A Purrfect Birthday

Trying to catch up on birthday cards for this month so that's what I've been working on. The one I have tonight is for my youngest son. They have 2 kitties, a dog and then they also foster dogs quite often. The cats came first so that's what I used for my card this time.

The image is from Eureka Stamps called Big n Little Cat. I colored the image with  Spectrum Noir and Copic markers. The sentiment is from When the Scrap Hits the Fun. The paw stamp I found at the thrift shop I work at. A ten cent find! I finished it off with some Doodle Twine. I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketch: sketch 
  
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: birthday

That's it for me tonight. We volunteered for the last time at Early Head Start today. So sad to leave those special teachers behind. They all do such an amazing job. But the twins turned three at the beginning of October and next week they will be starting at regular Head Start classes. So we;ll start volunteering at a new location next week. We'll still be with the twins. But they are growing up way too fast. {sigh} Have a super rest of the week. Take care!

Donna

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Here Comes Santa

Normally I post on the first of the month for the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. But this month I was away on vacation for 3 weeks in September so my card for this month's challenge got pushed back to the 15th. So this is a reminder of the always "anything goes" Christmas challenge. We do add an optional twist each month. This month is Sensational Santa. Our sponsor this month is Limited Runs.

My image is Santa Mug from Limited Runs colored with Spectrum Noir markers and I added some Recollections glitter glue to give the Santa some texture. The sentiment is from the same set. The papers are from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles: 

I sure hope you will join us before the end of the month and show us what you've been working on for Christmas. I am entering these challenges:

• Try Stampin' On Tuesday: sketch 
  
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: Christmas
• The Outlawz Thursday challenge: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes Christmas

That's it for me today. Please check out my Dueling Darlings post by scrolling down. Have a super week!

Donna

Hello Pumpkin

It's already the 15th of October and time for another Dueling Darlings showcase! This month our challenge hostesses were Barb and Tracie. Tracie wrote: How could we not celebrate fall for the month of October? So Barb and I decided our theme for October is "Pumpkins."
Here's what was included in the kit:

• Image and sentiment are from Newton's Nook Designs called Harvest Tails; stamped on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.
• The designer paper is called Autumn Splendor by Simple Stories.
• Embellishments: ribbon is Pumpkin Pie from Stampin' Up, Flowers from Prima Flowers, twine and button from her stash.

I made 2 cards with Tracie's awesome kit. I colored both images the same with a mixture of Bic, American and Spectrum Noir markers. Here's the first card

:

I fussy cut the image after coloring and made a beeline for the plaid paper that Tracie included. (I LOVE plaid paper!) The 4 squares are die cut with MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Squares. I used a different sentiment from Jillibean Soup's Jar Goodness. I added the pumpkins included in the kit to the middle of each square. I am entering these challenges:

• Atlantic Hearts Sketches: sketch 
  
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Alphabet challenge: O is for one word sentiments
• Catch the Bug: happy fall y'all
• The Outlawz Monday Greeting challenge: fall colors or Halloween

Now for card #2.

For this card I just squared up the image with my paper trimmers. I distressed the image and sentiment with Gathered Twigs Distress ink. The scalloped border is from  a Stampin' Up punch. The sentiment is die cut with Impression Obsession Mini Rectangle Tags 2. I am entering these challenges:

• Stella Sketch challenge: sketch (turned sideways) 
  
• Creative Knockouts: fall
• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• Incy Wincy challenge: autumn (fall) colors

I hope you will check out all the dueling cards today. The links are in my right hand column. It's always a treat to see how the same materials can look so different on the cards. Thanks for stopping by today!

Donna

Christmas Cards Galore

Each year I have made my in-laws Christmas cards to send out. My FIL now does the sending and he likes to send religious cards. So each year I try to find a design that's fairly easy to do. I didn't succeed in that task this year. I was hoping to finish these while we were on vacation but I barely got them started. Hard to color while driving in the mountains. LOL!

I used a variety of markers on these cards. I was trying to use up older markers so not all the cards were colored the same. I did 31 cards in all. the image is Mother and Child by Paper Dreams of Mine. This was a freebie at one time but it isn't posted any longer. The sentiment is from Technique Tuesday Christ is Born. I used Gina Marie Designs Wine Bottle Labels to die cut the sentiments which were white heat embossed on black card stock. The cards are pretty simple but they took a while to make. I am entering these challenges:

• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: Christmas
• C.R.A.F.T. challenge: Christmas
• Christmas Crafting All Year Round: Angel or Nativity
• Winter Wonderland: merry & bright
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: anything goes
• The Outlawz Friday challenge: Christmas

I am super happy that I have these all done this year. So now I can't get back to making my own cards; Christmas or otherwise. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Donna

Grateful

There are so many things in my life that I am grateful for and I don't often enough recognize those people to whom I am grateful. I need to say "thank you" more often and let people know how much I appreciate what they do for me. So today I have some cards that I want to send for their kindness after my brother passed away in early September.

