Birthday Book Girl

 Our camping trip was short but a nice time even if we did get some rain. It was much needed rain. We got more rain at the camp ground than we got at our house. Bummer! This evening I had a chance to make Valerie's birthday card. The twin's birthday is fast approaching and I need to get these done.

My image is Big Books Girl from Bugaboo Stamps. I added titles to the books in a photo editor. The books say, "Happy Birthday," "Birthday Girl," and "4 Years Old." I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers trying to match colors in the designer papers that I picked out. I die cut the image with Gina Marie Designs Wonky Circles. The designer papers are scraps from my scrap box. I backed each of the layers with reddish brown card stock to pop the color. I was going to add some gems to the card but decided against it. Valerie has peeled gems off my cards before and I don't want her to choke on anything so I just didn't add them. I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Catch the Bug: photo inspiration (I did use some of the colors in the photo but I went with a school theme and the books because Valerie loves to read) 

  
• Cutie Pie challenge: birthday theme
• Scribbles Designs: card for a child
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

And here is the birthday girl ready to rock and roll.

This was taken while we were working on the barn this summer. You can see the framework where we raised the roof on the barn. She's our little girly girl. Loves necklaces, bracelets and anything that sparkles. And loves her hair in pig tails or ponytail, especially if she can see herself in the mirror. She is a doll! Thanks for stopping by today. Hope your week is off to a good start. Stay safe and God bless!

Donna

Merry Christmas

 Not much time for crafting this week but I wanted to get this quick card out for several challenges. 

The sentiment is from Create with TLC. I used the partial stencil technique using Simon Says Stars and Dots stencil with Fossilized Amber DOI. All the diamond shapes were die cut with Gina Marie Designs Stitched Diamonds. I used various scraps from my scrap box Most are American Craft papers but the yellow one is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. The white rectangle was die cut with TODO Rectangles and then I rounded one corner with my corner rounder. I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Rudolph Days: Christmas anything goes
• Christmas Card Throwdown: partial stenciling 

  
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

We are headed out this afternoon to enjoy a few days in our camper. Probably not much crafting going to take place but I hope a lot of hiking. The weather is supposed to be cooler and we have a chance of rain tomorrow but my DH said that if we do go camping it will rain so we are going in hope that it does rain. We haven't seen any rain in weeks so it would be much appreciated. I'll leave you today with a picture of the twins who were "helping" in the garden on Friday. 

Have a wonderful week! Please stay safe and God bless!

Donna

Truckload of Birthday Wishes

 Another evening of having some time to play. That will probably come to the end soon. I am in need of birthday cards. I think I have enough for the rest of the month but then I am out. The twins' birthday is coming up very soon so I need cards for them. Arthur is very into trucks right now so I thought this would be cute for him.

The adorable truck is from Scribbles Designs called Dump Truck Wishes. The image is colored with Spectrum Noir markers. The sentiment is computer-generated. The stripes are die cut with MFT Stitched Basic Edges 1 die. I basically used 3 colors and backed the main card front with black card stock. My card base is yellow to match the yellow stripe. I am entering these challenges:

• Scribbles Designs challenge: card for a child
• Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge: sketch 
• 
• Cutie Pie challenge: birthday party
• MFT Birthday Project: card for a child
• Crafty Friends: autumn colors

I hope Arthur likes this one. He wants a monster truck for his birthday and we did get him one. Not quite a dump truck. I like to send them cards without embellishments as Arthur and Valerie like to pick them off. I don't want any chocking hazards for them. So I hope you enjoyed my card tonight. Thanks for stopping by. Please stay safe and God bless!

Donna

A Minion Birthday

 My daughter is a Minion lover so I decided to make her a Minion card for her 38th birthday. 

I found the Minion picture on the web long ago. I didn't write down where (my mistake) because I always try to give credit if I know where it came from. I printed the image and then added the sentiments. The "Let's Celebrate" is from Jillibean Soup Balloon Party. The "It's Your Birthday" and "just one more candle" are from Simon Says Big Birthday Wishes (retired). I used 2 speech bubble sets: MFT Essential Speech Bubbles and C.C. Designs Say What Bubbles (retired). I used some denim looking paper for the background contrast. I think she'll like this! I am entering these challenges:

• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• Scrapping4Fun: anything goes
• Love to Craft: anything goes
• Pattie's Creations: anything goes

We had such fun with the twins today. Now that Valerie is talking she cracks us up so much! She helped me water a flower pot and after she smelled the flower and said, "So fresh!" Arthur actually wrote the alphabet and numbers up to 25 today on his erasable slate. They just amaze me for 3 year olds. I hope you had a fun weekend. Thanks for stopping by. Please stay safe and God bless!

