Rejoice and Be Glad

Happy Halloween! No Halloween card today in fact I am moving on to Christmas. The two cards I have today are cards I made for my FIL for a sample of his Christmas cards this year. But he chose this card instead. I finally have all of hs cards done so it's now time to make my cards for this year.

The cards are very similar as you can see. I used a different stencil and different inks in the backgrounds. but the Nativity die is from Technique Tuesday. The sentiment is from Christ is Born stamp set, also by Technique Tuesday. The stencils were from AlteNew and My Favorite Things using distress oxide inks. I am glad to have my FIL's cards finished so I can start concentrating on my cards for this year. 

I am entering these challenges:

• Rudolph Days: anything goes Christmas
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes
• The Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge: anything goes
• Merry Christmas challenge: anything goes Christmas

Thanks for dropping by today. I'll be back tomorrow with the new challenge for 12 Months of Christmas challenge. I hope as you get ready for Christmas you'll play along. Until then, Happy Haunting!

Donna

Happy Birthday

Happy Monday! Hope your weekend was wonderful. We had family members with us this weekend and had a really great time with the, The Halloween organ concert we went too was great! It's been a busy day today. I volunteered this morning at Opportunity House. Went to the doctor to get my flu shot. I found time to make this quick birthday card.

This is pretty much made from My Favorite Things products. The cupcake tower is from MFT Happy Hippos stamp set and matching dies. I colored it with Spectrum Noir markers and then used a white gel pen for some highlights. I die cut the MFT Happy Birthday Circle and the MFT Essential Fishtail Sentiments Strip. The plaid paper is from MFT Merry & Bright 6x6 Paper Pack. The only thing not MFT is the Neat & Tangled Sequins that I used for embellishments. I am entering these challenges:

• MFT Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes
• The Outlawz Twisted Thursday: anything goes

I hope your week is off to a great start. I have a busy week as usual but I think I have Thursday free which means I might get some crafty time then. At least I am hoping so. Hope you find some crafty time too. Take care!

Donna

Spooky

A quick card today because I knew I wasn't going to get any chance of crafting this weekend. Within the hour four of Tom's family will be arriving to go to the annual Halloween organ concert and they are staying the weekend. It will be great fun but no crafting time.

One last Halloween card. This image is the freebie this month at Beccy's Place challenge. I added Wink of Stella to the shining eyes and mouth of the pumpkin, for that extra sparkle. The layers are orange card stock. The background paper is a scrap of glitter spider web paper as is the patterned orange paper. The ghost were cut from another scrap of patterned paper with MFT Pierced Fishtail Flag dies. I am entering these challenges:

• Stella Sketch at Catch the Bug: sketch 
• Beccy's Place challenge: use a Beccy's Place image; local celebration (Halloween)
• The Outlawz Paper ala Mode: Halloween or Fantasy
• Simon Says Monday challenge: Halloween/Spooky
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: Halloween/Spooky
• Patties Creations challenge: Halloween or Autumn

Well, our company should be arriving shortly. It's raining cats and dogs here but hopefully it won't be terrible weather tomorrow when we'll go out to Baby Creek with everyone. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Donna

Foxy Lady

Welcome back to my blog! And happy middle of the week. I finished another birthday card today. So my stash of birthday cards is growing this week.

This image is the progressive image at The Outlawz this month from MMedel Illustrations called Dreamy Fox. I colored the fox with Spectrum Noir markers and added the little yellow bow. I am usually terrible at tying bows but this one turned out okay. The background paper is some scraps from and animal print pad and I computer-generated the sentiment. All the circles are die cut from MFT Stitched Circle dies. I backed all the layers with black card stock and added three yellow enamel dots for embellishment. I am entering these challenges:

• Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• The Outlawz October Progressive challenge: use Dreamy Fox
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Digi Choosday challenge: anything goes
• Catch the Bug: bingo (distress, Player's choice-birthday, die/punch)
  

I hope you week has been awesome so far. Since it's Wednesday, I went to Head Start today to help with the twins' class. Always my favorite part of the week. I thought I'd leave you with a couple of pictures of the twins: Arthur and Valerie.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope the rest of your week is crafty!

