I love you deerly

Both of my kids are starting college classes tomorrow.  If you have followed my blog you know that I have sent my daughter a card a week the last four years while she has been in college.  I asked my son if he wanted cards, and he said "No."  However, before he went to Army basic training he said that too, and then requested that I send him some.  I have a stash of cards that I try to keep for various occasions.  However, my son on Friday before he left for college raided my stash of cards and took a heap and then wanted postage so he could send them to his girlfriend who happens to be in the Navy basic training at this time.  That I wasn't prepared for, and some I had made specifically for my daughter.  Here is one that she will get using a pre-colored image from Imagine That digis by Kris.

Patterned Paper:  Autumn Leaves
Cardstock:  Recollection
Stamp:  Imagine That (see above for direct link)
Spellbinder:  Lattice Rectange
Bling:  Paper Studio
Jute:  May Arts

Challenges
JUGS - Ch. 308 Sketch
Aud Sentiments - Ch. 139 Fall Fun
Creative Knockout - Ch. 104 Anything Goes
Incy Wincy - Anything Goes

Birthday Wishes

For the month of September, I have quite of few family and friend birthdays so I had to get going on my cards.  Here is one to complete the Viva la Verve sketches for the month.

Patterned Paper:  DCWV

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations: Recollections

Stamp:  Verve 

Ink:  Memento - Rich Cocoa

Spellbinders:  Small and large circles; Stately circle

Trim:  Simplicity

button:  Stash

Jute:  Hemptique

Challenges

Viva la Verve - August wk 4

Eureka - Ch. 155 Button, Button

Glitter 'n Sparkle - Ch. 152 Add some buttons

Cupcake Inspirations - Ch. 325 Layers

Birthday Blessings

My sister-in-law will be celebrating her birthday later this week so this weekend I went out shopping for her gift as well as worked on her card.  I embossed the die cut border in gold and found some wonderful paper that had metallic in it as well.  I tried to make it sparkly and fun.

Patterned Paper:  Heidi Swapp

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations; Recollections

Stamp:  Verve Floral note & Unto Us

Ink:  Memento- Tuxedo Black; Versa Mark

Embossing Powder:  Stamp Craft - Gold

Die Cut:  Verve; Lifestyle Craft; Die-namics

Ribbon:  May Art;  TW

Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts

Challenges

Viva la Verve - August Wk 3

Verve Inspiration Challenge - Celebration

Southern Girls - Ch. 118 Flower Power

Crazy 4 Challenges - C4C301 Tag You're It

Hi Ho, it's off to school you go

With Labor Day being so late this year, I know that a lot of kids are starting back to school this week.  For my card I used one of the fish from a great set at Beach Toons.  In this set you get 4 fish that are in a Back to School theme for $1.  I colored this one in pastels.  I did emboss the paper and distressed it with Color Block silver ink for a nice shine which I find on the gills of a lot of fish.  The sentiment and patterned paper are from TLC.

Enjoy your weekend if it's your last free one with your kids for awhile!

Patterned Paper:  TLC, Create - Pencil Paper 4

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection

Stamp:  Beachy Toons (see above for direct link)

Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)

Spellbinder:  Pennant

Embossing Folder:  Sizzix

Ink:  Color Block - Silver

Challenges

Crafter's Cafe - Ch. 131 Back to School

CRAFT - Ch. 326 Back to School

The Sisterhood of Crafter's - It's back to school

Give a Cookie - Ch. 26

Doggone cute

Why is it that when artists draw some creatures they look adorable and we buy the stamps, but in real life we would be screaming and running the other direction?  This Snoozing puppy is precious with the mouse on it; however, if we saw that at our home, we would be trying to get the mouse off our dog or taking it to the vet for rabies shots.  Miss Rach has this adorable baby shark and if I saw that while I was swimming I would be racing to get out of the water!  The one thing that does scare me is that my husband and I would go on trips and love to get into our photography, but would observe people in the Everglades or Custer park that think buffalo that walk up to your car are tame.  These are WILD animals and I worry about people getting hurt in such places.
For this card, I used the Snoozing puppy which is the August progressive challenge at Gerda Steiner.  I used a wonderful sentiment from TLC.  Love your critters and be safe with creatures.

Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye - Inde
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Gerda Steiner (see above for direct link)
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Spellbinder:  Pennant
Buttons:  Dress it Up

Challenges
Tuesday Morning Sketches - Sketch 315
Gerda Steiner - August
OSAAT - Ch. 244  4 Legged friends
Eureka - Ch. 155 Button, Button

To my significant otter

Miss Rach at Beach Toons has this wonderful otter as a freebie the other day.  The sentiment is from TLC.

Patterned Paper:  Recollection

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations; Recollection

Stamp: Beachy Toons - See above for direct link

Sentiment:  TLC, Create See above for direct link

Spellbinder:  Opulent Oval

Die Cuts:  Quic Kutz

Jute:  May Arts

Divine Twine

Button:  stash

Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug

Challenges

Sweet Wednesday Sketch 2 - Rewind sketch

TTCRD - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 198 Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Peace

Paulette at TLC has a monthly club and these angels were just part of that for the month of August and I just couldn't pass up using them right away.  The sentiment is also from a great set available there.  I used paper from Sweet Shoppe that was etched with gold glitter and added a gold corner piece from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections
Stamp: TLC, Create - Be An Angel Day Vintage
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Embossing Folders:  Sizzix
Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts & Recollections
Ribbon:  JoAnn's
Corner: Wild Orchid Crafts

Challenges
Papertake Weekly - Take your pick - Sketch
CHNC - Ch. 243 Use some gold
CHNC Extra - August
A snowflake promise - Ch. 4 Anything goes

Summer it must be time for ice cream

Who doesn't love ice cream especially on a hot summer day?  Our family seems to be going for the frozen yogurt though actually and they have lots of fun flavors.  My image is a Mo Manning and the sentiment is from a great set at TLC.

Patterned Paper:  Carta Bella - Cool Summer

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection; Core-dination

Stamp:  Mo Manning - Summer sisters cs

Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)

Ice cream cones:  Recollection

Challenges

Friday Sketch Challenge - Sketch 98

Mo Manning - Ch. 254 Anything Goes with optional something tasty

Gem of a Challenge - Ch. 151 One for the Girls

TTCRD - Anything Goes

Gingerbread basket

I made a card for the Progressive Challenge at Deedee's.  For this card I used the pre-colored Christmas basket.  I used a sentiment from TLC.  I used two of my Die-namics tags and on one I used my Tim Holtz waters and then sprtized them with water.

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations; Recollection
Stamp:  Deedee's - Christmas Basket
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Tim Holtz Markers
Ribbon:  JoAnn's; American Crafts; Michael's
Die Cuts:  Die- Namics - Tags
Gingerbread: Recollection
Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug

Challenges
Try Stampin' On Tuesday - Ch. 231
Deedee's Digi of the Month - August
Alphabet Challege - N for no designer paer
Fan-Tastic Tuesday - Ch. 100 Use a number
ABC Christmas Challenge - Q for Quantum Leap (B - Bows; D - die cut)
CHNC Extra - August

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Today when I saw the Mojo sketch, I just had to make this card.  I distressed my papers with Memento ink. I also used my new Cherry Lynn snowflake die.

Patterned Paper:  Webster

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection

Stamp:  Verve - Unto Us

Ink:  Memento - London Fog

Divine Twine

Dies:  Die-namics; Cherry Lynn

Snowflake:  Dress it Up

Challenges

Mojo - Sketch 412

Christmas Cards all Year Round - Snowflakes

4 Crafty Chicks- Ch. 260 Distressing

CHNC Extra - August

Inky Impressions - Ch. 272 Christmas in August

You put the flip in my flops

I feel like such a squirrel hurrying to get things done with the last days of summer.  Today was a cool day we only had a high of 69 and it was a brisk wind so it felt more like a fall day.  My Dad and Uncle are still working on my porch and it is coming along really well....the windows are in now.  I almost forgot to post this card which I have had done for a month now for Imagine That.  I used the pre-colored flip flops from the Beach Floaty Girl set and the sentiment from TLC.

Patterned Paper:  Bo Bunny
Cardstock:  Bazzil: Recollections
Stamp:  Imagine That (see above for direct link)
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Spellbinders:  Small and large circles
Flower:  Prima
Brad:  Making Memories

Challenges
SSSC - Sketch 279
Creative Corners - At the beach
Craft your Passion - Ch. 276 Anything Goes
Crafting from your Heart - Ch. 74 Anything Goes

Sorry you're so dog-gone sick

For this card I used one of the wonderful creations from Miss Rach in her Dog Show Collection called Bulldog Pup.  For the sentiment, I used one from TLC.  I used an embossing folder with pawprints that I just got.