Details:

Stamps: MFT Grateful for You; leaf is digital but source unknown

Ink: Distress Oxide Spiced Marmalade

Dies: MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags

Embossing: white embossing powder on black card stock

Border: Zig Millenium marker

I am entering these challenges:

• The Male Room: stay cas 
  
• Incy Wincy challenge: autumn (fall) colors
• Simon Says Monday: fall/autumn
• Give a Crafter a Cookie: leaves 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• The Outlawz Monday Greeting: anything goes

Here are two of the things I am most thankful for in my life. My twin grandchildren. As promised I have a picture of the their third birthday party. Since we were on vacation I didn't have much prep time so I ordered a cake. Not what I would usually do but they seemed to enjoy it.

I can hardly believe they are 3 already. They grow so fast. Thanks for stopping by today. Have a super week!

Donna

Happy Birthday

After several weeks away and a wonderful trip to New England that gave us some time with our sons, we are back home and almost back to normal. I got through the mountain of laundry and dishes and shopping for the twins' 3rd birthday on Sunday. I can hardly believe it's been three years. We are having a party at brunch tomorrow. Our youngest is visiting for a wedding this weekend so he's really excited to be here for their birthday party. Since we were gone 3 weeks in September I didn't get their cards made but I did have a tag done for Arthur (last year) and I finished Valerie's tag today. So this year is the tag year.

Details:

Stamps: Bugaboo Autumn Brat Leaves

Dies: Lawn Fawn Stitched Party Banner, My Favorite Things Happy Birthday Circle, My Favorite Things Stitched Circle, Lawn Fawn Quinn's ABCs

Paper: My Favorite Things Sweet Celebrations 6x6 Paper Pack, purple card stock

Embellishments: ribbon, flowers, ric rac, and enamel dots from my stash

I am entering these challenges:

• MFT Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Catch the Bug: anything goes
• Creative Knockouts: lots of layers
• A Bit More Time to Stamp: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Addicted to Stamps and More: anything goes 
  
• Seize the Birthday: geometric shapes
• QKR Stampede: anything goes

Now I need to go wrap gifts for tomorrow's celebration. I'll be back with pictures of the twins party/ Thanks for stopping by. I hope to get back to crafting this next week. Hugs to you all!

Donna

Bring Your Own Bottle

Today is our Dueling Day with the Dueling Darlings. This is a scheduled post as I am away on vacation. Judy (Divas) and I (Dazzlers) were the hostesses this month and we chose to celebrate Baby Safety Month and challenge everyone to make a baby card with their kit. Here's what I included in my kit to the Dazzlers:

• Image from Gina K Designs (retired stamp set called Wee Tees) on Neenah Solar White with Gina K Amalgam ink.
• Sentiments from Paper Makeup Stamps and Hero Arts Everyday Sayings.
• Designer Paper from the Paper Studio: Blue Tiny Toes Baby Feet, Pink Tiny Toes Baby Feet, Bright Watercolor Plaid, and Balloon Animals.
• Embellishments: the Paper Studio la petites baby Girl Glitter Foam and Baby Boy Glitter Foam (bottles and pacifiers), Doodle Twine pink and white, Recollections Multicolored adhesive rhinestones, and the rest was from my stash (2 blue and yellow brads, yellow and blue ribbons, and a wooden clothespin).

For my card I used three of the patterned papers and backed them in black card stock so the colors would pop. I colored the onesie with Spectrum Noir markers and fussy cut the image, then popped it up on the card. I used the yellow ribbon as an embellishment and added two of the rhinestones on each side of the ribbon and topped it off with the baby bottle and pacifier glitter foam pieces.
Here is the inside of my card.

The sentiment is from Paper Makeup Stamps, sadly no longer in business.
Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you'll check out what the other Dazzlers have done with my kit and what the Divas did with Judy's kit.I'm sure they will all be inspirational. Check out my right side bar for all the links. Have a wonderful day!

Donna

50th Wedding Anniversary

Hello! Watching and praying for all those on the east coast who may be affected by Hurricane Dorian. I've been working on a card for a 50th wedding anniversary for some dear friends of ours. Here's what I came up with.

