Birthday Wishes

 We woke up this morning to a little more than an inch of snow. It was very heavy and wet and it broke tree limbs. But it was really pretty outside! I did get some time to play this afternoon. Kind of nice for a change to play during the day. 

The image is from Pattie's Creations called Gift Time (the free version). I paired it with Desert Diva's Birthday Wish Circle sentiment. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers. The image and sentiment were die cut with MFT Stitched Circle dies. I inked the circle with Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide ink. The layers are blue and green. The dotted background paper is from my scrap box. The base card is also blue. I die cut the bow from Die Cutting Essentials #59 All Wrapped Up. I added Stardust Stickles to the presents and bow. I am entering these challenges:

• Try Stampin' on Tuesday: sketch 
  
• Pattie's Creations challenge: birthdays
• The Outlawz Color challenge: green, blue, yellow and use a die
• The Paper Shelter challenge: dies and/or punches
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes

That's it for me tonight. I hope to get back tomorrow after I finish another card that I started earlier. I hope you'll have a wonderful Thursday! Stay safe. Peace and all good.

Donna

Birthday Bunny

I had a little time to play this evening. Hoping to get more time tomorrow as I will have most of my Opportunity House stuff priced and ready to go back on Thursday. But I wanted to get my other progressive challenge finished for the month.

The sweet bunny image is the Imagine That Digi stamp of the month called Teacup Bunny. I die cut the image with TODO Rectangles and then used ek Success corner rounder to round the edges. I inked the image panel with Mowed Lawn distress ink. The pink layering paper is a scrap from my scrap box. The leafy paper is from Imagine That Sweet Pastels Paper. I didn't find it on the website so unfortunately I don't have a link. The sentiment is from the Teacup Bunny stamp set and I die cut it with MFT Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strip Dies and inked the strip with Spun Sugar distress ink. I added three pink pearls in the upper righthand corner. The card base is green. I am entering these challenges:

• Imagine That Digi of the Month challenge: use Teacup Bunny
• Sketch Saturday challenge: sketch 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Crafty Friends challenge: for ladies or girls 
  
• Jan's Digi Stamp challenge: anything goes

Here we are at April 20th, and it is snowing outside. I was done with winter over a month ago and Mother Nature is playing April tricks on us. This afternoon I was repotting some of my tomato plants wishing I could plant them outside and now I'm glad they are warm and comfy inside for the time being. What a mess. I hope spring makes a quick return. LOL! Thanks for taking the time to stop by. Hope your day has been awesome. Stay safe! Peace and all good!

Donna

 

Let's Shell-ebrate

 Happy Sunday! I really liked the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches this week; and since my first attempt forgot to use the slimline requirement I decided to try again this morning. 

I turned the sketch but used the mini slimline element they asked for. The image and sentiment were both in my crafting box ready to go. The image is from Bugaboo Stamps called Turtle Birthday. The images are colored with Spectrum Noir markers. I cut the balloon off the image and then drew a line to it to complete the connection. The present is from MFT Birthday Bears (retired). I'm not sure about the sentiment. The designer paper is scraps from my scrap box and I layered with black card stock. I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Catch the Bug challenge: anything goes
• Pattie's Creations challenge: birthday
• Creative Knockouts challenge: add a sentiment
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

That's it for me for a couple days. We are heading out to our Baby Creek property and tomorrow we are supposed to meet another builder. Hopefully this one will show up. Have a great start to a new week. Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe! Peace and all good!

Donna

Hello

 It's been another busy week again! And not much crafting time. The good news is that the deck that my DH was replacing for the neighbors is finished! Yeah! So I won't need to help with that anymore. The bad news is that the next project is to replace flooring in our washer/dryer area that was damaged when our wash machine overflowed a couple weeks ago and the flooring buckled from the water. So I am sure that I'll have to help with replacing that. 

We usually have the twins on Sunday, but this weekend we had them today instead, so I keep thinking this is Sunday instead of Saturday. I thought I wouldn't have time for the Tuesday Morning Sketch but since today is Saturday I worked it in after dinner. The only problem was that I forgot it was supposed to be a mini slimline so it probably won't count for the challenge, but I loved the sketch.

