Terrific Tuesday!

Hello everyone!

This morning I needed to create a few challenge cards. MFP, Simon Says Stamp & Unity Stamp Co have posted the latest "gotta do" challenges. I already loaded the sketch for  MFP Oriental Sketch in my last post, but I'll load it here because I took a very different look at the diamonds at the bottom.

Look at mine and see if you can "see" the diamond shapes at the bottom. I used my embossing folder to create interest on the pink 1st layer. I decided to use crystal effects on the center sentiment stamp and while it was wet, I sprinkled with SU dazzling diamonds extra fine glitter.  Love the pastels in this card - will work well for Simon Says for sure!

And the next challenge for MFP is MFP FOSTV Under the Sea. I am still playing with my punches and I couldn't find a sea life stamp in mu studio (guess it's still boxed up somewhere.) So, I pulled out the trusty punches and created this adorable little guy. I will send this to my daughter "Sissy" who is living in Virginia Beach with friends. But, I'll wait 'till summer when she'd be getting ready to go to the beach... lol  For the background of this card I took cling wrap and balled it up. I pounced it in Versa Mark ink, once I had it randomly blotted onto the blue layer I sprinkled with clear embossing powered and heated it. The bubble are simply punched white circles. The sentiment is from a Halloween stamp set I've had for awhile. The shark was created with a large heart, wide oval, large and small oval and scissor to nip out his teeth. And there he is. I'm in love with his little cute face!

Okay, time to link these cuties up and do a few chores here around the house. Thanks for stopping by guys!

My Challenges:
MFP ~ FOSTV160 - Under the Sea
MFP ~ OS 71
Simon Says Stamp ~ Monday Challenge Pastels

Butterfly Birthday Wishes

I'm back today with the SFF challenge over at MFP. This Saturday the challenge was posted to create a birthday card with butterflies. So, I sat down today after I cleaned up the house and created this little card - it's similar to a card I on Pinterest at some point...  please pardon, Wildman helped me take the pictures again!  I need to fix up a photo area just for taking my pics...

 

There's a sketch challenge too, here's the sketch:

 

I've given the sketch a little bit of thought - I'll try to get to this card later today or tomorrow. Still haven't been struck with a really swell idea yet... It'll happen when I least expect it I'm sure.  TFSB

My Challenges:
Mark's Fine Papers ~ Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 255

Gnome Home

I've been working for a few days on a special project and I'm happy to report I am finished! I decided to go old school and pull out my colored pencils, odorless mineral spirits and blending stumps. Yep, I did it and for once can say I actually got a happy result. Yay me! I tried very hard to do shading and multicolor blending using only these old school supplies. I also pulled out a paper pack that I've been coveting for years, DCWV Once Upon A Time papers. Pulled out all the stops for this project. When I was done with the card, I knew it was already busy cuz of the papers, but I felt it really needed more. I added sequins to the roof rocks, Glaze and Gelly Roll Pens to various places. The big bow took me a good bit of patients and a looong ribbon of creamy seam binding. I tied this baby all by hand, didn't use my Bow Easy this time! I did add pop dots to the image that I fussy cut and to the dark purple layer.

 

This image is actually a digi stamp. The 1st time I've used one successfully. The image came from Make It Crafty, Mushroom House. I have fallen in love with this site! There are images here you'd never be able to find in the market place. I created this card as part of a DT call. I added the links in this paragraph and my side bar. I just really liked their site and thought I'd try. But, now it's time to get my chores done before bed time! Happy Saturday night my friends! TFSB

Hanging with Mah peeps

Today I worked on creating my Easter cards. I used the adorable peep stamp I purchased yesterday at my LSS. I based it the card I made yesterday too. Changed up a few little elements here and there. What cha think? BTW, the lace is lace trim from my sewing supplies - I had added it to the hem of some blue jeans and a skirt a  while back.

I stamped the inside of each with the Impression Obsession sentiment I got Friday too. "sweet treats for a sweet person". I made a KISS card with the same stamps too. Here's that one:

I used Gelly Roll Sparkle and Wink a Stella on some of the bunnies. I used pattern papers from my scrap basket (honestly it's way to big!) and I used baker's twine & ribbon I've had around for ev-ah! Time for some new goodie,s huh??  I should get started on my Christmas cards soon... no I'm serious! I always need so many and I always wait too long and have to push at the end! Yeah - gotta listen to me this time! TFSB

Been there, done that!

