Flower Girl

Medical update: my hubby is doing well. I am glad to be back to somewhat normal. I did go back to work today although Tom will be home for the next week and a half. I was able to squeeze in a card and it felt good.

This is one of the Flower Children from Nicecrane Designs. I colored her with Copic markers. I used the sketch from this week's Paper Players challenge.

I used several different scraps from my scrap box. I added some punched corner tabs, a button and some twine as embellishments. The Oval is from MFT Cross Stitched Ovals. The scallops are from Spellbinder's Triple Borders.

I am entering these challenges:

• The Paper Players: sketch
• Cupcake Inspiration: magical
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

It turned a little cooler today. And the weekend is supposed to be even cooler. Hard to believe that September is almost over and fall has set in. Thanks for stopping by. I am hoping to get back into playing this week. Take care!

Donna

Taking a Little Break

I just wanted  to pop in and let you know that my husband had a heart attack yesterday. He's doing fine after a procedure to put in a stent. I am spending my days at the hospital and too tired by the time I get home to post or make a card. I hope to be back in a few days after I get him home and settled. Have a wonderful weekend.

Donna

Masculine Birthday

It's been a busy day so this might be a really quick post. Got our new car after work and even before we drove out of the parking lot some older gentleman backed into our brand new car. My husband was not happy. The dealer will fix it on Monday when I take it in for some other things. But what a way to start out with a new car. Then we took out son-in-law out for a birthday dinner. And then some shopping for my daughter for some maternity clothes. So I made this card last night for a co-workers birthday this weekend.

I used the sketch at i {heart} card sketches with a twist #119. The twist was the spotlight technique but I didn't use that. The image is Lighthouse at From the Heart Stamps. I colored the image with Copics and Bic markers. I embossing folder I used was Spots & Dots. I wanted seashells but didn't have one so I thought these looked like bubbles. I heat embossed a Hero Arts Happy Birthday on the MFT Fishtail Flags die cut at both ends. The sketch looks like this:

I am entering these challenges:

• i {heart} card sketches with a twist: sketch
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: no designer paper
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

Well, it's about my bedtime and I have a few more things to do and I want to make them quick. Have an awesome Friday. It's almost the weekend! Yippee! Thanks for stopping by.

Donna

Autumn Leaves

How is your week progressing? Since I have had Mondays off it seems like Tuesday is the new Monday for me. When I go back into work it just takes me all day to get back up to speed again. Tuesday can be really frustrating. We had an all department meeting today which took about 2 hours out of the day since our building doesn't have a room big enough for everyone we have to walk across campus to another building with bigger rooms. Seems like it takes a big chunk out of the day.
The nights have been cooler around here. The days have been pleasant and sunny. No rain for a while. Of course we just planted grass seed out at Baby Creek so it's not getting any moisture to help it grow. We could use some rain. But the cooler nights prompted this card.

The sentiment is the digi of the month from DeeDee's Digis called Leaf Your Cares Behind. I just love that name for the stamp set. I used one of the sentiments in the set. It reminds me of being a kid. We'd spend hours playing in the leaves. I'm sure we were supposed to be raking them but I wonder how much work really got done. LOL!

I die cut the sentiment with MFT Cross Stitched Ovals. I inked the oval with distress inks: mustard seed, fired brick, mowed lawn, and spiced marmalade. I embossed the background with the Flourished embossing folder. It reminded me of the wind blowing. The patterned paper strip is Basic Grey. To embellish I added some sparkly leaf stickers. I rounded the corners at the bottom of the card.
I am entering these challenges:

• DeeDee's Digi of the Month: use Leaf Your Cares Behind
• Cards in Envy: colors of fall
• C.R.A.F.T. challenge: add some bling
• Lil Patch of Craft Friends: anything goes

We bought a new car tonight. It will take a couple days to get it as they have to bring it from another dealer. I got a twilight blue Outback. I'm excited about getting the car. I wanted to get used to it before the weather turns nasty. 

