New look

Well Google changed everything the other day, actually the other week and I am still trying to get the feel of it.  It is terrible that I get so accustomed to doing things a certain way that change is very difficult.  Posting has been taking quite a long time, and then if I need to do an edit or change a spelling "Oh my, "  finding where to go seems like mission impossible.  My wonderful husband helped me set up my blog which will be almost two years now.  So since I have been playing with lots of buttons and touching things I shouldn't, I decided to change the look of my site since I actually figured out how to do that with all the messing around that I was doing.  I no longer have the boring grass that my husband set up for me and instead I have a picture of some of my favorite things.....some Prima flowers, ribbon, lace and buttons as well as my cutting board which I could not live without.  My craft area is NOT one of those neat and tidy areas that I can show a picture of because I work among A LOT of clutter.  Then I clean it up which lasts for about a week until I get into more projects.  I have scraps of paper everywhere.  The sad part is that I can find things in my mess and piles; it is just that it is not safe for my family to visit me.  Well enough said.  Hope you like the new look.

For the birds

I had this image from "A Day for Daisies" that I have been playing with in my head and finally worked it out.  It has six birds on it and my thought was always to raise one or two of them which I did with pop dots. I colored the center of the flowers with stickles to have them look like cherry blossoms.  I found these wonderful nests from Prima which I had to add and this net ribbon from Ribbon Carousel which is like the nest material.
I then did two more cards using this weeks SC383 sketch.  One using Close to My Heart Ink and a Stampin' Up Marker to color the image and then I chalked some clouds.  The sentiment is from Close to My Heart using Distress Ink.
With dance recitals coming up, I made a card using the gorgeous image from TLC, Create and added some flowers instead of a circle sentiment.

Patterned Paper:  DCWV, Nitwit - Valentine

Cardstock:  Bazzil, Recollection

Stamp:  A Day for Daisies - Bunch of Birds

Sentiment:  American Crafts

Ink: Memento, black tuxedo

Nest:   Prima

Ribbon:  Creative Impressions

Stickles

Pop dots

Net ribbon:  Ribbon Carousel

Bling:  Recollection

Challenges

Mojo- Sketch 239

A Day for Daisies - Calico  http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.com/search/label/challenges

Pink Gem Challenge:  Pink, blue and green  http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Cupcake Inspirations -  http://cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com

Patterned Paper:  DCWV - Citrus

Cardstock:  Bazzil, Recollections

Stamp:  PSX

Sentiment:  Close to My Heart

Ink:  Close to My Heart - Kiwi

       Marker - Stampin' Up - Grey

        Distress - Weathered Wood

       Chalk - unknown

Circle Punches:  EK Success

Ribbon:  American Crafts

Border Punch:  Fiskars

Challenges

Splitcoast - Sketch 383

Color Throwdown 

Patterned Paper:  Nitwit - A Breath of Fresh Air

Cardstock:  Bazzil, Recollections

Stamp:  TLC, Create

Border Punch:  Fiskars

Flower:  Bazzil & Recollections

Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug

Corner Rounder:  Creative Memories

Bling - Paper Studio

Challenges

Splitcoast - Sketch 383

Bugaboo - Recipe Embossing & Bling

First for this year

Yikes it is already May...where has the time gone.  I can't believe it, but I made my first Christmas card for 2012.  I actually made this card for one of my friends to give to her grandson since it will be his first Christmas. She is spending her time babysitting for him and talks about him ALL the time so I thought it would be a perfect gift for her.  I know she will appreciate it.  I also did a Kenny K card using an image from TLC create of a record and Bearly Mine paper which is perfect with the Rock Chick.  I also got this great ribbon from Ribbon Carousel with music notes and went through the center of the record that I cut with spellbinder circles.  I love all the tutorials that are out there on the Spellbinder blogs and the new dies that have come out and couldn't resist getting one.  I also used the Cherry Lynne small butterfly dies to put on top with this weeks Play Date Cafe colors.  My last card is a Bugaboo image with this weeks Splitcoast Sketch.

