True love

Today, I've got an anniversary card to show you.  I did not post it back then, but I gave this to my wonderful husband on our 27th anniversary last month.  I'm so thankful for the wonderful Godly man the Lord brought to me!  We've grown together through the years and I love him now more than ever!!

Here's the card...

My sentiment is from Sweet 'n Sassy... Love Sentiments.   The dies I used are Spellbinders Radiant Rectangles. I distressed the main panel with my Ditrezz It All. I LOVE that little machine!!!!  I also love double bows.  [Go HERE on YouTube to see a great tutorial on making a double bow.]

And isn't he cute???  ♥♥

Challenges...
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards #100 - celebration (2nd entry)
Crafty Girls Creations #5 - anything goes
Crafting with Friends #7 - anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #202 - anything goes/family friendly

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed day!!!

 

Christmas and snow and a big mistake!!

Have you ever made a big mistake when crafting?  I do that often!  Sometimes, it totally messes me up and everything goes in the trash can, but sometimes, the mistake turns out to be a blessing in the end.  This card is the latter.  I do not often "fall in love" with my own cards, but I did with this one... mistake and all.  Maybe even because of the mistake!   I was printing my images, some on white cardstock and some on Kraft.  I printed some outlines that I want to color and then I printed some pre-colored images so the card will go together more quickly.  Ummm!  I always keep the printer setting on "color" so I don't have to go change it every time, but somehow it was on "black and white" so when I printed, I got black-and-white "colored" images.  Not happy!!   I meant to leave the cardstock by the printer so I could print the other side PROPERLY the next time, but mistakenly grabbed those sheets and took them to my craft room with the others.  As I was beginning to work, a thought came to me... try to color the black-and-white colored image.  Maybe you've done that before, but it was new to me.  And... I love it!!!   Some images work better than others depending on the original colors and amount of shading, but I was happy with this result.

First, the Kraft...

I love the muted tones because of the Kraft!  I used lighter shades of my Spectrum Noir markers.  This DP (all scraps!) is awesome and I love the inked embossing, so this one really make me happy!   The image is from Fred, She Said - Emma and the Snowball (if you want to see what the image would have looked like if I had printed it correctly, check it out here), the EF is Darice Snowflake Swirl, and the Merry Christmas is a clear sentiment from M5D.

Here's the white...

This one is much brighter.  I'm not a very experienced color-er, so the shading really makes it look good without much effort! This DP is AC Let It Snow and it is embossed with CB Holly Ribbons.

Challenges...
CASE-ing Christmas #29 - CASE card (I CASE-d the snow)
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long  #56 - lots of texture or layers (I have both!)
Hand Stamped Sentiments #221 - sketch

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!!

Ewe are the sweetest thing!

I'm having fun making cards with my DD in mind.  In this day with texting and emails, handwritten notes are few and far between for most people, but I'm sending her notes because I remember how eagerly I watched my mailbox for letters from home when I was in college! 

I've used Doodle Pantry's Lucky Lamb for this card.  The DP is Crate Paper "Pretty Party."  I used Spellbinders Classic Ovals and Labels Eighteen.  The EF is Darice "Dots."  Everything was inked with TH tea dye.  My ribbon is seam binding.  I bought a roll and now need to crinkle and stain some of it! :) 

Doodle Pantry is sponsoring Fab n Funky Challenge #274 that begins today with the theme of "Cute Critters."  So find yourself a cute critter like I did and play along!  This little lamb is cute, IMHO, but I have to share a couple of pics of lambs that I took when in Scotland in '11.  The lambs running across the fields were so fun to watch!

I wish this pic was clearer!  These were brand new lambs!  Obviously, just born because the mother (not to be gross) was still bloody and was still cleaning them off!!  Soooooo cute!!

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!!

Birthday cake! - TMS #319

Happy Tuesday to you!  It's time for Tuesday Morning Sketches!!  Is today your birthday or tomorrow or next week or next month?  If so, I hope you get a cake like this one!!  3 beautiful layers!  At our house, most of my family prefers cheesecake or cinnamon rolls or S'mores Bars as their "birthday cake" so I don't make cake often.  The cake on my card looks very yummy!  {Though I have to admit that while I love cats, I would not eat a cake if I found my cat sitting on it!!}

My DP is MME "Paris & Co" and embossed with CB Swiss Dots and a Darice border.  The baker's twine is AC and the button is Buttons Galore & More.  My image, that I colored with my Spectrum Noir markers, is Birthday Suprise from Sami Stamps, our sponsor for this week's challenge.