Hope your week is going well. I'm looking forward to a fast end to the week. Thanks for visiting me today. 

Hugs,

Donna

Anything Goes in CAS Style

Where do the weekends go? I can hardly believe we are headed to Monday already. I was away from the Internet this weekend so I am late in posting the new challenge at the Outlawz CAS challenge. This week is easy peasy! The challenge is anything goes as long as it's CAS. Here's my card.

I used the ink smooshing technique for the background. I heat embossed the sentiment and the embellishments with white embossing powder, the ink smooshed the background with distress inks: fired brick, fossilized amber, spiced marmalade and cracked pistachio. I cut the background out with the largest Spellbinder's Lattice Rectangles. The image is the digi of the month at Imagine That! called Maggie's Apples. I used the pre-colored image, fussy cut it and popped it up from the framed sentiment. I added it to the card blank.
I am entering these challenges:

• September Digi of the Month Imagine That!: use Maggie's Apples
• Hiding in my Craft Room: free style
• Simon Says challenge: die crazy
• Cut It Up: oh brother, for a sibling or friend I made this card for ne of my co-workers. We are just like family and last week for my birthday they left flowers and a book on my desk. We work well together as a team and I so appreciate them.

I hope you'll check out this week's anything goes CAS challenge at Outlawz. We have a PaperTrey Ink gift certificate up for grabs. Thanks for stopping by and hope your weekend has been fantastic!

Donna

A Little Birdie Told Me

Happy Wednesday, my friends. Can you believe September is more than half over already? Where does the time go? Yesterday was my 60th birthday. I worked all day and came home to relax. Not a big celebration but a quiet day with lots of nice surprises. When I got to work there were flowers and a book on my desk from my co-workers. My youngest son sent me roses. They are gorgeous! When they open a bit more I'll share a picture of them. My husband bought me a new frying pan, made me a compost bin (that I've been wanting for while now) and we have tickets to a Piano Guys concert in December. We love them! If you have never seen one of their videos, here's a link to their videos. Pick any one of them to watch. You can't go wrong. If the music doesn't grab you (an I know it will) the scenery will. This will be our third concert to see them. We've gotten to meet them too and they are just so nice.
So my card today is a fun one. I really like how it turned out.

The image is Apple Blossom Birds at From the Heart Stamps. I colored them with Copic markers. The sentiment is a random stamp that I received in a blog candy. It was a package of sentiment stamps so I have no idea what company made it. But it seemed to for so well with this image. I used some scraps from my scrap box for the background paper and used faux stitching around the entire card. The final embellishment is a metal piece that I found at Target. It was a package of several different metal pieces and I decided this would make a nice sun to complete my little scene. I used the sketch from {i heart sketches with a twist}#118 but I didn't use the twist this week (make it interactive).

I am entering these challenges:

• i {heart} card sketches with a twist: sketch
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room: super scraps Saturday

Thanks for stopping by so early this morning. I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd get this posted before I went to work. Make it an awesome Wednesday!

Hugs,

Donna

Let's Get Musical

Happy Sunday, my friends! It's very crisp this morning. Definitely a fall feel to the air but a beautiful blue sky. My kind of weather. This time last year we were preparing for my daughter's wedding. I can hardly believe that it's been an entire year already. We are taking them out to brunch later for their anniversary.
There's a new CAS challenge over at The Outlawz. This week we are using anything musical in our CAS creations. Our sponsor this month is from an anonymous donor. One lucky person will win a gift certificate to Paper Trey Ink. How cool is that!