Patterned Paper:  Nitwit - Great White North
Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Recollections
Stamp:  Karen's Doodles - Baby Present
Sentiment:  Computer Font
Spellbinders:  Small & Large Circles
Snowflake: Quic Kutz Die
Ice Stickles
Blue Chalk - unknown

Challenges
Taylor's Expressions Sketch - Sketch #157
Karen's Doodles - For a child

Patterned Paper:  Bearly Mine
Cardstock:  Bazzil, Recollections
Stamp:  Kenny K - Rock Chick
Record:  TLC Create
Ribbon:  Ribbon Carousel
Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts & Recollections
Spellbinders:  Grand Circle, Small Standard Circle
Sakura Jelly Glitter Pen

Challenges
Kenny K - Anytthing Goes

Patterned Paper:  K & Company, Sweet Shoppe
Cardstock:  Bazzil, Stampin' Up, Recollections
Ribbon:  Offray
Border Punch:  Martha Stewart
Buttons:  Stash
Butterflies:  Cherry Lynne
Spellbinders:  Splendid Circle, Angle Die
Embossing:  M-Bossibilities - Simplicity

Challenges
Play Date Cafe 129

Patterned paper:  Nitwit - Time for Tea

Cardstock:  Bazzil, Recollections

Stamp:  Bugaboo - Ava Flowers

Sentiment:  TLC Create

Ribbon:  May Arts

Flowers:  Prima

Border Punch:  Martha Stewart

Circle Punches:  EK Success

Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug

Biggest Fan

I was chosen to be this month's Biggest Fan for Bugaboo.  You can find the link to their blog below on my blog list and this month's newsletter is on the site.  They have adorable digital images and each Friday they have a free image.  Also, in each monthly newsletter there is an image as well as deals that they have on a regular basis.  They have cute critters, babies, kids as well as humorous adult downloads.  Bugaboo's website is amazing since the owner Tammy Miller is involved in sponsoring LOTS of challenges the site lists them for you.  And there is the Bugaboo Challenge which is listed ahead of time in the newsletter and is on Saturdays.  The Design Team is great about leaving comments when you submit items for a challenge and they have great samples displayed ahead of time for each of the challenges, free items as well as the new items.

I talked about my family in the newsletter and my need for stress relief.  I think that is why all of us do our card making and crafting is to have some control in our lives.  There are many things that we can not control when it comes to health, family issues, jobs, so we look for control on how much glitter and ribbon we use and where we place it.  I also work in a job where I can do things several different ways, but still have to do things within policies and protocols so making cards I get to be creative and use the "other" side of my brain.  In addition, I know I should be better about exercising; however, I don't get that endorphin (happy release) from doing it like many of the runners or people who do regular exercise.  When I make my cards I get that happy feeling, and it makes you want to do it more and more like an addiction.

My step-son got a new "used" car this past week so this is the card that I made for him using a Bugaboo image.

Patterned Paper:  Nitwit - Great White North
Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Bazzil, Recollections
Stamp:  Bugaboo - Guy Car Keys
Die Cut - Quic Kuts
Circle Punch:  EK success


Mo's Challenge is to do your favorite colors and I chose yellow, peach/apricot, blue and white.  And this is what I came up with.  I plan to use this card for my Mom's birthday which is on Friday.

Patterned Paper:  Nitwit - Bee's Knees

Cardstock:  Bazzil, Core- dinations, Recollections

Stamp:  Mo Manning - Kisses

Sentiment:  TLC Create

Brads:  Paper Studio

Ribbon:  Michaels

Flowers:  Recollections

Stickles:  Ice stickles

Sakura jelly glitter pen

Spellbinders:  Small circle, Lotus

Challenges
Saturday Sketch - Sketch 205
Mo's - favorite color combination

His and Hers

I worked last night, and when I came home I usually go to sleep since I also have to work tonight, but....I needed a little time to relax today.  There are times when things can be stressful and I need some downtime.  I had a few images colored so this is what I pulled together.  I used a sketch from There She Goes; however, the image is from Whimsie Doodles I hate to say that I just didn't have enough time to color a There She Goes one this morning.  I do love the sketch which I think worked perfectly for the image.  It is a rainy day here so hopefully I will now be able to get a little sleep.