Donna

Fore Your Birthday

Continuing with my birthday theme this week. This one for my BIL who is or was a golfer. I'm not sure if he still plays anymore. I decided since I was using a vintage image that I would leave this card black and white.

The golf guy was a free digital stamp but I couldn't find him again on the vintage stamp site. The image is die cut with MFT Stitched Ovals. The sentiment is from Create with TLC.  For the inside sentiment I used another Create with TLC sentiment that reads: "May thy ball lie in green pastures, and not still waters.: And then followed it up with a sentiment from MFT Anything-but-Basic Birthday Wishes: " Happy One Year Older Day." I used the sketch challenge from My Favorite Things for inspiration. 

I am entering these challenges:

• MFT Sketch challenge: use the sketch above
• Anything Goes with Create with TLC Element: use a Create with TLC element (sentiments)
• Outlawz Monday Greeting challenge: get sporty
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by. Have a super awesome Tuesday!

Donna

Big Birthday Wishes

Happy Monday! Most of my crafting time this week is going to have to be birthday cards. I have a bunch coming up and I am very low of birthday cards. So guess what today's card is? You guessed it: birthday!

This is a CASEd card from the Simon Says stamp kit from April 2015. I recently won a blog candy from Simon Says and they sent me pieces of the stamp kit. I got the stamp set called Big Birthday Wishes, some patterned paper and some washi tape. I used the stamp set for this card and Distress Oxide inks in Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, Spiced Marmalade, and Fossilized Amber. The sentiment and balloon stamp is from the set. To finish it off I added a few sequins and some sparkly hearts from my stash. This is my nephew's birthday card so I tried to stick with "guy colors." I am entering these challenges:

• Seize the Birthday: anything goes
• Addicted to Stamps and More: CAS 
  
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: birthday
• Incy Wincy Design Challenge: happy birthday
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes
• Outlawz Festive Friday: any birthday

I have a busy week, getting ready for family to come on the weekend but hoping to squeeze some crafting time in this week to get some cards completed. Thanks for stopping by and make it an amazing week!

Donna

A2 Wreath Builder Card

When I posted the first two cards from the wreath builder class I told myself I'd post the last card right after. Well, that obviously didn't happen. So I thought I should get into gear and post the last card I made. Gina showed us how to take the square wreath and turn it into an A2 size card. 

So we created the wreath first using the wreath builder and then you cut the wreath in half and add the extra layers in the middle to complete the card. We used a variety of colors of Gina K inks to make the wreath. We added a sentiment to the pre-cut oval and then decorated the oval. We used black card stock for layering and finished off with stamping the foliage on the middle layering piece. I know I've already said how much I've enjoyed the class. If you get a chance to take a class from Gina K and Rina K do it! They are awesome. I am entering these challenges:

• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room: free style
• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• The Outlawz Festive Friday: anything goes

I was hoping that this week I would get time to make birthday cards as I am going to need a number of them very soon. We have family arriving on Friday for the weekend so I'll have to get the house ready for guests. So I'll have to see how my time goes this week. I can't believe that October is almost over. Where does the time go. We had the twins all day yesterday and we took them to the playground but the wind was very strong and sharp so we didn't stay too long. The wind took our electric out for a bit too. Hope its not an omen of winter to come. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a wonderful week!

Donna

A Birthday Howl

I can't believe I haven't gotten anything up since Monday! Where did this week go. I didn't get to exercise this morning because they needed help watching the twins. So we had a little romp around the house for a while. Valerie was especially in the mood to RUN all over the place. But all I had to do was sing and they would both come back to me. They love to hear someone sing. Arthur will say "more" and then he'll go "ahhhh", like he's singing when he wants me to sing more. We have them again all day tomorrow so I'd better rest up tonight. Next week, my youngest has a birthday. He is a wolf lover so I thought this card might work for him.

I used the Sketch Saturday sketch for inspiration. All the die cuts were taken from the MFT Blueprints 13 set. The image of the wolf and sentiment are from Create with TLC. I used distress ink for the background. The die cuts were all cut from scraps from my scrap box. Here's the inside of the card.

Sentiment from MFT Anything But Basic Birthday Sentiments.
I am entering these challenges:

• Sketch Saturday: sketch turned sideways
  
• Hiding in my Craft Room: super scraps Saturday
• Simon Says Monday: starry night
• 4 Crafty Chicks: finish the inside
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: animal antics
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: birthday

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you've had a wonderful week and are heading into a relaxing and crafty weekend! Take care.