Patterned Paper:  DCWV
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Beachy Toons (see above for direct link)
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Ribbon:  Michael's
Punches:  EK Success
Embossing Folder:  Darice

Challenges
Freshly Made Sketches - Sketch 200
Polkadoodles - Wk 34 Use something new (embossing folder)
Quirky - Ch. 17 Embossing
Tuesday Throwdown - Ch. 258 Texture

Time to celebrate another birthday....70

In September my Dad will be celebrating his 70th birthday.  I made this pop up card for him.  I used a pre-colored image from Doodle Pantry and then an additional sentiment from TLC.  I added a ribbon and button to the front of the card.  Then some Tim Holtz metal clock faces to the inside along with some die cut clock hands.

Patterned Paper:  K & Company

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations; Recollections

Stamp:  Doodle Pantry - Old Watch

Sentiment: TLC, Create - Celebrate 70

Metal clocks:  Tim Holtz

Brad:  Making Memories

Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug

Ink:  Distress - Old Paper

Die Cut - Sizzix

Spellbinder:  Small and large circle

Challenges

Doodle Pantry - Ants in my Pantry Ch. 8

Brown Sugar - Ch. 160 Buttons & Bows

Cardz 4 Guyz - Ch. 84 It's about time

Come & Get It - Black & White plus one other color

Glitter 'n Sparkle - Ch. 151 Happy Birthday

Creative Knockout - Ch. 103 Celebration

Back to school

My daughter is in the education program so she will spend the first eight weeks in class and then will be student teaching the last eight weeks.  I know she is getting excited to graduate in May.  She spends a lot of time working with kids which is the opposite of the age group that I tend to work with.  I have sent her a card a week since she has left for college, and she has saved them.  This is the card I made for her for the start of school.

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Paper Shelter:  Vintage Teacher - colored digi
Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Back to School
Ribbon:  Michael's
Jute:  May Arts
Buttons:  Stash
Border Punch:  Martha Stewart
Notebook paper:  Mead

Challenges
Paper Shelter - Ch. 215 Back to school
Cute Card Thursday - Ch. 387 Back to school
Brown Sugar - Ch. 160 Buttons and Bows
RRR - Ch. 124 Fall colored with Ribbon

Stuck on you

When I hear "Stuck on you" it reminds me of the country-western song by Sugarland "Stuck like glue".  For my card I used the Mojo sketch and a Verve stamp set.  I embossed the sentiment and distressed the paper with Memento ink.

Patterned Paper:  Echo Park

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection

Stamp:  Verve - Boo to You

Ink:  Memento - Tuxedo Black & London Fog

Embossing Powder: Zing & Versa Mark

Bling:  Me and My Big Ideas

Border Punch:  Martha Stewart

Challenges

Mojo - Sketch 411

4 Crafty Chicks - Ch. 260 Distressing

Sister Act - Ch. 120 Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion - Ch. 275 Anything Goes

Have a whale of a birthday

Today is my Uncle Jay's birthday and this is the card that I made for him.  It is using a whale that is available from Miss Rach for $1 on her etsy.  The sentiment is available at TLC.

Patterned Paper:  K & Company
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections
Stamp:  Beach Toons - (see above for direct link)
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Corner Rounder:  Creative Memories
Buttons:  My Favorite Things
Gems:  Darice
Embossing Folder:  Sizzix

Challenges
Tuesday Morning Sketch  - Sketch 314
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Ch. 258 Texture
Quirky Crafts - Ch. 17 Embossing

Happy holidays winter wonderland

Faith at From the Heart was on a mission to draw 100 snowmen in 100 days, but she has said it has been a bigger under taking than she thought.  I can hardly imagine.  Here is one of the delightful creations and the sentiment is from TLC.

Patterned Paper:  gcd

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations;Recollections

Stamp:  From the heart - Snow Girl

Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)

Spellbinders:  Small and large circles

Punch:  EK Success

Challenges

From the Heart - Sketch 115

Merry Monday - Ch. 169

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Snowflakes

Inky Impressions - Ch. 272 Christmas in August

CHNC Extra - August

A snowflake promise - Ch. 3 Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - Q for Quantum Leap (H for Happy Holidays sentiment)

It's back to school today

Both of my kids are in college so it's different doing the "Back to School" thing.  My daughter is in the education program and has spent the summer taking care of children so this card is for one of the girls she has taken care of that will be starting the 3rd grade.  The patterned paper, the apple and the sentiment are from TLC.

