Musical birthday card

Here is a birthday card for my oldest sister.  After comparing her to a tree when she turned 50 last year, I thought I'd be nice this time.  She plays the piano very well, so I thought this appropriate for her.   She is also very crafty (though she doesn't make cards) so I knew it needed to be well done, too.  (That sounds arrogant, doesn't it??  Sorry!!)

Challenges...
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards challenge 9 - "Fancy Folds" -easel card
Bitten by the Bug 2 - Cindy Loo - Flourish (I used one from Sentimentals)
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #132 - "Everything" -opposite of CAS --I embossed, tore, distressed, inked, stamped, and I used brads, die cuts, ribbon,  and pop dots!!

~DCWV "Performance" mat stack
~Nestabilites labels 4
~flourish from Sentimentals
~D'vine Swirls Cuttlebug folder
~Walnut Stain distress ink, gold ink, Momento Tuxedo Black ink
~ribbons and brads from my stash

Thanks for stopping by!!

CAS birthday wishes

I mentioned in a previous post that I need quite a few birthday cards right now, so here is another one.  It came together very quickly, and I was pleased with the result! 

Challenges...
Tuesday Morning Sketches #139 - sketch
CAS-ual Fridays CFC45 - "Bold and beautiful" (pastel and black)


~Kraft card base 3 1/2" x 6 1/2"
~Core'dinations cardstock
~There She Goes clear stamps "Polka Dot Blooms" and "Sentimental Birthday"
  *I got these with my gift certificate from my win of TMS #137  :)
~Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder
~ribbon and bling from my stash

Thanks for dropping in!!!

50th birthday card

Last year, my oldest sister turned 50 and I made a cute card for her.   Our other sister turns 50 this year.  They were born exactly 1 yr and 1 week apart.  I'm not talking about trees with this one, but I want her to be sure to remember what age she now is!  :) 

Challenges...
Birthday Sundaes #49 - numbers *this is their last challenge :(... I have enjoyed playing with them very much and will miss them!!
iSpy Sketches ISSC08 - sketch

~fancy pants 'summer's end' dsp
~Paper Studio cardstock
~sentiment stamp from There She Goes 'Sentimental Birthday'
~50 is 'Iris UPC' font, cut in MTC, and is on an Action Wobble
~adhesive pearls and ribbon from my stash

Thanks for stopping by!!

Spring-y "welcome" wreath

Isn't it funny how quickly we get spoiled?  We've had almost 2 weeks of nice warm weather (60's, 70's and a couple of 80 degree days) but today was only about 50 and it felt so chilly.  Of course, if this had been a normal spring, we would have been thrilled with today's temp!  But whatever the temperature, spring officially arrived this past week, and so it's time for spring crafts!

In the fall, I made a wreath that has been hanging on our school room door, and I had intended/hoped to change it every season or holiday.  Well, I missed a few - ok, I missed a bunch! - but at least spring is covered now! :)

Challenges...
Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #103 - "Celebrate Spring" with at least 3 flowers
BBTB2 - "Welcome"
Celebrate the Occasion #55 - "Welcome Spring"
Krafty Girls #3 - "Get Growing" with handmade flowers
Whimsical Wednesdays - "Celebrate Spring"

~wreath from JOTS cut at 10 1/2"
~flowers from GBS at 2", 2 1/2", 3", 3 1/2"
~D'vine Swirls, Distress Stripes, Perfect Paisley, Swiss Dots, and Floral Fantasy Cuttlebug folders
~"Welcome" from Ashlyn's Alphabet cut at 2 1/2"
~Core'dinations and DCWV cardstocks

Thanks for stopping by!!!

"Converse" birthday card

It's my daughter's birthday... 14 yrs old!!  (Has anyone figured out a way to keep them little????)

She has been wanting a pair of Converse sneakers.  When we were shopping a couple of weeks ago, she saw a pair at Gap that are not actual Converse, but she liked them and wanted them, so we got them for her birthday.

In my many hours few minutes browsing on Pinterest recently, I came across a card that I knew would be perfect for her!!!  Click here for the original that I lifted the idea from.  What do you think?  Isn't this great???  It's pretty bare-bones for a girl, but she's my "not girly" girl.   Though she has started brushing her hair (without being told to!) and carrying a purse recently! ;)

~Kraft card base
~Bazzill cardstock
~computer generated 'sentiment'
~stitching - Cutter Bee Bug and white gel pen

Now I'm off to finish her cake! :)   Thanks for dropping by!!!

"Neutral Noel" card

I'm not doing very well at keeping up with making Christmas cards "all through the year" this year, so thought it was time for another.  I'm finding it's little hard to get in the Christmas spirit at this time of year!! :)  But this card came together in no time at all so maybe I'll crank out a couple more like it!

