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

Bugs

With the wonders of spring come all the creations such as bugs.  I made a card using Mo's new image "Baby fairies bug" which is absolutely adorable with the ladybug.  However, we have a problem with ants coming in through a front window and going after our cat food.  I have set up those ant traps, but I feel bad for the cats that are really bothered by the creatures....and they are not cute.

Patterned paper:  Creative Memories
Cardstock:  Bazzil, Recollections
Stamp:  Mo Manning - Baby Fairies Bug
Sentiment:  Jak Heath
Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts & Recollections
Cheesecloth:  Darice
Lace:  Wrights
Spellbinders:  Small & Large Circles
Sakura Jelly glitter pen on wings

Challenges
Pink Gem - Sketch  http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com
Mo Manning - Flowers
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Material  http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/

inside

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - The Good Life

Cardstock:  Bazzil, Recollections

Stamp:  Melonheadz free download

Sentiment:  Computer font

Spellbinders:  Eyelet Circle

Creative Memories:  Corner Rounder

Challenges

Splitcoast - Sketch

Little Darlings Challenge - Pastels http://www.littledarlingschallenges.blogspot.com

Patterned Paper:  Soho, Sweet Shoppe - The Good Life
Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Recollectioins
Stamp:  Birdie Brown - Baa_001
Sentiment:  Computer font
Liquid Applique
Button:  Stash
Pink Jute: Ribbon Carousel
Blue Chalk

Challenges
Splitcoast -Sketch
Paper Pretties - Pink and Green

Patterned Paper:  free digital download, Crate
Cardstock:  Bazzil, Core-dinations, Recollections
Sentiment:  Create with TLC
Spellbinders:  Picot Circle
Die-Cut: Flourish-Sixxiz, Butterfly - Martha Stewart
Flowers:  Recollections

Challenges
Mojo - Sketch 238

Love/hate horses

When we went on our cruise my daughter, mother, and I went on a horse riding excursion in which you go on a trail and then ride the horse in the water.  My daughter has always been afraid of horses while my son and I have adored them.  When I was younger I worked with horses in a volunteer camp for a summer so I have lead them, but not done a lot of riding.  It just happened that my Amanda's horse stopped at the top of the hill and she couldn't get him to continue to move down the hill right away and my horse "Bless" was following and got upset so he decided to take off on the side and go trotting down the hill.  I wasn't quite prepared for him to do that so both my Mom and Amanda thought I was going to fall off the horse, but I managed to gain control of my butt in the saddle and finally the horse.  Neither of them would get back on the horse to ride in the water, so I was the only one who would "Get back in the saddle".  Amanda just keeps saying, "Mom, we need to stick to the glass bottom boat."  and I tell sometimes you need to "Live a little."  She keeps reminding me what could have happened if I fell off the horse and who would be there to take care of my husband if something happened to me.  Growing up, I always wanting a horse and my Dad said no so my Mom wasn't going to tell my Dad about the excursion which I didn't know, but I showed Dad my photos of the trip which had Mom on the horse.  My dream was to always have a black horse named "Licorice".  That was the focus of the horse that I colored for my card.

Mom on horse

Amanda on Duke

Lisa on Bless

Patterned Paper:  Crate, DCWV, Sweet Shoppe - Spring 12 month
Cardstock:  Bazzil, Recollection
Stamp:  Doodle Pantry
Spellbinders:  Small Circle, Picot Circle
Ribbon:  Ribbon Carousel
Flowers:  Recollections
Prisma Pencils

Challenges
C4C133 - Black Cardstock
Colour Q 133

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Sweet Caroline

Cardstock:  Recollections

Stamp:  Sassy Cheryl - Rose Eyed Butterfly

Sentiment:  Just Rite

Ink: Mement, Black Tuxedo

Punch:  Butterfly, Martha Stewart

Spellbinders:  Small & Large Circle 

Border Punch Butterfly:  Martha Stewart

Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts, Recollections

Challenges

Sassy Cheryls - Butterflies

Paper Sundaes- Let's Get Cute  http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/

Play Date Cafe 128

Patterned Paper:  DCWV, Bearly Mine

Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Recollections

Stamp:  MayzyArt- Mama Leah

Sentiment:  TLC

Spellbinders:  Pennants

Buttons:  Stash

Ribbon:  Obscession

Lace:  Paper Studio

Ink:  Versa Magic:  Pixie Dust

Challenges

Sketch Saturday:  Sketch 204

Do You Stack Up - Stripes  http://doyoustackup.blogspot.ca/

CR84FN52        http://cr84fncolorchallenge.blogspot.com

Patterned Paper:  Bearly Mine:  Dots, Paper Lace, Far Hill Vintage Paper

Cardstock:  Bazzil, Recollections

Stamp:  A Day for Daisy - Bell Window

Sentiment:  TLC

Spellbinders:  Small Petite Oval

Bling:  Paper Studio

Border Punch:  Fiskar

Challenges

Deconstructed Sketch - Sketch # 48

Color Throwdown

Trevor's bday

Today my son is 16!  My parents came last night and we went out to dinner and had a birthday cookie.  My daughter (who is not crafty - usually) made a card for my son.  My son has colored with Copics and does fairly well blending with them where my daughter has not had that much time with them.  She felt she needed to make a card for her baby brother and she used an image from Birdie Brown.  I put it together for her and she wrote the sentiments inside.