I actually started to make a set of these. The other two colors were Picked Raspberry and Shaded Lilac. Unfortunately the sentiments didn't emboss very well so I had to scrap those two card fronts. These colors are Mowed Lawn and Salty Ocean. I inked the Musical embossing folder before embossing the card stock. Then I stamped the sentiment in several places with Versa Mark ink and then heat embossed the sentiment in black embossing powder. Finally I added a few sequins on each card for a little embellishment. Very easy and quick cards but lots of fun. I will have to redo the other colors so I have an entire set to give as a gift. You could use any kind of musical idea for this challenge: a musical sentiment, a musical instrument, designer paper, etc. You can interpret it whatever way you want. I hope you'll join us for this fun challenge.

I am entering these challenges:

• Inspiration Destination: anything goes
• Addicted to Stamps: anything goes
• Tuesday Throwndown: anything goes

Hope you Sunday is wonderful! I am off to have brunch with my daughter and son-in-law and then to watch my Colts play football. Go Colts! After that maybe a little crafting. I am thinking chili sounds good for dinner tonight. Something nice and warm to fill us up. Have a wonderful day friends!

Donna

Lots of Glasses

Happy Saturday! Our weather has taken a fall turn this weekend but not to worry. We are supposed to be back in the 90s next week so it won't last long. Tonight we are supposed to hit 40 degrees. A definite respite from the swelter and humidity. I love fall weather! We got about a half inch of badly needed rain yesterday. And we had a lovely dinner with friends last night and then played some bridge which we haven't done in quite some time. So this weekend has been good so far. Tonight we are working in the Chik-fil-a booth at the IU football game. The proceeds are going to the Girl Scouts. It will be fun I'm sure. I haven't worked one of these in a while so I'll probably be very tired. The game doesn't even start until 8pm so it's going to be a long night. LOL!
     I did manage a card this afternoon for my SIL's birthday coming up next week. I was so good with getting birthday cards done ahead of time at the beginning of the year. I seem to have fallen behind as the year progresses.

This took me hours to do. I had a tough time with colors and paper and I just couldn't make up my mind. I'm still not sure that I am satisfied with it. But it is what it is. I used the Tuesday Morning sketch as inspiration for the card.

The image and sentiment is from an Art Impressions set called Aged to Perfection. Actually I couldn't find the name anywhere on the packaging and it took quite some time to find it on their web site. And then the picture didn't come up so I think this is the right one. I got this set at Michael's months ago with a 40% off coupon and promptly buried it on my desk. So this is the first time I am using it. LOL! I colored the image with Copics and Bic markers. I embossed the red card stock with the Swiss Dots embossing folder. The patterned paper is from Basic Grey. The drink image is from my stash and I neglected to write down where I got this one. If this looks familiar I'd be happy to give credit. I used Spellbinder's Heart Circles to die cut that image and then inked the hearts with Momento Desert Sand so the hearts would pop more from the paper. The banner is MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags inked with Shaded Lilac Distress Ink. 

I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: the sketch
• NBUS challenge: Never Before Used Stuff (The AI stamp set)
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: use a stamp
• Stamping Boutique: use banners
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes

I am excited about the new football season starting. My son and I talk football all year long but during the season we especially keep track of what's going on with our team: the Colts. They play their first game tomorrow. Go Colts! Hope you have a very special weekend. Stay tuned for more crafty things coming. All the best...

Donna

Happy Anniversary

I can hardly believe that a year ago at this time we were scrambling to finish up wedding decorations and get last minute details in place. My daughter and son-in-law will be married for a year on September 13th and they are giving us our first grandchild next February. Lots of exciting things for them in their first year of marriage. Here's the card I sent to them.

The image is from Penny Black and the sentiment is from Clear Dollar Stamps (unfortunately out of business). I colored the image with colored pencils. The background papers are from my scrap box but the first layer on the base of the card is ink embossed with the Victoria embossing folder with Mowed Lawn distress ink. The tag is from QuikCutz and inked with Salty Ocean distress ink. I added a little ribbon to the tag. Lots of texture on this one. Happy Anniversary Tricia and Jamie!
I am entering these challenges:

• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: use a stamp
• Penny Black Saturday challenge: 3 or more patterned papers
• Get Creative challenge: must include a tag
• Inspiration Destination challenge: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

Well, I do have tomorrow off so I am hoping to get some housework done and maybe a little craft time in. Probably a trip to the grocery store too. My day is shot already. LOL! Have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by. I have more coming later. Hope you'll come back.