Made it across town to the new LSS. It was large for sure, and it was nice, but I must say, I'm still feeling the sadness over losing Archiver's. I think it's gonna be super hard to beat what they had. But, ooooo, I picked up a few new things while there and I'm super excited to show you what I created with them.  Aren't these little peeps just the cutest thang ev-ah?! I think I'll make a few more of these and send them out for Easter. Yeahhh  I used stamps from Impression Obsession, Wink of Stella on the peeps. I colored with Copics and added me some twine. Gotta love twine! And bling! Gotta love bling!

I'm sooo sorry for the poor pictures. Wildman really wanted to take my pics and I couldn't say no, so the sun is hitting the camera at an odd angle. IF I re-took the pic, I would've crushed his little heart. And I simply couldn't do that in the name of a prettier picture, ya know?  Anyhoo, I was able to finish the cards I'd started for a beachy themed swap at SCS.

 

Okay, I heard the buzzer go off for our pizzas. Wildman and I are hanging out tonight while Dad's in St Pete for his race. They came in 7th today - with like 3 laps to go the driver got passed and went from 4th back to 7th. Tomorrow is another day, hopefully they will place better. TFSB

 

My Challenges:

Unity Stamp Co ~ Friends with Flair

Creative Inspiration ~ Challenge 306 - Feathered Friends / Animals!

A little happiness goes a loooog way!

Whoot Whoot ~ It's Friday!!  :p

Today I get to go to a local scrapbook store I heard about! So excited! I guess I should get out more, but I'm a home body.

When I get home I have an handful of challenges to work on and a few special projects I need to complete. I'm super excited and will share them with you when I get home. But right now, I do have two KSS (keep it simple silly) projects I have ready to go.

 

These two are super simple and quick. The card above I wanted to create a monochromatic card with the focus on the heart. The heart is actual Calypso Coral, but looks red. The sentiment makes me giggle! I plan on sending this card to my sister.

The card above was a card that Angie Juda with SU showed us via a stamp club video.  She used a different stamp set and did her flower centers differently. I used a Glaze pen to bring a pop of yellow in and then coordinated the bakers twine with the yellow. Super quick and easy and lots of fun.

Anyway, off to beautify myself. Have a very creative day you guys!

Blue Bird of Happiness

I had a handful of chores to do this morning and I had to play office manager and pay bills, make phone calls and fun stuff like that today. So, as a result I didn't get to craft as mush as I looove. Here'e this weeks sketch:

 

 But I did finish my Mojo Monday card! Wanna see it? Here it go: (old Saturday night reference)

 

Super easy peasy, cute, bright and happy! I always need birthday cards, so I pulled out an old fav stand by. I love this set and haven't used it in a while. I used Copics to color in the little bird of happiness. If it were my birthday, I'd send it to me in the mail for sure!!  tee hee

I also pulled together a card for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge for Wednesday. Anything goes! So, I decided to CASE from Pootles, Sam Donald in the UK. I love her site! I did do a few things differently. I changed the way I used the linen thread, and I don't have the exact colors or stamp set she used, but I got pretty close.  The flower colors didn't come across as pretty as they are in person. Just close your eyes and see what I see - ha ha!

I have more office manager stuff to take care of in the morning, hopefully I hope to be able to do a little bit. Maybe I could doodle in my journal while I sit on the phone making the rest of my calls. I need to keep my journal closer to be able to just doodle in or jot thoughts or sketches in. Yeah! That's what I need to do.... TFSB!

My Challenges:
Mojo Monday ~ March 23rd Sketch 390
Simon Says ~ Wednesday March 25

She Believed She Could

I decided to try one more thing before I have to go play mommy again. I have seen the Watercolor Bokeh technique at SCS before. It makes the most beautiful background and you're only limited by your imagination, or your colors of ink on hand! Well, when I saw Pat give it a whirl at Mark's this week, I figured it was time I gave it a try as well. I made this for my little girl. I say little but she turned 19 in October! Where'd the time go?? I will send this to her in a a week or two. I have cards lined up to mail to her - lol - funny huh?? I just mailed her a box and the elephant card I did a few weeks ago. I told her she was NEVER allowed to toss that card! Told her I'm her mom and would just know if she did.... ha ha! Okay, enough blabbing, here's the card:

I love the color combo, but like I said, there are soooo very many color combos you could use. The next one I do with be pink and orange. Okay, so now I have to clean up my mess. Who am I kidding?! I'm OCD!! I clean throughout my crafting, just like I do while I'm cooking or sewing or planting in the yard.... heck, I'm realllly OCD!!! Hope you try this tech soon too! TFSB