I used the Spellbinder's Contemporary Hearts Pendant on the red card stock card. I used the Simon Says Heart Stack inside the pendant. I filled in some of the hearts to represent my friends' family. So the two red hearts are the 50th wedding couple. They had a son and daughter represented by the blue and pink hearts at the top. The three pink hearts at the bottom represent their 3 granddaughters (2 from the son and 1 from the daughter). I added the 50 die cuts at the top and added the Happy Anniversary sentiment from a Hero Arts stamp set. I heat embossed it with white embossing powder on black card stock. And here is the inside.

The image is from QKR Stampede called Bear Hugs. I colored them with Spectrum Noir markers. I added a verse for the inside.
I am entering these challenges:

• QKR Stampede challenge: anything goes
• The Outlawz Friday challenge: anniversary
• Crafting by Designs: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Simon Says Work it Wednesday: celebrate

I won't be around much for the rest of the month. My brother passed away this past week and the funeral will be Tuesday. We were scheduled to leave on vacation on Tuesday so that's being pushed back. We are heading for Maine for several weeks and we won't have Internet most of the time. So I'll have at least one post that will be scheduled but the rest of the month may not be much posting. I'll be back in October. Have a wonderful month!

Donna

New challenge

I am posting a bit early for the new challenge set to go tomorrow at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. But life is moving fast and we'll be leaving with no Internet tomorrow. So please check out this new challenge tomorrow, September 1st.Happy September! This year is really flying by. Our new challenge for September is all about kraft. Use kraft somehow in your project. Our sponsor this month is Pattie's Creations. And Lisa has designed a wonderful kraft paper set you are going to love. Here is my card.

The adorable gingerbread house is from Pattie's Creations. The sentiment is from Create with TLC. It's die cut with MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Squares. I fusst cut the kraft mat behind the image. The gingerbread paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Gingerbread Cookies. The candy strip paper is from an unknown source. Had it in my stash and haven't been able to find it in my files. I added ribbon for the horizontal strip. All layers have a kraft layer behind. The base card stock is also kraft. For accent around the gingerbread house I used Rock Cabdt Stickles. We sure hope you will join us beginning September 1st at 6pm EST at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. We'd love to comment on your creations!

I am entering these challenges:

• Try Stampin' On Tuesday: sketch 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: Christmas anything goes
• The Outlawz Monday Greeting: anything goes

Thanks for dropping by today. Happy Labor Day to all my U.S. friends. For those in Florida in the path of the hurricane, please be safe. My prayers are with you. 

Donna

Humorous Challenge for the Dueling Darlings

Happy Thursday! The week is flying by. But the 15th of the month is always the best time as the Divas and the Dazzlers face off in our monthly challenge. This month Jeanette (Dazzlers) and Kelly (Divas) sent us a kit with the theme of "humorous." I'm a Dazzler so I received Jeanette's kit. Here's what we had to work with:

• Images and sentiments: Taylored Expressions Adventure Land stamp set (stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Recollections 110#White CS)
• Dies Taylored Expressions "Wish"
• Punched Pieces: Stampin' Up! Photo Corners
• Designer Paper: DCWV Birthday, Paper Studio Pink Lemonade (Banners), Simple Stories Say Cheese (Cameras), and others from unknown vendors
• Ribbons: Amuse Studio Bubble Gum Pink and two others from Celebrate It
• Embellishments: Tim Holtz Giggles Ticket and other items from unknown vendors

So we had an amazing assortment to work with (Thanks Jeanette!). Here's my card:

So I used two of the designer papers on my card. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers. I used Spellbinder's ATC card dies to die cut the image and MFT Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips to die cut the sentiment. The DP is backed with black card stock and the base is a blue card stock to match the striped paper although the photo of the inside doesn't make it look like the same color. I used several of the embellishments provided.

One of the embellishments that Jeanette provided was some fun confetti for a shaker card. While I didn't make a shaker card I did use some the confetti pieces on the inside decorations. I hope you'll check out what all the Dazzlers and Divas created. Their links can be found on the right side of my blog. Thanks to Jeanette for the fun kit!

I am entering these challenges:

• Atlantic Hearts challenge: sketch (I turned the sketch) 
  

Waving "Hi!" to all the Divas and Dazzlers visiting. Thanks for stopping by!

Donna

Yay! It's Your Birthday

It was a busy day today. Tom and I volunteered at Head Start with the twins all morning and this afternoon we volunteered at teacher's Warehouse. We are trying to consolidate our volunteer time to Wednesday and Thursday so that we have the other days for things we need to do around the house and out at Baby Creek. Next week we'll be cutting down a 40 foot tree. That will bring some firewood for the winter! I did get a card off yesterday for our nephew's little boy.

