hmmmmmmmm.......................... must be the OTHER side of the family. grins!

Anyhow, the paper is from the gorgeous K & Co. Classic Charlotte collection. The watch face (which I distressed with Timber brown Stazon ink and wiped off) & oval bracket are from Making Memories. buttons are Etsy vintage and that gorgeous gorgeous glower is a Prima. I downloaded the photo from The Vintage Moth, a really neat vintage clip art site. The little calendar clip art was a random find through google. The card base was distressed, edges inked with vanilla craft, and then the whole thing sprayed with walnut gold glimmer mist.

Challenges are for Saturday Spotlight - calendar and Stamp, Scrap, and Doodle - use a photo.

Longhorns, Mice, and Bouncing bunnies!

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Spice in honor of my Texas Longhorns

I am starting off my blog post in a most unusual way today. I have 2 cards to show you, and will most certainly get to that, but I need to share something with you first. I want to tell you how very proud I am to be a Texas Longhorn. I watched the Rose Bowl last night. Sure, I wanted the Longhorns to win. Sure, I cheered for them throughout the entire game, disappointed in the turnovers and interceptions, sad that Colt McCoy was injured at the game's start. But I saw a team pull together last night to rally around a young man, Garret Gilbert, a freshman quarterback who had no intention of taking over the position from his mentor in the National Championship football game. I saw what it truly means to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, not just talk the talk. I have read Colt McCoy's testimony of his faith in God. It is awe-inspiring. His answer to the question of "what were you feeling while you watched the game?" in the post game commentary moved me to tears. This man gave a testimony that we should all aspire to. He thanked God for everything, recognized the efforts of the other team, saying that even though he couldn't fathom the reasoning behind all that had happened, he truly trusted God for it all. and in just a short while he hugged opponent Mark Ingram, congratulating him on his team's win. That is what it means to be a Christ follower. not just say it, but really live it.

okay on to the cards.......

I am using some of the new images released last week at Squigglefly. New ones will be coming out tomorrow, so be sure to check back here for a few peeks!

My first card uses a cute little Proud Papa mousie. Stef has started the color challenges over at SNR, so head over to play along. The colors this time are chocolate, turquoise, and olive/artichoke. My papers here are from October Afternoon. Since I had mentioned to you before that I am really wanting to do a lot of re-using/repurposing with my crafting, I decided to pull out these little strips of packing material. I tied them together with the turq. baker's twine and added a button from Making Memories. The sentiment is a rub-on that is also from Oct. Afternoon. Check out the blog at Create it Green for lots more ideas on how to use recycling on your papercrafting projects. I will have several projects there in the next few days. The challenges will start up soon, too! :)

The next card I made in honor of all of my friends who seem to not be feeling so well lately. Know that I am praying for all of you!! I kept this pretty gender neutral, 'cause I'm not sure just which one I'm sending it to yet. The digi is called Get Your Bounce Back. I am sorry I don't know who made the papers, as they are from my old stash..... another thing I had mentioned I wanted to do! :D These buttons are also Making Memories. The card size is 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" square. I am using this for a challenge I discovered from my friend Sue of Sue's Sentiments. The challenge is over at Clearly Delightful and is to use a bunny on your creation.

Hope you are having a terrific day! love to you all!

Jennifer

It's a Twisted Thursday with Shirleys 2 Girls! :)

Coffee of the Day - Peppermint (to honor my S2G teamie Gina! waving!!!)

This is such an exciting day! It is my first post as an official "Lady with Attitude"!!!! Well, we all know that I have always had the 'tude, but now I can wear a banner proclaiming it! giggles! I am so tickled about this DT! so many talented ladies are a part, so I do hope that you will take a few moments to visit their fabby blogs. You will be inspired beyond your wildest dreams!

Now speaking of wildest dreams, this new image is guaranteed to knock your hubby's socks off! I can't wait to get this card in the mail to my sweetums.... The Twisted Thursday challenge this week is to use hearts and follow this sketch. Of course you can turn the sketch on its side or adapt it a bit, but be sure to link your post (and the specific post only please) back to the S2G challenge blog using Mr. Linky. TWO winners will be chosen using random.org to win their choice of a FREE digi from the store!!! not only that, but you will get a way fabbylicious blog badge to display......how cool is that!?!? you have until Wed., Jan. 13 at midnight to upload your creation.

Now on to my card....