Challenges...
jingle belles 12:06 - "Neutral Noel" -photo inspiration --I went with the colors, but as I was taking my pic, I realized I've got the "noel" too! :)
Freshly Made Sketches #26 - follow sketch  **oops!  missed that one!! I forgot it ends at noon! :(
Card Crafter's Circle #14 - "Pot of Gold"

~DCWV Metallic Stack
~Colorbok white cardstock
~Sissex snowflakes embossing folder
~MME "Noel" stamp
~Encore gold metallic ink
~Offray gold ribbon
~3D star (technique found here at Van Laar Designs)

Thanks for stopping by!!

Blog award!!

The last many weeks have been crazy for me and I've snitched few moments here and there to craft.  I've not been visiting blogs as much as I like to, and I even missed blog awards that I've been given. Sorry!!

So now I'm getting my act together!!   
Thank you, thank you, thank you to
Amy from http://amyscrafting.blogspot.com
Jennifer from http://cubbycrafts.blogspot.com
Marie from http://inkdwings.blogspot.com

You will want to check out those ladies' blogs! 

Here's how the Leibster Award works...

The Liebster Blog Award is to show appreciation of smaller blogs (under 200 followers) and to help with readership and joy!!!  As part of the tradition the award is to be passed along to five other blogs that have motivated and inspired me...  :)

To accept the Award you must:

1. Link back to the person's blog who gave it to you and thank them.

2. Post on your blog.

3. Give to five other Bloggers who you appreciate and value.

4. Leave a comment on the five blogs you choose and let them know.

 

(you can right click on the pic, save it to your computer, then add it to your sidebar)

  

 

So here are 5 amazing crafters whose blogs I really enjoy visiting and being inspired by...  

http://scrappyhappymommy.blogspot.com/ 

http://grammasroom.blogspot.com/ 

http://paperdeckerations.blogspot.com/ 

http://sunnysummercrafts.blogspot.com/ 

http://gilbyscorner.blogspot.com/ 

 

Have a great day!!!

Friend card - Prov. 17:17

This is a fairly simple note card for a friend.   At SSIC this week, the devotional was based on Eph. 5:8-9 which speaks of the contrast of coming from darkness into light once we know the Lord.   I chose black and light pink for my contrasting colors and a stamp with the verse Prov. 17:17 about friendship.   I thought it appropriate for the dark/light challenge since a true friend will be with us through both the dark and the bright days of life!

Challenges...

Stampin' Sister's in Christ #130 - contrast dark/light
Clear Dollar's Clearly inspired Challenge #48 - Scripture

~Core'dinations cardstock
~Perfect Paisley and Distress Stripes Cuttlebug folders
~Clear Dollar clear verse stamp
~Momento Tuxedo Black ink
~punches, ribbon, and flower from my stash

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

Tues AM Sketch b'day card

I need some birthday cards for several birthdays over the next month, so I thought I'd better get started.  This card follows this week's sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches #137.  This week, we have to follow the sketch and make it monochromatic.

~Colorbok and Kraft for base and background
~"cowgirl words" dsp from Flair Designs
~Fiskars (I think) stamp
~Fiskars circle and scallop punches
~Clear Dollar Daisy Charlie colored digi
~Nesties - Large and Small Labels
~Craft Essentials ribbon
~Walnut Stain distress ink

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Babies and baking... and Pinterest

I have a couple of cards to post, but I also made a baby gift and did some yummy baking last week!!
Are you into Pinterest??  Wow!  One can really waste a huge amount of time spend quality time finding good stuff there!!!  :) :) :)  I am on there - click HERE if you'd like to see my boards- and have found some really neat gift ideas and some AMAZING recipes!!  That's where I found the idea for this gift and these recipes. 

I made a card similar to one I had seen... (it also had onesies across the front)

I used heat set vinyl on the front of these onesies...

I was very pleased with the result!!  I did them in a hurry, too, because of being sick and doing them at the last minute!  Sorry for the shadow on the pics... I had them in the gift bag and then pulled them out for a quick pic!  It was really last minute!!!



This week, my sweet tooth kicked in and we baked!!  The first 2 are pinned on my "Oreo Deliciousness" board! :)

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies!!!!!! (click names for recipes)  My family LOVED these but they were a bit much for me.  It really is eating 3 cookies at once!!

My favorite were these cupcakes!! Cookies and Cream Cupcakes!!!  Sooooo delicious!!  I did not use the cream cheese icing... I used this Marshmallow Frosting instead.  Yummmmmmy!!!

I also made cookies for a church function.  These were the Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies.  These were part of my Christmas baking and I posted about them in December, too.  Very good!!!

Thanks for stopping by!  Now that you're hungry... go make your own!!! :)

"Green" birthday card

I know you are all eagerly awaiting my explanation of my environmentally-friendly card, but it is just green!  :)  I did use scraps for it!! 

Challenges...
Fantabulous Cricut #102 - "In like a lion" (or tiger, cat, etc.)
Celebrate the Occasion #54 - Any occasion (must use metal)
Birthday Sundaes #47 - must use green

~Bazzill cardstock scraps
~Allegro Cuttlebug folder
~tiger from CAC cut at 3 1/2"
~Heidi Grace sentiment stamp 
~ribbon from Hobby Lobby
~metal brads
~"Tea Dye" distress ink

Thanks for stopping by!!!