Here's our sketch for this week...

[As you can see from my card, you can use any shapes just as long as we can recognize the sketch in your project.]

Challenges...
Chocolate, Coffee, n Cards #100 - celebration
Seize the Birthday - anything goes
Crafting From the Heart #78 - anything goes
Craft Your Passion #280 - anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown #263 - Colour challenge

 


Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to go check out the creations from the TMS DT...

Jenee
Jessi
Kris
Melissa
Nina

We'd love to have you play along with us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches!

Glory to God - TMS #318

Happy Tuesday to you!  It's time for Tuesday Morning Sketches!!  We've got a great sketch and great sponsor and I got another Christmas card made! :) 

My DP is Recollections "O Christmas Tree."  My images and sentiment are CTMH "Glory to God" acrylix stamps that were stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black.  The ovals are Spellbinders Petite Ovals.  The flower is Recollections as are the few adhesive pearls.  I used a glitter pen on the stars and flower though it's hard to see in the above pic.

Our sponsor this week is Patti Rowe- Close To My Heart consultant.  Check out her website HERE. 

Here's our wonderful sketch...

Challenges...
Merry  Monday #171 - Sentiment in the Spotlight
jingle belles JB:15:19 - Shopping Our (jingly) Stash ( I've had this stamp set for almost 3 yrs and my DP is over 4 yrs old!!)
Shopping Our Stash bonus challenge - w/ jingle belles, must use stash (as above... 3yr old stamp and 4 yr old DP!)
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long #55 - anything goes
Christmas Card Challenges #41 - anything goes


Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to go check out the creations from the TMS DT...

Jenee
Jessi
Kris
Melissa
Nina

We'd love to have you play a
long with us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches!

The blessing of friends

As I made this card this afternoon, I was wearing a sweater and socks -haven't done that for a few months- because it was cool enough that I actually needed them! :)  That made me feel very fall-ish, so it was fun to make this fall-ish card.  One of my daughters just said, "Now that we're back in school, I'm ready for it to be cold again.  I want to wear my sweaters and boots."  My sentiments exactly!! :)  Sadly, it is supposed to be hot the rest of the week. :/

Here's the card...

My image is FTHS Pumpkin Patch Girl.  I colored her with my Spectrum Noir markers.  She is cut out using Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics A.  The edges are inked with SU "Crushed Curry." The DP is Crate Paper "Farmhouse."  The main panel is embossed with Darice "Fall Leaf" EF.  A "Buttons Galore and More" button is tied on with natural hemp. 

Challenges...
Cute Card Thursday #390 - numbers (my numbers are on the ruler DP)
Word Art Wednesday #200 - anything goes/family friendly (2nd entry)
FTHS Digital Stamp of the Month Challenge September - must use Pumpkin Patch Girl

 i {heart} card sketches #118 - sketch and/or twist (I used sketch)
 
 Spectrum Noir September challenge - Embossing + must use Spectrum Noir (dry embossing with Darice Fall Leaf EF)
*I don't usually keep track of which markers I use, so I was really surprised at how many I actually use!!  Spectrum Noir colors used: OR1, CT1, CT3, CT4, GB5, GB6, GB7, GB8, GB10, EB1, FS2, FS3, FS6, DG2, DG4, GT2, GT3, BG2, BG6, BG8

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed day!!

More notes for hubby

When I started making cards, I made them as I needed them to use and give.  (It usually took me a couple of hours to make one!!)  Then I discovered challenges.  :)  For awhile, I made cards to fit the challenge.  That's ok, but often they were a card that I would not necessarily use.  Kind of a waste!  So now I make cards that I will use and that will often fit in challenges.  These cards, I will not technically use, but my husband will. :)

These cards are pretty CAS as were the last bunch I made for him.  This makes it easy for it to be mailed!  And also I can make more for him in a shorter amount of time.  The image is Assemble Together from Doodle Pantry.  It is cut using Spellbinders Scalloped Labels One and Labels One.  I used a MS border punch on some and ribbon on some.  I've got several more images printed, so I'll be back before too long with some more to show you. 

Challenges...
Little Red Wagon #306 - Digi Do (color image and sentiment from Doodle Pantry)
Crafting With Friends #6 - anything goes
Crafty Girls Creations #4 - anything goes
Addicted to Stamps and More #161 - anything goes
Creative Moments #76 - anything goes/use a sentiment
Word Art Wednesday #200 - anything goes/family friendly

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!!