Donna

It's Dueling Day

Today is the best day of the month. It's dueling day for the Dueling Darlings. Each month we receive a kit from one of the members of our team. We all create a project using the kit and then post of the 15th and check out what everyone else has done. This month or hostesses were Kelly for the Divas and Jeanette for the Dazzlers. They chose the theme of kindness. Since I am a Dazzler I received the kit from Jeanette. Here's what she included:

Stamps: Picket Fence Studio "Comfort Words" and Stampavie "Teddy and Me"
Die: Simon Says Kind Script
Designer Paper: MY Mind's Eye (from an assorted paper pad) and Paper Studio Airy Polka Dot, Diagonal Stripe and Petite Wood Fence
Ribbon: Amuse Studio Silver Organdy, Crafter's Square Black Glitter and Ribbon Boutique Turquoise
Embellishments: Michael's Washi Tape (2 types), Recollections Flowers and Assorted Rhinestones, and Paper Studio Heart Shaped Brads

So here is the card that I made for the duel.

I used the Teddy and Me image colored it with Spectrum Noir markers and then fussy cut it. I loosely followed an old Operation Write Home sketch using two of the designer papers she sent. I used one of the washi tapes and then embellished with the Recollection flowers. The sentiment is die cut with MFT Essential Sentiment Strips. And for the inside:

I used the second sentiment and some of the leftover striped paper backed with black cardstock. I die cut the sentiment with MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Squares. I added one of the little heart rhinestones as embellishment. I hope you'll check out the other Dazzlers' cards. And then see what the Divas did also. Links below.

Dazzlers:
Darlene
Jeanette (our hostess)
Paola (Splitcoast Gallery)
Shelly 
Terry A (Splitcoast Gallery)
Terry L
Tracie
Debby B (Splitcoast Gallery)

Divas:
Barb
Carol
Judy
Heather
Kelly
LJ
Suzy (Splitcoast Gallery)
Tami
Terry S (Splitcoast Gallery)

Thanks for stopping by today. I will leave you with Jeanette's parting words to us.... "and don't forget, Kindness Matters!"

Donna

Wreath Builder Workshop

I had the pleasure of meeting Gina K and Rina K from Gina K Designs today at a workshop in Jasper, IN. It's been forever since I took a stamping class. I don't even know how long ago it was. But our last local stamping store here in Bloomington closed years ago. So when I saw Gina and Rina were coming somewhat close to me I decided I had to go check it out. I'm so glad I did. It was such a fun workshop and they were fabulous! And I can't forget Mishi too, Rina's adorable puppy.

The class was on Gina's wreath builder stamp and stencil set. It was awesome. Here's two of the cards we made today at the workshop.

Besides playing with the Wreath Builder set, Gina also showed us how to make an envelope to fit the 4 inch cards out of an A2 size envelope. Very cool way of doing it. And she had lots of other tips for us too. I made one more card that I'll share a little later. We had such a good time!

I am entering these challenges:

• Outlawz Festive Friday: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• Seize the Birthday: birthday anything goes

Hope you had a crafty day today. Thanks for stopping by to checkout my fun workshop experience. The twins are coming tomorrow so it will be busy, busy, busy!

Donna

Spooky Dracula

Happy almost weekend! Friday is finally here. Actually the weeks fly by for me. I can't get everything done that I'd like to. I did manage one more card late last night for a progressive challenge that's due soon. I didn't think I would get to play along this month as our printer has been down for several weeks. It's very frustrating when the printer won't print in black and white when the pink ink is out. But that's what happened. Our Staples store didn't have that color so I had to order it online. It took forever to get here. We ordered several colors that were about to run out and each one came in separate boxes on different days. Could they be any slower? Anyway, the right one came late this afternoon and I got this printed off and colored up.

This is The Count from Limited Runs Digital Stamps. I colored him with Spectrum Noir markers. To add to the scene I stamped 3 bats from MFT Witch Way is the Candy stamps and die cut them with the coordinating dies. I wanted to make it more colorful so I used the MFT Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips to die cut some colors! The background paper is a fun spider web pattern with some cool green glitter. I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday challenge. 