Donna

Autumn Greetings

 It's been a while since I had some time at my craft desk. So tonight I finally got a chance to make a card.

This lovely autumn image is from Jan's Digi Stamps called Signs of Autumn Digital Stamps. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut it with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitched Rectangles (retired). The edges were inked with Spiced Marmalade DOI. The sentiment was die cut with Clear Dollar Stamps Designer Labels (no longer in business). The background paper was a gift from a friend. Love the fall colors. I added a yellow ribbon and some square brown gems. I am entering these challenges:

• The Outlawz September Progressive challenge: use Jan's Digi stamps
• Jan's Digital Stamp September challenge: anything goes
• The Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Crafty Friends: autumn colors
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Creative Knockouts: anything goes

That's it for me tonight. Tomorrow we have the twins all day so we'll be busy again! Their fourth birthday is coming up soon. We are trying to get ready for that too. Thanks for stopping by. Please stay safe and God bless!

Donna

Halloween Dragon

 Happy Friday! Where did the week run off to? I can't figure out where the weeks are going but they are flying by. DH wants to go to Baby Creek today but I told him I had to get a card done first so he's doing odd jobs while I finish this card. 

That cute little dragon on the pumpkin is the Limited Runs Progressive challenge image this month. The jack-o-lantern was a freebie from DZ Doodles. The dragon sentiment is from Create with TLC. The Halloween Greetings sentiment is from MFT Witch Way is the Candy. I fussy cut the two main images. The dragon sentiment and the background ovals are die cut with MFT Stitched Ovals (retired) and the banners are die cut with MFT Essential Fishtail Sentiments. The card base is a shiny black card stock that was in my stash. This one is for my youngest son who is a dragon (and all fantasy) lover. He'll get this for Halloween. I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Sweet Stampers challenge: things with wings (dragon)
• Simon Says Wednesday: humorous/fun
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• NBUS: dragon image

We are off today to cut wood for a project at teacher's Warehouse. They need blocks of wood and socks to make mini dry erase erasers. The teachers use mini dry erase boards when they are teaching online for the students to answer questions. So they need to be able to erase the answer so they can use it again. So DH volunteered to cut several hundred of these out of scrap wood that we have left over from the barn. And when he volunteers, I get voluntold. So that's our project for today. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have an amazing weekend. Stay safe and God Bless.

Donna

When Life Gives You Lemons

 It's mid-week already. The beginning of the week we spent out at Baby Creek doing finish work on the barn roof and clearing shrubs and invasive plants out of part of our property. Although we had long pants and long sleeves, the bugs managed to bite me in lots of places. Last night I spent 3 hours up trying to stop the itch. I think I've found a few things to help and hopefully will have a better night's sleep tonight. If not, maybe I'll just come down and make more cards. Here's a card that I finished this evening.

The image is from Bugaboo Stamps called Frame It - JJ - Life Gives You Lemons. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and fussy cut it out. The background yellow paper is stamped with a lemon stamp from a very old Stampin' Up set called Sun Ripened with embossing ink to give it a very subtle effect. The orange paper with the lemon slices came from a stash given to me from Teacher's Warehouse. I used black card stock to make the bright colors pop. It really hard to see but the blue ribbon and the blue that I colored the dress come from the orange lemon paper. There are some small blue dots in the paper. This card is headed for my SIL for her birthday. She buys lots of lemons for their drinks so I thought this would be appropriate. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: humorous/fun card
• The Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft Extra: anything goes

With not much sleep last night I think I'm going to head to bed early this evening. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you are well and safe from fires, weather and Covid. Stay safe and God bless!

Donna

Anniversary

We have an extra day this weekend. Happy Labor Day to all those in the United States. We'll be out at Baby Creek tomorrow doing odds and ends in the barn so I won;t have Internet until we return home. Next week is my daughter and SIL's anniversary so I have their anniversary card today.

The image is from Bugaboo stamps called Stella Love - Person to Annoy. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut the image and sentiment with Gina Marie Designs Wonky Stitched Ovals. Both of the patterned papers that I used were given to me in a stack of papers from Teacher's Warehouse. I backed the layers with black card stock. I added a ribbon from my stash and finished it off with some enamel dots and hearts. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug: anything goes
• Sweet Sketch Wednesday: sketch 
  
• Crafty Friends challenge: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes

That's it for me this evening. Had the twins today and they kept us hopping. Then had their parents for dinner too, so not much time today for other things. Hope you are havine a wonderful weekend. Please stay safe and God bless!

Donna

New Pad

 Happy Weekend! I got a lot of cooking done today. I made a number of dishes getting ready for tomorrow when we have the twins all day and having dinner guests to boot. So I was trying to get ahead of the game, so to speak. But I did get a lot done today and also managed to get a card done. 