Rainbow

Yesterday when I was driving home from work, it was lightly raining and the shine was starting to shine through so I was able to see a beautiful rainbow which gave me a smile.  It inspired my "April showers bring may flowers" card to use a background paper that is text with a rainbow print.  I also did a card for Saturated Canary in which the theme is "April Showers" and I used the image Pickles and Ice Cream since I have a baby shower for April.  My cousin Lyndsey for which I made this card and I bought the image especially for her.  I put 3-D crystal lacquer on the ice cream and pickle to give it a  glossy effect.  My third card is a Father's Day card using this weeks Mojo sketch with different mustaches.  I used barber colors.

Patterned Paper:  American Crafts; Sweet Shoppe - Whatever the weather, Nickel and dime Kitchen Store
Cardstock:  Recollections
Stamp:  DZ Doodles- Seeing Rainbows
Sentiment: free digital download
Spellbinders:  Large Circle, Eyelet Circle
Circle Punches:  EK Success
Stickles:  X-mas red, Turquise
Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts, Recollections

Challenges
CPS - Sketch 161
Pixie Dust - Texting
Scrap Creations - April Showers  http://www.scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/
Digi Doodle - April showers  http://digidoodleshopsbest.blogspot.com/

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Blossom
Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Recollections
Stamp:  Saturated Canary - Pickles & Ice Cream
Sentiment:  TLC
Circle Punches:  EK Success
Spellbinders:  Small & Large Petite Ovals
Flower:  Wild Orchid Crafts
3-D Crystal Lacquer

Challenges
Sweet Wednesday Sketch - Sketch #150
Saturated Canary - April Showers

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Special Delivery
Cardstock:  Recollections, Paper Company, Bazzil
Stamps:  free digital download
Sentiment:  free digital download
Spellbinders:  Small & Large Circles
Divine Twine

Challenges:
Mojo - Sketch #237
There She Goes - Father's Day Card

Feeling kind of blue

When I put my cards together this morning, I realized that they were both predominantly blue.  Then I thought it was appropriate.  We did our taxes, and had to pay in to State, but will get some money back from Federal.  I just can't imagine how it is that we have to pay in when I take several exemptions and feel like so much of my check is already withheld.  I live in the capital city and many times hate to get involved in the politics unlike my son who wants to be a Senator, but people in WI want to recall our Governor because of the changes he has made; however, I don't want to pay even more in than I already do.  Then when I have been working I have had several patients that have been VERY sick with cancer and dealing with end of life issues which is depressing when the patients and their families are so sweet and then I have also had some demanding and unappreciative patients/families that make you question why I still want to be a nurse and take care of OTHERs.  Then I feel guilty about and sad about it all.  My best friend is dealing with her husband having a pacemaker placed and only having limited time due to his heart function and she is having some coping issues so we are going to try to escape for a Girls Night later this week.  My husband is continuing to deal with all of his cancer pain and we are trying to adjust his "nerve"medication Lyrica to try to help with it.  My daughter is having panic attacks about getting a summer job so she can pay for college next year to the point of giving herself diarrhea and she has lost weight.  My son is turning 16 this coming week and feels he will no longer need me for transportations so he has become very sassy.  So life seems to suck today, hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Patterned Paper:  Bearly Mine - free digital downloads
Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Bazzil, Recollections
Stamp:  Lilly of the Valley
Sentiment:  TLC
Flowers:  Prima
Bling: Studio 18
Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug
Spellbinders:  Large & Small Circles
Circle Punches:  EK Success
Ribbon:  Offray

Challenges
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 203
Lilly of the Valley - Transport
Bearly Mine - Embossing
Paper Pretties - Embossing
Colour Create - Blue, Yellow and White

Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye - Lush (Navy)
Cardstock:  Recollections
Stamp:  Pixie Dust - Belle the Beauty
Sentiment:  TLC
Spellbinders:  Small & Large Petite Oval
Ribbon:  Ribbon Carousel
Flower:  Wild Orchid Craft

Challenges
Deconstructed Sketch - Sketch #47
Pixie Dust - Ribbon
Paper Pretties - 2 or more patterned papers