I am entering these challenges:

• Sketch Saturday: sketch above
• Limited Run Progressive challenge: use the image of the Count
• Outlawz Greetings challenge: tic tac toe (middle row: bling, my choice Halloween colors, bat)
• Sweet Stampers: autumn or halloween
• Tuesday Throwdown: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

I am off to exercise class this morning. This afternoon I am going to cook again for Sunday as the twins will be here. I like to make sure they get something good to eat. Tomorrow I am heading for Jasper Indiana to attend a wreath builder workshop with Gina and Rina K. I am really excited about this. I haven't been to a card making workshop in a long time. We don't have any scrapbook stores in our area. Just Michael's and Hobby Lobby. So I am driving and hour and a half to go have some fun. Thanks for stopping by. Have a super fun weekend!

Donna

Snowman

Hello! Welcome to fall, at least in our area. It is 30 degrees colder today than yesterday. The wind is rather chilly. I could have used a heavier jacket when I went for a walk this afternoon. I really didn't plan this card for the weather and if I did I went a bit too far. LOL!

The snowman is a Bugaboo image called Eggbert Winter. I colored him with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut him with MFT Stitched Squares. I like the monochromatic blue on this card. The background snowflake paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. Added a ribbon from my stash and then some die cut layered snowflakes from MFT. Those are cut from silver glitter paper and white card stock. I finished them off with a blue adhesive gem from Recollections. I added Stickels to the snowballs and ground. I was surprised that the Stickels ran the ink so much. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug challenge: anything goes
• Feeling Sketchy: sketch 
  
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes
• The Outlawz Festive Friday challenge: Christmas
• C.R.A.F.T. challenge: Christmas

Really busy today. I did a bunch of cooking and cleaning. Tomorrow is exercise class and then getting dinner together. Have to make dinner for Sunday evening too when the twins show up. No time to cook when they are here. Hope to get back some time tomorrow with another card. Have a super Friday! The weekend is almost here!

Donna

Witch Way is the Candy

Greetings! Thanks for stopping by today. I have a Halloween card this evening. I had some time this afternoon to play a bit.

This card uses MFT Witch Way is the Candy stamp set and coordinating dies. I colored the images with Spectrum Noir markers. The background was created with Distress Oxide inks: Seedless Preserves, Spiced Marmalade, Twisted Citron and Black Soot. I used a white gel pen to add some stars and planets to the background and also to add some accents to the images. I added google eyes to the frog, The sentiment is from the same set and die cut with MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags in two different sizes. I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Cutie Pie challenge: Going Girly
• Tuesday Outlawz challenge: colors: purple, orange, black, green and yellow twist of fall/halloween
• Monday Outlaw Greeting challenge: Tic Tac Toe (harvest moon, your choice {frog}, witch) 
  
• Pile It On: black, purple and orange
• Hiding in my Craft Room: Halloween colors
• Addicted to Stamps and More: holiday 
  
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: Halloween

I am off to Head Start today to play with the twins. Always the highlight of my week. Thanks for stopping by!

Donna

Yappy Christmas

Happy Monday, friends! Today didn't quite go the way I expected. I was going to have lunch with my DH and FIL but they were short-handed at Opportunity House where I volunteer, so I wound up staying later than planned to help out. Got home in time to say goodbye to my FIL as he was leaving for home. I did manage to get a little crafty time in this afternoon.

I used the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge to make this card using MFT Happy Pawlidays stamp set and coordinating dies.

For the background I used MFT Star Grid stencil and Twisted Citron Distress Oxide ink. The images are colored with Koh-i-Noor Woodless Color Pencils and mineral spirits. The sentiment is from the same stamp set and die cut with MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags. I also colored the sentiment strip with Koh-i-Noor pencils and mineral spirits. I am entering these challenges:

• My Favorite Things Sketch challenge: use the sketch above
• Outlawz Festive Friday: Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes
• Little Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Addicted to Stamps: make your mark 
  

The twins had a great birthday on Saturday. They really didn't have a clue what was going on but they sure liked the cake and cupcakes. As you can see Arthur is sporting quite a dirty face. And they both got their first hair cut.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope your week is off to a wonderful start! Make it a crafty week!