Sweet thoughts - TMS #317

Happy Tuesday to you!  It's time for Tuesday Morning Sketches!!  Here's my card for this week's challenge...

  
I will probably send this to my oldest daughter.  We just left her at college in Pensacola yesterday.  (Give me a moment while I go find a Kleenex! Actually, she was so excited and we are so excited for her that there were not a lot of tears that we had expected.)  We will definitely miss her, but we are excited to see what the Lord has for her!!  Even in this age of texting and FaceTime, it is still special to receive a real card, so I think she'll like this one. 

My DP is all scraps.  I used my Distrezz-It-All on the edges.  My sentiment is My Pink Stamper and cut out using Spellbinders Circles.  The image is cut using Spellbinders Matting Basics A.  The edges are inked with Tim Holtz "walnut stain."  

This week our sponsor is Sherri Baldy Designs.  Sherri's "My Besties" images are soooo adorable!!!  I used Big Eye Big Head Dolls Messy Bessy image 801. 

Here's our sketch for the week...  hope you like it! :)

Challenges...
Word Art Wednesday #199 - anything goes/family friendly
Craft-Dee BowZ CBD29 - Sept anything goes w/ handmade bow
Clear It Out "big changes" - anything goes + anything goes (I really am trying to clear it out - DP is scraps, ink is oldest TH ink, twine I've had for yrs but just opened! :) )

Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to go check out the creations from the TMS DT...

Jenee
Jessi
Kris
Melissa
Nina

We'd love to have you play along with us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches!

Winter song birds - AIMPDC9

Happy Tuesday again!  And Happy September!!  

Since it's the first of the month, Doodle Pantry's Ants in My Pants Digital Challenge 9 begins today at noon.  Be sure to check it out and play along with our challenge... the theme is always "anything digital goes."

My image and sentiment are from Winter Song Birds - Color Wrens.  Also available are Doves, Bluebirds,  Mixed, and a set of all four sets.  My DP is a scrap from Recollections "O Christmas Tree."  The image is cut out with Spellbinders Petite Ovals.  The frame is Spellbinders Labels Eighteen.  I finished it off with some ribbon, adhesive pearls, a button, and baker's twine.  

I've got a tip to share.  If you have just enough of a cardstock to mat your DP but you want to frame your image, too, you can!  Cut the frame from the middle of the piece.  That will be covered by the DP and once you adhere it to the card base, no one will ever know you cheated! :)  I did that with this card.  Here's the underside of my card front...

The "missing" piece of green is framing my image! :)

So print out a digital image -- any company is welcome -- and come play along with our challenge.  **Remember that if you do use a DP image, you could be chosen as the  "Pantry Pick"!  

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!!

Lazy kitty - TMS #316

Happy Tuesday to you!  It's time for Tuesday Morning Sketches!! Have we got a great challenge for you today!  The sketch is awesome, but if possible, we'd like to see it made as an easel card!  Before you panic, let me assure you that basic easel cards are, in my opinion, the easiest of any fancy fold to make.  

Here's my card, then I'll give a quick explanation of how I made it.  Easy-peasy, I assure you!  {There are lots of easel card instructions on YouTube}

Here's Melissa's wonderful sketch...

My DP is Basic Grey.  My sentiment is from Sweet 'n Sassy Christmas Tags.  My image is Lazy House Cat from SLS Lines... our sponsor for this week. 



Here are some more views of my card and then some explanation...

Here is what I did to make my card.  I cut 3 circles of the brown.  {I used my CM Circle Cutting System... haven't used this in YEARS!!!}  One circle was the front, one was the base, and one was scored and was the connection between the other 2.  I made parallel score lines... one near the top and the other about halfway down.  The small top section was adhered to the base, then the front of the card was adhered to the bottom half of the middle circle.  The sentiment was popped up so that it holds the front up.  It really is easy and fun to make easel cards!! 



Challenges...
Word Art Wednesday #198 - Anything goes/family friendly
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything goes
Crafting With Friends #5 - Anything goes
Crafty Friends #13 - Use a sentiment

Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to go check out the creations from the TMS DT...

Jenee
Jessi
Kris
Melissa
Nina

We'd love to have you play along with us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches!

Li'l Gorilla

Today Doodle Pantry is sponsoring Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 Challenge!  There is a great sketch, as always, and I've made a card with the sketch using and image from Doodle Pantry - Lil  Gorilla Jungle.