Patterned Paper:  Creative Memories, Authentique - Free Bird
Cardstock:  Core-dination, Bazzil,  Recollections
Stamp:  Pollycraft - Barclays Tie
Sentiment:  Close to My Heart
Ink:  Memento, Rich Cocoa
Buttons & Jute:  Stash
Liquid Pearl - Ivory
Spellbinders:  Eyelet circle, Small Circle
Border Punch:  Fiskars
Blue Chalk:  Unknown

Challenges
Pollycraft - Sketch  http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com

Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye - Love Me

Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Bazzil, Recollections

Stamp with Sentiment:  Whimsie Doodles - Super Mom

Spellbinder:  Pennant

Ribbon:  JoAnn's

Flowers:  Recollections

Ice Stickles

Border Punch:  Martha Stewart

Challenges

There She Goes - Sketch 153

Bottom of my heart

Tiddly Inks Challenge is to make a thank you card so I used a Wryn image since I find them so darn cute and made a computer font to go along with it.  Wryn is squeezing the heart so it was appropriate to have the sentiment "Thanks from the bottom of my heart".  I used ice stickles on the wings of the heart.  Sassy Cheryl's Challenge was April Showers so I used the image of "Dancing Day" since I didn't have any with rain and added an umbrella that I had as a free digital download and placed it with a pop dot.  I added some rain drops to the image.  My final card is using this weeks Splitcoast sketch and a new image from Birdie Brown - Torico.  I added a balloon die cut and a Happy Birthday sentiment.

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - A Mother's Love, Paper Studio
Cardstock:  Bazzil, Recollections
Stamp:  Tiddly Inks - Wryn - Close to My Heart
Sentiment - Computer font
Spellbinders:  Small & Large Petite Ovals
Circle Punches: EK Success
Twine:  Twinery
Button: Stash
Stickles - Ice

Challenges
Deconstructed Sketch - Sketch 49
Tiddly Inks - Thank You

Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey - Max & Whiskers, A Cherry on Top - Bella Gypsy Make it Happen, Paper Studio
Cardstock:  Core-dinations, TPC, Recollections
Stamp:  Sassy Cheryl - Dancing Day
Sentiment:  Free digital download
Umbrella: free digital download
Spellbinders:  Small & Large Circles
Ribbon:  Michael's
Lace:  Wrights

Challenges
Sweet Wednesday Sketch - Sketch 151
Sassy Cheryl - April Showers
Colour Q 134

Patterned Paper:  A Cherry on Top - Bella Gypsy Lost in Thought
Cardstock: Bazzil, Core-dinations, Recollections
Stamp:  Birdie Brown - Torico, Clown with Rose
Sentiment:  Free digital download
Spellbinders:  Label #12
Circle Punches:  EK Success
Die Cut:  Sixxiz
Twine:  Twinery

Challenges
Splitcoast - Sketch 382
Papercraft Star - Polka Dots  http://www.papercraftstar.blogspot.com/

Strawberry

I love strawberries and just bought a large pack today at Costco of fresh ones for dinner.  That was the inspiration for todays card.  I used a free digital downloaded image and some wonderful papers from the Sweet Shoppe.  My second card is using a Bugaboo image "Big Bow Sitter" with this weeks sketch.   I was able to cut the legs and bottom of the hair out so she could sit on the bottom on the spellbinder.

Patterned Paper:  Creative Memories, Sweet Shoppe - Berry Sweet
Cardstock:  Bazzil, Recollections
Stamp:  free digital download
Sentiment:  free digital download
Ribbon:  Creative Impressions
Buttons:  Stash
Spellbinders:  Small & Large Circles

Challenges
Taylors Expressions - Sketch 156

Patterned Paper:  Paper Studio, DCWV
Cardstock:  Bazzil, Recollections
Stamp:  Bugaboo:  BB Big Bow Sitter
Sentiment:  Close to My Heart
Ink:  Memento, Black Tuxedo
Flowers:  Prima
Ric Rac:  May Arts
Spellbinders:  Small & Large Petite Ovals

Challenges
Bugaboo Challenge - Sketch
Color Throwdown 189