My Challenges:
So Suzy Stamps - March Challenge

Showin a little puppy love

I needed to make a dog themed card, MFP Speedy Fox & Friends challenge this week is "Who let the dogs out?" Since I still have a great deal of my craft supplies in boxes & since my studio isn't finished yet, I couldn't pull put stamps,.I decided to work with my punches! And, I knew my card was going in a totally different place than those shown as samples and already posted to the challenge. Sometimes, I am the fish swimming sideways, across the stream, instead of up or down. I'm fun that way to be honest. =)  So, here's my take on this week's challenge:

The base card is white. I then cut a sky blue mat and embossed it with my cloud embossing die. Then, I sponged clouds using white and Bermuda bay blue. I punched rectangles, ovals, squares, circles, and rounded rectangles out of sponged red CS for putting the hydrant together. I added sliver brads to the hydrant to mimic bolts. The grass is punched with a scallop edge and sponged with old olive and wild wasabi greens. I actually printed the sentiment on CS from my computer.  I've gotten really into doing this lately - making it possible to tailor what you wanna say to what you have created! That's it - using my punches again to create a little laughter & fun! TFSB

My Challenge:
Mark's Finest Papers ~ SFF 254 Who Let the Dogs Out

Pink Lotus Love

I am having way too much fun making these paper flowers! This card I created with the Oriental Sketch Challenge 70 from Friday over at Mark's Fine Papers. Since it was to be oriental in theme, and I'm having too much fun with the flowers - I opted to make a lotus flower that worked with the sketch!

 

So, here's my take on this week's sketch:

 

 

The color's aren't necessarily oriental per say, but I really like the combo. Again, the flower and leaves were created from punches. I added liquid glass and glitter to the center of the flower. I cut the petals out of baby pink card stock and then inked them with white fading into melon mambo. The leaves were punched out of two circles that I cut to shape and inked with two shades of green. I WILL make more flowers tomorrow while Wild Man is at school. No errands to run so I can take him to school and come create while I do a little load of laundry. Does laundry ever end??  TFSB

 

My Challenges:

MFP ~ OS 70

Bashful Blue Hydrangeas

Sunday I shared a card that showcased a tulip I made using punches. So it was funny when I looked at MFP's this morning to see the Monday challenge was to create a card using hand made flowers! I guess it was kismet to create more flowers! So, again, out with the punches to create one of my fav flowers, hydrangeas.

 

The flowers and leaves were made using a heart shaped punch the curly-q tendrils were sliver punched using a wide oval. The little leaves were punched using the build a bird punch.  I adore the background embossing, if you look closely you can see the image is of a fancy bumble bee! I'd forgotten what it was like to have inky fingers! I punched the flowers outta white cardstock and added the color myself. Even though I punched the leaves from 2 shades of green, I added ink for added depth. I had decided to give myself a French manicure tonight, but realize it's futile!

 

My all time fav flower is the carnation, so maybe tomorrow I will figure out how to create one using paper. =) Now I must play domestic goddess and run the vacuum then shampoo the carpet. My dear dooogie Bailey Bell came thru yesterday's rain with dirty paws. So, now my carpet looks icky! I think when we get new carpet I'm gonna ask for dirt color! Just sayin' it'd save me a lot ot time and effort!!  TFSB

 

My Challenges:

MFP ~ FOSTV159 - Handmade Flowers

My Manly Man & the Other Woman...

Made you wanna read didn't I?? Well, let me explain before you all think my hubby is a horrible man. THIS is the other woman:

 

 

He is the lead mechanic for one of the two the KSS Motorsports Kia Team race cars. They race in the World Challenge Series and travel a lot across the US & Canada. This pic was actually taken in the shop here in NE Georgia where we live. Here's a pic taken during a recent race:

I have a ton of pictures of hubby on track with his last team Krohn Racing, he was with them for 8+ years. I miss that team (and family) so much! But this is his 1st year with KSS and they don't go over the wall during the race so there's not as many chances to get great pics. Maybe as time passes I'll be able to have pics of hubby in action with Kia too.

So, now that you have the background of what hubby does and that he travels you will understand this next part. I always make a card and stick it in his suitcase or back pack while he's packing. I try to do this without being caught. The one time I didn't make a card he told me he was like "whaaaaat?!" Well, here's this week's card. I cannot take credit for coming up with this rocking card. I did however add the diamond plate embossing where the card I saw on Pinterest was smooth.

Is this card not the bomb??? I can't wait for him to find it on this trip. He leaves Wednesday. His races are always on Saturday  & Sunday and then he comes home. This week he's headed to Texas. I only had 2" hexies, so I could only fit 2 of them on a standard card. I inked with grey and white ink, punched a circle in the middle and layered with red and white - which just happen to be his team colors! I'm crazy about this card! Or should I say "nuts"?? LOL TFSB