Donna

New Christmas Die

Happy Wednesday! A little rain today but I wish it had been more. We could use the rain. Of course that means we have to mow the grass again. LOL! A never ending battle.
A couple weeks ago Spellbinder's had a flash sale for 24 hours. And if you bought one set they sent you a gift worth $50. So I bought a birthday set which I hope to use really soon to make a card and they sent me 3 other die sets. One of the dies set I used for my cad this evening.

The die is called Holiday Greetings. I used the whole die for this card but I saw a bunch of cards that just use parts of the die. Something to tuck away for future cards. I used paper scraps from my scrap box to cover parts of the cut die. The snowflakes were filled in with Stickles Crystal so it sparkles. I was pleased with the first time card I made with this die.

I am entering these challenges:

• NBUS challenge: never before used schtuff
• Christmas Stampin' All Year Long; anything goes
• 12 Months of Christmas Link Up: O Christmas Tree
• Christmas Cards All Year Round: country Christmas
• CraftyHazelnut Christmas challenge: Twas the Night Before Christmas

We are on the down side of the week. Since Monday is my off day I have Friday off this week for the holiday. Although I might have to give a presentation on Friday. So maybe I'll be crafty on Friday and maybe I'll have to work. But I'm hoping it's a crafty day! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful Thursday!

Donna

You're a Blessing

We are supposed to get cool tomorrow by about 10 degrees. But the humidity is supposed to continue until we get some rain. I'd love some rain. I'm tired of watering the garden. I guess I am ready for a little fall weather. Cooler temps would be nice for a change. So my card tonight is rather fall-like.

This is the stamp of the month called Pumpkin Patch Girl at From the Heart Stamps. I colored her with Copic markers and cut her from the Lawn Fawn Stitched Party Banners. I added some hearts from a new die set that I got from Spellbinders called Sweet Wishes. The sentiment also comes in the set. The sketch I used is #117 at i {heart} sketches with a twist.

The background paper is from Basic Grey; scraps from my scrap box. I inked the banner with Scattered Straw distress ink. I finished it off with some orange stripped twine. 

I am entering these challenges:

• i {heart} sketches with a twist: Sketch and lots of white space
• From the Heart Stamp of the Month: use Pumpkin Patch Girl
• NBUS challenge: use never before used schtuff (I used the Pumpkin Girl Patch set and the Sweet Wishes hearts die)
• Cards in Envy: inspired by a song (Five Little Pumpkins Sitting on a Gate)
• Get Creative challenge: include a tag

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope your week is off to a good start. 

Hugs,

Donna

Dogone Good Time on you Birthday

Happy Monday! Happy Labor Day for those in the US and hope you are enjoying your day off. This is normally my day off so I think I get Friday free this week for my holiday. At least that's what happened for Memorial Day but I haven't confirmed that with my boss yet. I am taking most of the day to craft, I hope. Here's a card I finished up this morning.

I loved this image so much that I wanted to make another card with it. This is Puppy Pile from Bugaboo. I colored it with Copics and Bic markers and added Crystal Stickles to the Dandelion and flower center. The dogs' noses are covered in Dimensional Magic so they have a nice shiny texture to them. I layered several layers of card stock and printed patterned paper. The image is popped up with white fun foam and the bone (Digi from Stamp Fairy) is popped up with pop dots. The sentiment (from Create with TLC) is die cut from MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags. I used Distress Ink Tea Dye to ink the edges, sentiment banner and bone. I really like how this one turned out.
I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug Challenge: anything goes
• Pile It On: fur
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes
• Sweet Stamps: anything goes

I am headed up to get some lunch and then hopefully a little house work and then back to my craft area. It needs a clean up and then I hope to get to some more cards today. Thanks for stopping by. Have a fabulous week!