One of my sons moved into a new apartment this week so I thought he needed mail at his new address (besides bills). So this is the result. The cute little frog is from Little Scraps of Heaven and was a freebie at some point. The sentiment is computer-generated (kind of hard to read: "I Heard You Have a New Pad".) I die cut the image and sentiment with Gina Marie Designs Wonky Circles and added some self-adhesive gems in the junction of the stitching. The background paper looks like a pool (which I thought was appropriate) and the green strips have dragonflies on them which I thought the frog might eat(?). The card base is kraft paper. I am entering these challenges:

• Cheerful Sketches: sketch 
  
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Crafty Friends challenge: anything goes 

  
• Craftier's Cafe: anything goes
• Tuesday Throwdown: anything goes

That's it for me today. We have the twins tomorrow so we will be hopping all day long. They certainly keep us busy but we enjoy them so much. Our school system is going back to in person classes this week as out Covid counts mount up since the university students have come back to town. Thirty of the 40 sororities and fraternities have been quarantined or closed. Our numbers, which have been very low up until now are rising a lot each day. It's quite scary right now. I hope and pray that's not the case where you are. Stay safe and God bless!

Donna

Saddle Up & Celebrate

 I had more time to play this afternoon. Let me tell you making these simple thank you cards for Teacher's Warehouse is way easier than cards I make to send out. This card took me most of the afternoon. Trying to lay everything out, color and die cut everything. 

The images and sentiment are from MFT Saddle Up & Celebrate. I used the coordinating dies to cut out the images. I used Spectrum Noir markers to color the images. The sky background was created with a scalloped circle, Salty Ocean Distress Oxide ink, and an ink brush. The brown card stock under the sky was die cut with Simon Says Stitched Slopes and Hills. Both of those pieces were also cut with MFT Stitched Squares. The other background paper is from my stash also die cut with stitched squares. It reminded me of cow or horse hide and matched the cake. For the rest of the card I used pieces of blue and brown card stock. The sentiment is die cut with MFT Pierced Flags (retired). The blue in the background was die cut with MFT Blueprints 13 A2 stitched die. And I used MFT Pet Perch die to set the cake on. I am entering these challenges:

• MFT Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: stamp it
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes 

  
• Love to Craft: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today. Tomorrow is my volunteer day. I work at both Opportunity House and Teacher's Warehouse. Please stay safe and God bless!

Donna

Fabulous Couple

 Happy Wednesday! September has several family anniversaries so I am working on anniversary cards right now. Lots of birthdays too (including mine) so birthday cards will definitely be next. But my card today is for my sister and BIL's anniversary.

A pretty simple card. All the pieces were die cut with MFT Blueprints 13 (retired) A2 stitched panel die. I use that endlessly. The image is from Beccy's Place called Happy Anniversary digital stamps. The sentiment is from the same set. I printed them both on white card stock, measured and die cut each so they would be at an angle. The yellow strip is inked with Fossilized Amer Distress Oxide ink. The bottom piece of designer paper is from my scrap box. (More scraps out of my box! LOL.) I assembled it on a yellow card stock base. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Place September challenge: use a Beccy's Place image
• Sketch Saturday: pick any sketch from 2016; used #429
• Scrapping4Fun challenge: add a bicycle
• Catch the Bug August Recipe: clean and simple
• Crafter's Cafe: anything goes

I have a rare day to do with as I choose today. I've been to the store. I need to plan dinner and get that under way and then I hope to craft. Lots of options to choose from. I think cleaning will wait. LOL! Thanks for stopping by. Please stay safe and Gog bless!

Donna

September Challenge Ready to Roll

 Welcome to September (OMG!) and a new challenge at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. As always our challenge is always anything goes but we love to add a little twist if you are up for a challenge. This one is so easy: say it with a sentiment. Our sponsor this week is the challenge hostess: Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. Lisa creates a new paper pack every month. This month she has added some sentiment kits as a prize. Christmas is getting closer (I think someone said 115 days away?) You know you should start your Christmas cards, right? LOL! Here is my card for this month's challenge:

So the image and sentiment I used is actually a freebie on Lisa Decosse's blog. There are actually 2 freebies in this blog post and both of them are super. So I printed the image and sentiment and then die cut it with MFT Blueprints 13 (retired) A2 stitched die. The bottom pleated section uses the curtain-fold technique with one of Lisa's new papers for this month: Sentimentally Christmas Patterned Paper Mini Kit.

 

My card base is red card stock and I used some yellow card stock from my scrap bin as backing and a strip across the front. The red and white twine is from Lawn Fawn. I sure hope you will join us at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up this month. I'd love to visit your blog and see what you've created!