The adorable image is a retired image from Beccy's Place. I just love this set with the images from 1-9, and I use them often for cards for little ones. I colored this image with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut the image with MFT Blueprints 32 frame. I also used MFT Sweet Celebrations paper pack for the fun designer paper. I used dark teal card stock as the backing for the deign and finished it off with some hearts. The sentiment is from Simon Says Big Birthday Wishes stamp set.
I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Beccy's Place: use a Beccy's Place image
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Creative Knockouts: furry friends

I hope you had a productive day today. Tomorrow we are off to Opportunity House to volunteer in the morning. We have to stop back at Teacher's Warehouse to help unload a truck and then take the twins to a Head Start event at The Splash Pad tomorrow evening. Another full day for sure! Rarely a dull moment around here! Thanks for stopping by. Stop back tomorrow for a new Dueling Darlings challenge. Fun things coming!

Donna

Happy Birthday

Happy weekend! I really have to step up my game for birthday cards as I am in desperate need of lots for the next few weeks. So today's card is a birthday card. I found the image in my stash already colored so I just had to put the card together.

This image is from Bugaboo Stamps. It may be retired as I found similar images on the web site but not this exact one. I'm not sure what I colored it with as it has a nice shiny appearance to it.I die cut the image with MFT Cross-Stitch Oval die. I layered with black card stock. The sentiment is from Hero Arts It's Your Day stamp set. I created the scalloped edge with a Stampin' Up! punch and some paper that was on my desk from another project. I finished it off with a few enamel dots.
I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug: anything goes
• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: add a die cut
• My Favorite Things Birthday Project: birthday bouquet
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

We are leaving shortly to visit my FIL for a few days. He has some jobs that need to be done around his house. So while I do have some crafty things packed I may not get much crafty time. We'll see how that goes. Have a super weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Donna

Freeze a Jolly Good Fellow

I actually got a card done today! That was in between cleaning and volunteering today. Our new volunteer spot doesn't open until 3:30 pm in the afternoon so it makes dinner quite late but it gives me plenty time to get things done before we go. So I finished a birthday card for a friend.

The image is from Bugaboo Stamps called Birthday Penguin Cupcake. I colored with Spectrum Noir markers. The designer paper is from MFT Sweet Celebrations Paper Pack, 3 different patterns and colors. The sentiment is from Create with TLC and die cut with MFT Pierced Fishtail Banners (retired). I finished the front of the card with a party hat from Miss Elizabeth's Scrapbook Stickers. I finish up the sentiment on the inside of the card.

I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug Saturday challenge: anything goes
• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• The Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge: chevron or geometric

That's it for tonight. I need to get some other things done this evening before heading for bed. Thanks so much for stopping by. Tomorrow is our day to be with the twins at Head Start!

Donna

The Secret to Marriage

Welcome to Tuesday! Lots going on this week but I need to find some craft time as I have several birthdays coming up that I don;t have cards for. Yesterday's project though was an anniversary card.

The image is from Bugaboo Stamps called Stella and Gus Marriage Secret. I colored with Spectrum Noir markers. The designer paper is MFT Sweet Celebrations Paper Pack. The image is die cut with Spellbinder's Labels 13. I used MFT Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips to die cut the small banners and Stampin' Up! scalloped border punch for the scalloped border. And the little scraps from the front of the card I used to decorate the inside of the card.

I am entering these challenges:

• Bugaboo Stella Sketch: sketch 
  
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday: anything goes
• The Outlawz Festive Friday: anniversary
• Crafting by Designs: anything goes

Hope to find some more time today to create a birthday card. Make it a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by.

Donna

Amazing Birthday

Happy weekend! We spent last night out at our other property and then came back today to help with a fund raiser for The Teacher's Warehouse. Tom and I started volunteering there this week. The Teacher's Warehouse gathers materials for teachers in the surrounding 5 counties. The teachers can shop for free and take what they need for their classrooms. It's an awesome place. I wish there had been such a place when I was teaching.
Today I have a birthday card that I sent to a friend this morning.

The focal point is the sentiment from a retired stamp set from Simon Says Stamps (Happy Everyday from 2013). The flowers and heart are from the same stamp set. The balloons are from MFT Happy Hippos. The balloons were colored with Prismacolor pencils and accented with a white gel pen. The inks I used were all distress inks: Lucky Clover, Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, and Mustard Seed. I was trying to match the MFT Sweet Celebrations paper that I used in the upper left corner.
I am entering these challenges:

• My Favorite Things Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Seize the Birthday: flowers
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• Crafting by Designs: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes

Hope your weekend has been fun and relaxing and hopefully some creative time. We have the twins all day tomorrow so there won;t be any creative time for me tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by. I need more birthday cards this week so I'll be back! Thanks for stopping by.

Donna