Donna

Outlawz CAS Sunday

Happy Labor Day weekend to all my USA friends! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. We are back home after a short trip to see my FIL and help with chores around the house. So I have no plans for the rest of the weekend and hoping for some crafty time! My card today is for the new Outlawz CAS challenge. This week we are shaping things up.

The background is water color paper that I colored with Distress Ink: Fossilized Amber, Salty Ocean and Picked Raspberry. I stamped the hexagons with the same Distress inks from a stamp set called Happy Hexagons from Fresh Squeezed Stamps, a now defunct stamp store. I cut the background and popped it up with white fun foam. I stamped the sentiment from a Simon Says Kit and edged the sentiment area with a strip of black to make it pop.  Can you shape things up? Join us this week at the CAS challenge and shape it up.
I am entering these challenges:

• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: make it colorful
• Inspiration Destination: anything goes
• Penny's Paper-Crafty challenge: use a sentiment
• Papertake Weekly challenge: anything goes

Hope your weekend is wonderful. Thanks for stopping by today.

Donna

You Color my World

Hot and sticky today. Well into the 90s. Last week I won several challenges. It must have been my lucky week and so my mail on Monday was full of fun new things. But I also received a package from from Switzerland I think. There wasn't any note in it so I have no idea why I received this. The outside of the package has R Seiertein and was posted on 5/8/2015. Antone know who this is? I'd love to say thank you. It looks like it took several months to reach me. Thank you to whoever sent me this!
     My card tonight is all about color.

I used water color paper and stamped a bunch of circles of different kinds around the paper with Distress ink: Picked Raspberry,Cracked Pistachio, Shaded Lilac, and Salty Ocean. After stamping I misted the water color paper with water to make some of the ink run. The circles came from Simon Says Love This (couldn't fin it on Simon site, it was the November 2013 Stamp Kit), Simon Says Thinking of You, Gina K Bold Flowers (retired stamp set), and the sentiment is from Fresh Squeezed Happy Hexagons Stamp Set (the company has closed down).
I am entering these challenges:

• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: make it colorful
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room: freestyle
• Crafty Friends challenge: use a sentiment

We are traveling this weekend so I probably won't get much crafty time. I hope your weekend is awesome. Thanks for stopping by!

Donna

Merry Kissmas

Wow! Can you believe it is September already? Where is this year going? Wherever it is going it's going way too fast. Steamy and hot here all of a sudden. We had such pleasant weather last week and this week it's pretty hot. Guess I should enjoy the warmth now as the winter is right around the corner. Speaking of winter, my card tonight is all about Kissmas!

This cute little snowman is one of the 100 Snowmen being featured by Faith at From the Heart Stamps. Her goal is to draw 100 snowmen before Chrhttp://fromtheheartstamps.com/community/2015/08/24/i-heart-card-sketches-with-a-twist-116/istmas. This little guy is called Blowing Kisses. I colored him with Bic and Copic markers. I used the i {heart} card sketches #116.

I used some textured red card stock to set off the blue. The Spellbinder's Heart Circle is inked with Salty Ocean Distress Ink. The sentiment is also stamped with Salty Ocean. I used a scrap of snowflake paper from my stash die cut with Spellbinder's Scalloped Circles. I adde a punched snowflake coated with Crystal Stickles. The base of the card is Simon Says Island Blue card stock. 

I am entering these challenges:

• i {heart} card sketches: sketch #116
• Creative Card Crew challenge: Christmas
• Christmas Cards All Year Round: country Christmas
• {Cupcake Inspiration}: layers
• Hiding in my Craft Room: free style

Well my evening is coming to an end. Time goes so fast when I am home from work. Tomorrow we'll be halfway through the week. Yippee! The weekend is on the way. Hope you have a wonderful week!

Donna