I have done a bit of paper piecing with my AMAZING digi, Fetch Zola. It is super easy to do and creates such a neat effect! the papers are from the Basic Grey Porcelain collection. The glitter heart is from Prima and the heart ribbon is from May Arts. The tops of her stockings, the heart garter clasps, panties, and slippers have all been painted with various colors of shimmerz. This chickie needs to shine! :) The card is a large one - 5 1/2" x 6".

Please be sure to play along with us! And again, check out the new DT members blogs:

• Debbie
• Ann
• Anne
• Carlie
• Cat
• Deanne
• Georgia
• Gina
• Jana
• Jane
• Jeannie
• Judy
• Lisa

Ellies in LOVE! :)

Coffee of the Day - Creme Brulee

Happy cold wintery, snowy, beautiful day to you! can you tell that I am in my element here? I am sooooooo loving this weather! we have multiple feet of snow outside the door and we are all happy as Frosty! it has finally stopped snowing after many many days. it is absolutely gorgeous. will try to get some photos if I can. Hope you are staying warm and snug-a-bug wherever you are in this great big world!

I have the cutest little digi to show you today! It comes from Shirleys 2 Girls, who just happen to be the sponsors this week over at Digital Tuesday Challenge. yes, I am playing again, but goodness, it is so addicting! :) I am also using a sketch from The Sweet Stop.

My papers are from Basic Grey Two Scoops. That wonderful button is actually from S2G. if you hurry you might be able to get one just like it, as they are ON SALE!!!!! I wanted to do something different with my vintage seam tape, and do not sew as much as I would like to. me and bobbins do not get along. they attack me in quite vicious ways. REALLY! I am not joking in the least. they pop right out of my sewing machine into my lap every time I try to sew. so I gave up long ago. so I put down a strip of red line super sticky tape and went to town. I like the ruffledy look it gave. The hearts are painted with pink shimmerz, as are the lovely lady ellie's toenails. come on, aren't your toenails are shiny, too?! :D the little dots are covered in fruit punch stickles. so are her eyelashes. goes to show what true love does to ya....... giggles! at least that is what happens when I look at my sugar baby! and that is who this card is for! so watch out Dave! one fine day this cutie will arrive at work just when you least expect it! :)

everyone have a great day! love ya bunches! Jennifer

A Little Envie Filled with ..... a MOUSE?!?

Coffee of the Day - Cinnamon Hazelnut

Happy day to you! We are sooooooo buried in snow here, and I love it! :) Honestly, it has been snowing for at least 5 days now. We have several feet on the ground. School was closed yesterday, and it looks absolutely beautiful outside!


I want to show you a card I have made using one of the fun digis from Sweet 'N Sassy stamps. This little mouse is so cute! It is called Be Mine Cocoa. Two new digi sets are being released on Thursday, and it is also Digi Day over at SNR.


The papers are Basic Grey Lemonade. I added some neat trim from JoAnn's topped with baby pink ric rack. The heart on the envie is painted with pink shimmerz, and the trim on the valentine with wintergreen shimmerz. I finished the card off with a cute little crocheted flower and some buttons.




p.s. I am also using this card for the challenge over at Digital Tuesday Challenge - Valentine.

Starting the New Year with Squigglefly.... and it's PINK! :)

Coffee of the Day - Peppermint

Happy New Year to you and yours! I hope this year brings you everything beautiful, a sense of how truly loved you are, and a new knowledge of just how much God adores being with you!

I start my year with a posting that announces my welcome to the Squigglefly DT! yippeeee! What a wonderful group of talented women I am joining! So I thought I would make something using this wonderful digi by a new artist to Squigglefly, Rich Davis, and of course, make it PINK! :) Have to ring in the new year in proper Jen-style: pink, shimmerz, bow, heart, button - the works! giggles! the only thing missing is the Basic Grey paper, but I used another fave - October Afternoon. and a new fave embellie - sequins. so a little old, a little new......the heart is actually a Prima piece, so that is part of my crafty resolution: to use things that I have in my stash. actually the soft pink yarn is as well. The sequins do match irl, but the little gremlin in my scanner hasn't misbehaved in a while, so he decided to get in on the action today. The hearts on the plate have been painted with pink shimmerz.