My DP is Prima "Romance Novel."  I embossed the background and 3 squares with a variety of folders... Love is in the Air, Distressed Stripes, Love Language, and Diamonds in the Rough.  The squares are tied with baker's twine.  My image is cut out using Classic Ovals. 

Be sure to play along with SSW2 for your chance to win a $10 gift certificate to Doodle Pantry!! 

Challenges I'm playing along with...
Craft-Dee BowZ August -  CBD28 Anything goes w/ a handmade bow
Crafting From the Heart #74 - Anything goes
Polkadoodles Crafting Challenge #34 - use something new (my baker's twine is new)
V's Sweet Ideas #37 - Anything goes

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!!

More Christmas - TMS #315

Happy Tuesday to you!  It's time for Tuesday Morning Sketches!!  I've mentioned that I'm working on Christmas cards... here is my third in a week! :)

 
My image is from Digital Delights.  This little cutie is Candy Wreath Natasha.
My DP is K&Co "Mod Holiday."  I used adhesive bling instead of the stitched element... my sewing machine is a Husqvarna embroidery machine so I don't sew paper on it.

Our sponsor this week is Digital Delights. You could win some of Wendy's adorable images!!

 Here's our wonderful sketch by Jessi...

 
Challenges I'm entering...
Wags 'n Whiskers #160 - Frame it (2nd entry)
Christmas Card Challenge #38 - Anything goes
Craft Your Passion #276 - Anything goes 
Through the Craft Room Door Aug 25-31 - anything goes


Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to go check out the creations from the TMS DT...

Jenee
Jessi
Kris
Melissa
Nina

We'd love to have you play along with us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches!

A purr-fect friend

It's Friday!!  Yay!  Actually, do you ever wonder why we wish our lives away by always wanting the weekend to arrive or our vacation to come or Christmas or birthday or whatever it is that we look forward to?   I do that often, then I realize that "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  I will be thankful for my today that the Lord has given me!

I've got a cute kitty card for you.  I love cats and we have 3 of them, but one of them is being a real pain!  However, this kitty will cause me no trouble at all!!

My DP is from the last few pages of a MME "All Dolled Up" 6x6 pack.  The edges are inked with TH tea dye distress ink.  The flowers are Recollections and the ribbon is from my remnant box.  My image and sentiment come from Kitty Bouquet COLOR Plus from Doodle Pantry.

Challenges...
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards #98 - use a sentiment
Really Reasonable Ribbon  #124 - autumn colors + ribbon or trim
Sister Act #120 - anything goes *so sad this is the last challenge!

Thanks for stopping by and have a purr-fect day!!

Happy Christmas!

I usually work on making Christmas cards all throughout the year, but this year I have not done very well.  I even missed all of the "Christmas in July" challenges last month! :/   But as I said in my last post, I am trying!!  So here is a cute one... (IMHO anyway)

Supplies...
K&Co "Mod Holiday" DP
Kraft cardstock
FTHS "Candy Cane for Snowman" image and sentiment
Spectrum Noir markers
Spellbinders Circles, Petite Scalloped Circles, Labels 8

Challenges...
From the Heart Stamps Free Stamp of the Month - August (must use Candy Cane for Snowman)
I {heart} sketches w/ a twist #115 - sketch and/or animals

Pile It On #82 - bright colors
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - August theme challenge "for a child"
Use Your Stuff #189 - anything goes (I've had this paper pack for about 5 yrs!)
Kraft Journal #237 - anything goes w/ birds
Shopping Our Stash #215 - "layer it on me"
Papertake Weekly - "to die for"

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!!

Christmas Blessings - TMS #314

Happy Tuesday to you!  It's time for Tuesday Morning Sketches!!

I know it is only August, but I've not made many Christmas cards yet this year (so, sadly, too many friends and family will end up with a purchased card!! :-O )!  But I really am trying to get some done!! This one was fun and went together fairly quickly...

My DP is Recollections "O Christmas Tree."  The embossing folder is Sizzix "Snowflakes."  My image is colored using my Spectrum Noir markers, cut out using Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics A, and inked with Memento "Rhubarb Stalk.".  My image and sentiment are from DRS Designs... our sponsor for this week. 
* Berry Wreath
* 1 Line Christmas Blessings

 This is a great sketch by Jessi and one that everyone can have a great time playing with...

Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to go check out the creations from the TMS DT...