Patterned Paper:  TLC, Create - Read any Good Books paper 3

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Daisy D; Recollection

Stamp:  Bugaboo - Curly hair girl sitter

Apple:  TLC, Create - ABCs of school paper

Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)

Spellbinder:  Pennant; Marvelous Squares

Flower:  Wild Orchid Crafts

Crayons:  Dress it Up

Challenges

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 - Sketch 65

Catch the Bug - August BINGO (Die cut, school theme, scallops)

Cute Card Thursday - Ch. 387 Back to School

A Gem of Challenge - Ch. 151 One for the Girls

Cardabilities floral with sympathy

I had to make a sympathy card to keep up my stash.  For this card I used a Verve stamp and a Cherry Lynn die cut.  I kept it rather simple.

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe 

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections

Stamp:  Verve - Kind Words

Ink:  Memento - London Fog

Ribbon:  Stash

Die Cut:  Cherry Lynn - flourish

Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts

Challenges

Cardabilities - Sketch 129

Word Art Wednesday - Ch 197 Anything Goes

Crafting from the Heart - Ch. 73

CHNC Patterned Paper - August

Goosebumps

I have to say this is one of my favorite images from Miss Rach which is available on her Etsy site for $1.  I asked Paulette at TLC to make me a sentiment for this image which she did, and I hope it will be available soon.  My husband passed away about 18 months ago and it has been hard without him.  He loved photography and I still have all the memories and the photographs which helps.  We would go together and take nature shots.  One of the last times he was out of the house I took him for a walk around our neighborhood in his wheelchair and he took pictures of geese so I think that is why this image means so much to me as well.  It just reminds me of that fall day.

photos I took from one of our nature outings

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - I love your face

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection

Stamp: Beachy Toons  (see above for Etsy direct link)

Sentiment:  TLC, Create

Button:  stash

Divine Twine

Spellbinders:  Small Circle; Pennant

Challenges

Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch 281

Fab 'n Funky - Ch. 270 Things with Wings

Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Ch. 115 Anything Goes optional with wings

Craft your Passion - Ch. 275 Anything Goes

Sweet Stamps - Ch. 235 Masculine Card

TOADally unFROGettable day and BIG NEWS!

Today I found out that I am on the Design Team for Beachy Toons for the talented Miss Rach.  I am so excited and I am sure you have been to her site to get freebies and she has sold her images on Whimsy Stamps.  She has her beautiful images available on Etsy.  I have a wooded lot so when I cut my grass I am always finding toads and moving them out of my way.  I like to keep them around so that they eat the bugs and mosquitoes.  For this monochromatic card, I used a freebie that is available on Miss Rach's blog and a sentiment from TLC.  Just wait there will be lots more critters to come.....

Patterned Paper: Sweet Shoppe - Little Red Riding Girl

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections

Stamp:  Miss Rach - Frog friend (see above for direct link)

Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)

Ribbon:  Really Reasonable Ribbon

Punch:  Martha Stewart

Die Cut:  Spellbinder - Tag

Ink:  Color Block - Lime

Challenges

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge - Sketch 282

Tuesday Throwdown - Ch. 258 Texture

Sweet Stamps - Ch. 235 Masculine

Incy Wincy - Tic Tac Toe (Monochromatic, free space, Ribbon)

Bird poop happens

Since my Dad has been working on my porch, I have been parking on the street so he can use my driveway and garage for the project.  Needless to say, I am not as happy to find that my vehicle has been getting splattered with bird poop as I have parked under a tree to help shade it from the beating sun.  This wonderful sentiment is available at TLC and I think is a must have.  The great image is from Miss Rach and I added a Darice eyeball since it was just too black otherwise.  I did emboss my die cut which is a Core-dinations papers so then I sanded it to give it a look as if a bird may have been there.  I also edge my papers with Memento - London Fog ink for a distressed similar look.

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - I love your face

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations; Recollections

Stamp:  Miss Rach - Sweet seagull

Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)

Spellbinder:  Label thirty eight; Pennant

Embossing Folder: Sizzix

Eye:  Darice

Ink:  Memento - London Fog

Pearls:  Recollection

Sand paper

Challenges

Crazy for challenges - C4C299

Fab 'n Funky - Ch. 270 Things with wings

Melonheadz - Hand colored images

Quirky Crafts - Ch. 17 Embossing

Crafting from the Heart - Ch. 73 Anything Goes