Donna

Birthday Tag

Happy World Card Making Day! Happy birthday Arthur and Valerie! The twins turn two today so I probably won't have much time to craft the rest of the day. I did manage to finish a tag for Arthur's birthday gift this morning.

I used the MFT Cross Stitch Tag die (without the cross stitch) and the MFT Happy Birthday Circle die.  I die cut Arthur's name from Lawn Fawn Quinn's ABCs. The cute little dog and cat are from MFT Little Buddies, colored with Spectrum Noir makers and die cut with the coordinating dies. Those images are popped up with foam tape. This turned out so cute. I have the letters cut to make Valerie a tag also. I thought my FIL would need something to identify his gift but it turned out that he bought cards. So I will save these for Christmas or something. I am entering these challenges:

• Simon Says Monday challenge: tag it
• Catch the Bug: anything goes
• Crafty Friends challenge: use more than one die
• ABit More Time to Craft: anything goes
• The Outlawz Thursday Twist: anything goes circles and stripes

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. We are busy the rest of this weekend so hope to find some crafty time on Monday. Next weekend I am signed up to go to Jasper, IN for a workshop  with Gina and Rina K for their wreath builder workshop. I'm really excited about that! Thanks for stopping by. See you next week!

Saddle Up and Celebrate

I believe I mentioned that the twins turn 2 on Saturday. I made Arthur's card a while ago but hadn't made Valerie's yet. So I bought this new set from MFT but hadn't used it yet. It has both a boy and a girl image in it. That's one of the reasons I bought it. And I love the way this card turned out!

The MFT stamp set is called Saddle Up & Celebrate. I used the coordinating dies for the set. I colored the images with Spectrum Noir markers. The sentiment is from the same set and die cut with MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags. I paper pieced the bands of the hats (I just freehanded those) and the girl's scarf. I used the MFT Mini Cloud Edges Stencil for the cloud background using Salty Ocean Distress Oxide ink. The stitched hills in the background are from Simon Says Stitched Slopes and Hills and brown card stock. The grass is MFT Fresh Cut Grass. I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Addicted to Stamps and More: make your mark 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Scrapping4Fun: anything goes
• The Outlawz Festive Friday: birthday

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my project today. A busy weekend ahead. My FIL will be coming back to help celebrate the twins' birthday. Saturday we have a memorial service and then the birthday party. After that we'll be heading for Baby Creek to spend Sunday out at our other property where some friends are going to meet us for Sunday dinner and games. Never a dull moment. LOL! Have a super fun weekend!

Donna

Holiday Hugs

Camping this past weekend was lots of fun. The weather on Thursday was chilly and wet but the rest of the weekend was perfect! We did lots of things outdoors and we even rode bikes, which I haven't done in years. So lots of exercise. Since Sunday I have been playing catch up: dishes, laundry, something with my volunteering. Today I started a new exercise class. And I keep finding things that I've forgotten to do when we got back. Oh, here's another thing. I forgot to post this card yesterday for the start of the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Challenge.

Our sponsor this month is Pattie's Creations. As always you can link up anything Christmas for this challenge but we do have an optional theme. This month it's Gear up for Christmas. Use some kind of winter gear on your project. My little penguin is all geared up in his ear muffs and scarf. The image is Pearl the Penguin. I colored him with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut the image with Spellbinder's Tear Drop Circles. I used three designer paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles: North Pole, Bokeh, and Holiday Decorations. Some of the designer paper was die cut with MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags. The sentiment, from a retired Gina K stamp set, was heat embossed with black embossing powder. I layered with black card stock. The final embellishments are Recollections Adhesive Rhinestone. I use Wink of Stella on the penguin for some extra sparkle. I hope that you'll join us this month and "gear up for Christmas" at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up! I am entering these challenges:

• Try Stampin' on Tuesday: sketch 
  
• The Outlawz Festive Friday challenge: Christmas
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes Christmas; begin with the letter S (scarf)
• Winter Wonderland: anything goes
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter

Once I get caught up this week, I have to get in gear for the twins' birthday this Saturday. Haven't even started to think about that yet. I can't believe they are going to be 2 years old already. Time is flying. Hope your week is off to a great start! I hope you'll come join us at 12 Months!

Donna