Jenee
Jessi
Kris
Melissa
Nina

We'd love to have you play along with us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches!

Need a hug?

Do you need a hug?  I know I often do!!  Sometimes just a hug helps so much more than any words could.  So... I've got a hug for you today...

Since everyone can use a hug now and then, I printed several of this image and will be making more cards just like this one.  My image, sentiment, and digi paper are all from Big Bear Hug from Doodle Pantry.  

Challenges...
Word Art Wednesday #196 - anything goes/family friendly
Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards #97 - Frame It (my frame is inked on)
Sister Act #119 - anything goes
Crafting-With-Friends #4 - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!!  

Sock monkey & a bear hug - TMS #313

Happy Tuesday to you!  It's time for Tuesday Morning Sketches!!  I've got two cards to show you.  The first one I had to make ahead and then I was just able to make my card with our sponsors image.

I realize this is not the usual graduation season, but I have a grad card this week.  A friend is having his grad party next week, so I needed a card for him.

I think sock monkeys are adorable and this guy is no exception!  He's colored with Spectrum Noir markers.  The DP is DCWV Graduation.  The mail panel is embossed with CB Stars. 

Bugaboo is our sponsor for this week -- always a fun sponsor!!  Bugaboo is always very generous, too, providing images for the DT. 

This image is "Bear Hug"

Our sketch is a really beautiful one by Melissa!  You can make it a bit more casual, like I did, or you can really fancy it up!!

Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to go check out the creations from the TMS DT...

Jenee
Jessi
Kris
Melissa
Nina

We'd love to have you play along with us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches!

First kiss - TMS #312

Happy Tuesday to you!  It's time for Tuesday Morning Sketches!!  

Ah, the joy of first love!  And a first kiss.  :)   That's what I have in my card today...

  
Isn't this image adorable??!!??  It is Conie Fing's Frist Kiss Digi. from our sponsor for this week --  Sweet Pea Stamps.

I colored these cuties with Spectrum Noir markers.  My paper was all from my scrap pile.  The circles were cut with Spellbinders Cicles.  The banner was embossed with CB Diamonds in the Rough.  

Here's our wonderful sketch by Melissa...

  


Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to go check out the creations from the TMS DT...

Jenee
Jessi
Kris
Melissa
Nina

We'd love to have you play along with us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches!

Amazing Grace - AIMPDC8

Wowsers!  It's August already.  !!!!  This has been a very busy summer for me and it has seemed to just fly by, but I'm hoping this month drags... my daughter is going off to college in Sept.  The first one to leave the nest.  I'm exited for her... sad for me.   :(  Now I'll go wipe my eyes and talk about my card.  

Today at noon, Doodle Pantry's Ants in My Pantry Digital Challenge 8 begins.  As always, the theme is "anything digital goes" so please come and play along at the DP blog.  There are two winners... if you do use a DP image, you do have a chance to be the "Pantry Pick" and everyone is able to be the overall winner.

My card features an image and sentiment from Daily Devotional.   They are cut out with Spellbinders Petite Oval and Labels 18 and inked with TH tea dye.  The BG panel is embossed with CB Teresa Collins "Timeless" EF.   I absolutely LOVE dry embossing and do it often, but embossing on DP has become my favorite way to do it!

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!!

Comfort in God's Word

Friday is here!  I know several folk who are glad that this week is over!  Life is full of problems and heartaches and trials.  BUT we can have comfort!!  God knows all and cares for all and has a plan for all, and if we trust Him, He WILL bring us through every problem and heartache and trial!  He promises that in His Word!!!

This has been a rough week for several of my friends and I have made some cards to send.  Here is one of them...

This sentiment and image are from Doodle Pantry's Daily Devotion.  This is a beautiful set!  You'll see more cards with this soon.  The DP is the last few pages of MME Lost & Found Two "Sunshine" and I'm going to miss this pad!  The brown is embossed (I put my paper in upside down so it's actually debossed!) with CB Teresa Collins Timeless EF.  The brown pearls are Recollections.

Challenges...
Word Art Wednesday #194 - anything goes/family friendly
Kraftin' Kimmie's Wonderful Wednesday - anything goes
Sister Act #117 - anything goes
Creative Knockouts #100 - dry embossing  **my first time playing with this challenge, but when I saw "dry embossing" (the BEST technique EVER), I HAD to play along!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!  If you are going through a deep trial now, know that there is true comfort in Jesus Christ and that relationship is found in God's Word!!