Here are a few of my resolutions for this year:

• to re-purpose more in my crafting
• to use more of what I have in regard to my crafting
• to be wise in how I spend my $
• to leave comments when I visit a blog - if I have time to visit, I should be kind enough to say hello
• to take the time to visit more blogs, at least on a weekly basis
• to pay more attention to how God is trying to get my attention. He has always been faithful to me. I need to be more faithful to Him.
• to see God EVERY day all around me. to hear God all around me. to feel God all around me. to continue to talk to God EVERY moment.
• to show my friends and family how much I love them ALL THE TIME! :)

I had better stop there, 'cause that is gonna be more than enough..... how about you? do you have any resolutions? mine are more about wanting to be a better person, not just for a year, but for a lifetime..... can't do it on my own, that is for certain. will you help me please?

Love ya bunches! and thank you for walking with me and being my friend! Jennifer

p.s. oh yes, I used a sketch provided by Mish (loosely I must add! grins!) for this card. check out her blog and play along! :)

Sweet N Sassy Love Birds

Today is a new release at Sweet N Sassy Digis! and I am a guest designer for them for January! woooo hoooooo! how exciting!!!! So I wanted to show you a card I made using this beautiful digi called Love Birds.

The paper is from the K & Co. Que Sera Sera collection. I added some vintage buttons and flowers, a doily, a fun tea tag ( this is the re-purposing I have been talking about - doesn't it look cool?! ), and some May Arts ribbon. This digi is just beautiful. It is wonderful for Valentine's Day, but also for lots of other occassions.

Thank you for sharing with me in the excitement of my new crafting ventures! 2010 promises to be a fun year!

A Fond Farewell to Rusty Pickle......

Coffee of the Day - Creme Brulee

The end of the year brings a time to say goodbye to many things, one of which is the end of my term with The Rusty Pickle DT. I was truly blessed to serve on this team with such amazing talent. and blessed, too, because what was supposed to be a short one month term was actually extended to two. Most of the women will be continuing on, and I know you will visit their blogs and the store often, as will I. Best of luck to you, Michelle!

It just seemed appropriate for my last card with them to be a coffee card! and isn't this little guy adorable?! oh my, I am like him most days, begging for 'another please......'! :) The paper here is K & Co. Wild Raspberry. I think for me the sentiment would be better if it said two POTS rather than two cups....... but addicted to coffee..... nah!

I hope as this year closes out, you can reflect upon all that you have learned, all those you have loved, and most of all, the One who has never left your side!

Smooches! Jennifer

A Happy little duck..... and some MOST exciting news! :)

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Biscotti

Good morning! As I was getting my card package ready to mail off to Stef and Clyde (see yesterday's post), I realized that this cutie little duck card had never been posted on my blog before. oh the HORRORS!!! :D but really, this card always made me smile, so here's hoping it brings a bit of a grin to Stef. and just a bit of an update, her hubby made it home last night from the hospital. yippppeeeee! I would be splashing in the puddles like this little guy, too! He does have more appointments for follow-ups, but prayers for a COMPLETE healing are going up like wildfire!!

Papers for this precious little card come from October Afternoon. This is actually the same sheet of paper, just both sides. isn't is adorable?! they have some of the most fun designs!!! I was super-dee-duper blessed a few weeks ago and won the blog hop prize over at Jacksonbelle Embellishments - a sheet of every Oct. Afternoon paper she carries! boy was that a happy mail day! Thanks, Lindsey! okay, I digress like I always do....... The digi comes from Digital Ink, but I don't know if it is available any longer. The sentiment is from Studio G, flower is Prima, ribbon is actually some old purchased from a retro Etsy seller. pin comes from Maya Road.

Now on to the news.......... I have been chosen along with 13 other fabby ladies to be a 'Lady With Attitude' DT member with Shirleys 2 Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It took me all day yesterday to process the news! I am on top of the mountain with this!!! I will get my blog updated ASAP with the other blogs and blinkies and all of the good stuff, but gosh, this is truly a dream come true! You can head to the blog for more info, and p.s. check out the store for a huge sale & some fabby-licious buttons that have me drooling! :)

A Get Well Squirrel

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Spice

Holy Toledo, Batman, do you realize it has been almost a week since I last posted?! shame shame shame on me! Well hopefully now that the holidays are over and there are no more icky yucky blechy trips to the hospital for tests on the horizon, things will settle back down to the normal chaotic hum of life around here. ;) don't get me wrong - Christmas has a LOT of meaning, but goodness, we let it get so crazy sometimes. and the people at the hospital and doctors' offices are very nice, but gosh oh me, I am so tired of going for tests and stuff. so there. back to crafty fun time! as Cptn. Jon Luc Picard says, "Make it so......" giggles! yep, there is that nerdy side coming out in me again......