I am entering these challenges:

• Christmas Crafts All Your 'Round: use at least 2 things that start with S (sentiment, string, star)
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: something beginning with the letter S
• Creative Knockouts: anything goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper challenge: use patterned paper
• A Bit More Time to Craft Extra: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today. I've been working on more thank you cards for Teacher's Warehouse. Since they really want very simple thank you cards I am concentrating on using up some of my stash and hardly making a dent so far. In August I made 87 cards in 22 hours. My hours count toward the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program in my county. So I'll go back to that this week and start my September stash of cards for them. I hope you are staying safe and God bless!

Donna

Nice Warm Hug

 I have a friend who had surgery earlier this week and I wanted to send her a card wishing her a speedy recovery. So I thought tonight I would work toward getting that card finished.

The image is the progressive image this month for the Outlawz Progressive challenge called It's Tea Time from The Paper Shelter. I used the pre-colored version. The designer papers and card stock are from my scrap stash. I fussy cut the image since it was already a square. The sentiment is from Create with TLC and die cut with Clear Dollar Stamps Designer Labels (sadly no longer in business). I inked the die cut with Tea Dye Distress Ink. Very appropriate with the name of the stamp, right? The corners were punched from a Stampin' Up Punch. The arrows is a die cut from MFT Blueprints 13 (retired). My card base and arrows are cut from dark brown card stock. I am entering these challenges:

• The Outlawz Progressive challenge: use It's Tea Time image
• Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• Creative Knockouts challenge: anything goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes

I do believe that tomorrow I may get some time to craft. I have a design team project that I need to finish and I'd love to get more birthday cards done. There are also plenty of thank you cards to do for Teacher's Warehouse. So lots to do. I hope you are staying safe and God bless!

Donna

Noel

 Another bright (and plaid) card today. I challenged myself as I cleaned off my desk to use only the things I found on it. 

The image was a leftover from my design team card for 12 Months of Christmas this month. The image is from Taylor Made Cards 4U. I fussy cut the image and popped up the image with foam tape. The tag is die cut from MFT Blueprints 13 (retired) and I fussy cut a backing black tag. The plaid paper is from MFT Merry and Bright patterned paper (used on a card earlier this wee). The sentiment is die cut from Spellbinder's Holiday background die. I found that in the corner of my desk that I used months ago on a card. (It's been a while since I cleaned off my desk). Even the card base was a leftover on my desk from  another card. Whenever I need a card base I use a full sheet and make two cards so I check my extras first before I make a new card base. I am entering these challenges:

• CAS Colours & Sketches: sketch 
  
• Rudolph Days: anything Christmas goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes 
• Simon Says Wednesday: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

I thought I would get back to crafting on Tuesday this week but that didn't happen as I had hoped. We went back to Baby Creek to work on the barn. We've finally finished the outside so now we have lots of details on the inside. I'll really be quite happy when it's complete. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow. Please stay safe and God bless!

Donna

Don't Light the Candles

 Back again today with another birthday card. Stocking up since my supply has been depleted. If you've been around my blog you know how much I love plaid paper but I may have gone a little overboard this time. LOL!

There are 4 different plaid papers on this card. I originally had a plain white background and didn't like it so I added a fourth plaid paper. Maybe I should have gone for a solid color? What do you think? The cupcake image is from Beccy's Place. In my files I have it labeled birthday cupcake but I wasn't able to find it in Beccy's freebies or in the store as part of a set. The sentiment is from a Beccy's Place stamp set called Birthday Stanley and apparently it's been retired as I don't see it in the store either. But I think the sentiment is so cute! The plaid paper is from My Favorite Things Merry & Bright (retired). The white card stock layer is die cut with MFT Blueprints 13 A2 die (retired). The three smaller pieces of plaid paper are die cut with Spellbinder's Classic Rectangles Large. The ribbon is from my stash as is the blue gem that I used. I am entering these challenges:

• Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Cupcake Inspiration 500th Birthday challenge: birthday 

  
• Beccy's Place August challenge: use a Beccy's Place image; optional flip a coin (I really started to do this and managed to get several of my flips completed but the color flip through me off since I wanted to use the plaid paper. But I did  complete the birthday theme; add ribbon; add something shiny; and use a sketch.)
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes
• Carlin's Map Paradise: anything goes

The day is almost over. I'm thrilled to have some time to play today. I hope to get some more time tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by. I'll leave you with some pictures of the twins. I haven't posted any for a while. They started school again last week so these were taken when they got their hair cut getting ready to return to school.

                                                Valerie                                            Arthur

Please stay safe and God bless!

Donna