"I believe..." note card

FYI... I hate bugs!!!  And life never really goes as we plan, does it?   Did I mention that I hate bugs??  I'm not a great fan of creepy crawlies, but I really hate stomach bugs!!!!  My last post was 10 days ago, and I had great plans for last week.  Then "the bug" arrived in our house.  Hubby fell prey first but then it came after me with a vengeance!  It was not fun!   So all my plans for cards and LO's and other projects just did not happen.  But I'm all better now! :)  And I actually accomplished quite a lot in the last couple of days.  I'll post about that other stuff soon.

On Friday, I spent about an hour trying to make a card and gave up.  This one had some elements from that card.  Yep, I tore the other one apart but love this sentiment, so kept it.  I actually don't remember where I got it, but I had it in a list of sayings that I've compiled that I want to cut in vinyl and put on tiles.  It worked for this card.

Challenges...
Word Art Wednesday #18- use their word art or other Scripture or encouraging saying
Whimsical Wednesday #45 - "going green"
Card Crafter's Challenge #13 - orange & green or St. Pat's Day
CAS-ual Fridays #43 - sentiment as focal point

~3.5x6.5 card base to fit some nice envies I got at Office Max
     (25 for $1.50!!!!)
~computer sentiment
~green and orange paper from my scrap pile
~flower and brad from my stash
~large and small label Nesties

Thanks for stopping by!!

Welcome Spring!!

We finally got some real winter this past week, so I'm not wishing spring just yet, but with temps near 50 today, it seems that it will come whether I want it to or not!!  So I caved and made a spring card this afternoon.  Don't get me wrong, I do love spring, but we had such a mild winter that I was so happy to see snow and I don't want it to go away just yet!!

Enough whining... here's my card for these challenges...

Bitten by the Bug 2 - boots (I used the one on April Showers)
The Cuttlebug Spot - "Spring is in the Air"
Freshly Made Sketches #24 - sketch

Not your typical spring colors but I like it!

~MME Merry Days of Christmas scrap for the boots
~Fancy Pants "It's the Little Things" background dsp
~Bazzill cardstock
~SWiss Dots and Distressed Stripes Cuttlebug folders
~boot from April showers cut at 2 1/2"
~Welcome Spring from April Showers cut at less than 1" in DS

Thanks for dropping by!!!

FCCB 100th challenge!!

Congratulations to Fantabulous Cricut on your 100th challenge!!!   I've enjoyed participating over there as often as I was able since I discovered them last year. 

Challenges...
Fantabulous Cricut #100 - colour challenge - purple, green, and turquoise (their blog colours)
Cricut Cardz Challenge #103 - "you take the cake" -b'day card with cupcake or cake cut
Whimsical Wednesdays #44 - "get sketchy" -follow sketch

~all paper from my scrap pile  :)
~Fiskars (I think) sentiment 
~banner and cupcake from Create a Critter
~D'vine Swirls and Distressed Stripes Cuttlebug folders

Thanks for stopping by!!!

I'm back with a 'Happy Birthday' bouquet w/ bling!

I'm back!  Thank you so much for everyone's expressions of sympathy for the loss of my brother-in-law.  I appreciate all your kind comments, your thoughts, and prayers!  He is now with the Lord.

We were gone for a little longer than we anticipated thanks to a storm that made for nasty roads on the day we were to return.  So we had to spend more time with my family!  Not a problem!!  (more time to shop for our favourite CDN goodies!! -scroll down for pic!!!)

It took me awhile last evening to get back into craft mode for whatever reason, but finding a sketch and challenge prompts helped... though it still took me about an hour to make this!!  Many challenges are already talking spring... that didn't work for me since we just got our first decent snow storm here in my part of NY!!  :) :) :) :) :)  I LOVE SNOW!!! 

Challenges...
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #128 - variegated colors
Birthday Sundaes #45 - "get messy" -lots of inking, paints or mists
Celebrate the Occasion #52 - birthday -must use bling
Card Crafter's Circle #11 - photo inspiration
Tuesday Morning Sketches #135 - sketch

~Fancy Pants 'Love Story" dsp
~Tim Holtz 'tea dye' Distress Ink
~Fiskars clear sentiment stamp
~Nestabilities Large and Small Labels
~$1 store flowers
~gems from ??

I'm almost embarrassed to post this pic of all the junk food awesome snacks we brought back with us, but I LOVE it all!!  **Disclaimer... it is not ALL for us... we had several requests to bring some of it for friends.   It was funny to see the cashier's face in Dollarama when we come with our basket of all these chocolate bars!!   (Note that we got Kinder bueno... not Kinder Surprise.  They would have been seized at the border because they are "illegal contraband"!!)

One thing missing...  "Go Canada"!   Michaels had carts on sale last week, but the store in Moncton was out of them though they still had about 10 cards to take to the checkout hanging up. ???!!!??  So I went on eBay and actually got it for less than their sale, so now I'm waiting for it to arrive!

Thanks for stopping by!!!