On to the card for today......

I found a neat challenge blog called The Sweet Stop and it is sponsored by Sweet n Sassy Stamps. I decided to play in this week's challenge, as I found I needed a get well card. A dear blogging and crafting friend, Stef of Glitterbabe Greetings, let us know Christmas Eve that her husband had been rushed to the hospital with a heart attack. All around the crafting community people have been gathering together to pray for them. Hopefully Clyde will be coming home today, but there had been a few complications that arose while he was in the hospital. Stef has just the brightest outlook and has been trusting that her dear hubby is resting in God's healing hands this entire time. Well, we all know that, but it can still be a lonely time, and a scary one, too. So dear sweet Holly over at the Squigglefy SNR forum decided to host a challenge for people to create get well cards for Clyde. I was gonna make one anyhow, but wanted to do my part to rally around. Isn't it cool how people from different stamping companies, etc. can come together to just love on someone?! man, that is the love of Jesus in action right there for ya! gives me goosebumps thinking about it! and makes my heart sing LOUD!!!! :)

So here is my creation. Had to keep the frills and frou frou to a minimum, but wanted it to be a little fun also. Used the squirrel digi from The Rusty Pickle and typed out a sentiment. Did some repurposing of materials on here as well. The leaves in the upper right hand corner were actually punched from a Starbuck's coffee cozy I had saved and wrinkled prior to punching. The twine in the buttons came from a bag of dog food. papers are Making Memories.

By the way, while on the subject of recycling, repurposing, & re-using, last night I was honored to receive an invitation from none other than Deanne Burton herself to become a member of her card DT at Create It - GREEN. There will be challenges and other fun things coming up in the new year, so be on the look out! I am very excited about this, as doing a lot of repurposing is at the top of my resolution list for 2010.

A Poinsettia Fruitcake Angel

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Spice

Now here is a combo for ya - pumpkin spice coffee, an angel holding fruitcake, and lots of poinsettias surrounded by plenty of glitter & bling! wow - it must be Christmas time! :D

There really wasn't a Twisted Thursday challenge over at Shirleys 2 Girls this past week - everyone was just supposed to show their Christmas cards. Well, since I had been sick recently, I never really got around to making multiples of any card. We just ended giving out a few, and they were ones I had already made. (Other than the ones David requested for Camp and the Church District office anyhow.) And I felt compelled to use a S2G image, but realized I only had 1 - this Christmas Fruitcake angel. I think she is so much fun, and the other card I made using her was a big hit with the receiver.

The paper is by K & Co. from the Evergreen collection. I love the color combo! So unique! Her wings and crown are painted with shimmerz. The plate is inked with my glitter pen. I used a gold gel pen to outline the main image on the matted & distressed piece, as well as around the dp on the card base. The Prima poinsettias have stickles in the centers as well as a bit rubbed on the card base edges and the centers of the poinsettia on the dp. Ribbon is May Arts. I am having such fun using sequins on my cards lately. They add a bit of old world/retro style.

Have a beautiful Christmas! much love to you and your families!

Jennifer

Chip Off the Old Block Challenge

Coffee of the Day - Eggnog

Well Monday is Whimsy Stamps Challenge day! and the challenge for today is called "Chip Off the Old Block". use any kind of chipboard on your creation and upload it to the challenge blog using Mr. Linky. because of the holiday, you will have 2 weeks for this challenge. Also, don't forget that the Advent Event is going on each day through the 24th. Be sure to check out the neat creations and prizes offered each day. Also stop by the challenge DT members' blogs to check out their interpretations of the chipboard challenge. They are such talented ladies, and you will truly be inspired! :)

My card is made using papers by K & Co. Christmas Cheer. The sticker on the chipboard tag is also K & Co., ric rack is May Arts, holly leaf is Prima, and rhinestone is from Target. The wonderful stamp is that cutie Jolly Puppy Kisses designed by Crissy Armstrong for Whimsy Stamps. Love love love this stamp! :) Santa's belt buckle is painted with Hi Ho Silver shimmerz and the fur on his hat and coat are covered in frosted stickles.

Everyone have a wonderful, beautiful Christmas in case I don't get to post again before the holiday. Love to you all! :)