I tried a tone on tone background and it doesn't show up well in the photo especially in the bottom left corner. The base is kraft card stock and I used Delicate Branches stamp set from Inkadinkado with MFT latte ink. The two smaller red birds are from the same set and stamped with MFT Cherry Crisp. The designer paper is from my stash. The larger cardinal is recycled from another card and popped up on foam tape. The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn and stamped in the MFT Cherry Crisp ink. I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Crafty Critter Crazies challenge: use a critter
• Penny's challenge: anything goes
• Love to Craft challenge: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

We had a very gray and rainy day today. The morning was very rainy but the afternoon got a little better. We got the twins out for a bit this afternoon. Took a wagon ride around our neighborhood and stopped at the playground before we took them home. It was a wonderful day with them. Of course I'm tuckered out after chasing them around. Thanks for stopping by today. Stay sage. Peace and all good!

Donna

With Love for your Birthday

The days are flying by around here. We are still working on our neighbor's deck. We were supposed to meet a contractor this morning out at our Baby Creek property to talk about building a house. But he decided he didn't want to come and let us know last night after we were already out there. My Dh was very disappointed. But after a couple other projects we had to do today I sat down at my desk to finish up with an image that I already had colored but not on a card. 

The image is from Scribbles Design called  Flower Pot 2. I colored it with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut it with Spellbinder's Classic Rectangles Large. I used two different designer papers from my stash: one with flowers and one with dots. I added a pink ribbon and instead of the bow (that's on the sketch I was following) I used a circular sentiment from Jak Heath, die cut with MFT Stitched Circles. Lots of layering on this card done with black card stock. The card base is pink. I am entering these challenges:

• Scribbles Designs challenge: spring fling
• Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2: sketch 
  
• Crafty Friends challenge: for ladies and/or girls 

  
• Love to Scrap challenge: spring forward
• Pattie's Creations challenge: birthdays

I hope to get more crafting time tomorrow. It will depend on whether Tom needs help with the neighbor's deck. I have a presentation tomorrow evening and I need to finish off my comments for that. So fingers crossed that some time opens up. Thanks for stopping by. Hope your week is going awesome! Stay safe. Peace and all good!

Donna

 

Post Easter

 I can hardly believe it's been a week since I last posted. This week did not go as planned. Last Monday I sat down to do one more Easter card because I had printed this image and instead of filing it away, I thought I should just make a card from it. I started the card and it just didn't click for me and set it aside to start a different one (which also didn't click) and I was never able to get back to my desk last week. So after having the twins all day today and finishing dinner I decided to revisit this Easter card and finally finished it.

The image is from Eureka Stamps called Lilly Cross. I colored the image with Prismacolor Pencils and die cut the image with Gina Marie Designs Stitched Rectangles (retired).  I struggled with the paper that I wanted to use with it, but finally decided on this plaid paper from my stash. Then I cut the paper incorrectly which actually turned out to be okay as I really like the break in the plaid. It gives it some interest. The sentiment was a freebie from Desert Diva. I die cut it with Spellbinder's Grommet Tags and inked it with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. To hide the grommet cut outs I added 2 pearls. The card base is blue and the layering is dark brown. It might have taken me a week but I am happy with the finished product. I am entering these challenges:

• QKR Stampede challenge: anything goes
• Sweet Stampers challenge: lots of layers
• The Paper Shelter challenge: with a sentiment
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes

It rained all day here and was chilly, so we parked the cards outside and let the twins play in the garage. We had lots of fun today. We bought some Play-Doh so they got to play with that. They wore us out and I'll be glad to see our bed very soon. Hope you had a lovely weekend. Stay safe! Peace and all good!

Donna

Arthur's Bank

 Last night I posted  a bank (and the explanation) for Valerie, my grand daughter. So today I am sharing the bank I made for her twin brother Arthur.

The image is from Bugaboo Stamps called Michael Sitter. I colored him with Spectrum Noir markers and fussy cut him. The designer paper is from the Paper Studio. Just like Valerie's bank I added his name.

I used MFT Caption Alphabet to die his name and Quickutz Tags to die cut the tags. My DH made the slot in the lid. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug challenge: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Scrapping4Fun challenge: anything goes
• Crafter's Café challenge: anything goes

From my family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Easter! May the risen Jesus bless you in all you do! Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe. Peace and all good!

Donna

Easter Parade (and Egg Hunt)

Last week when we had the twins, Valerie spied the plastic Easter eggs that I had gotten out to get ready for Easter. So I decided that she could play with them. She was so interested to see what was inside them. Of course, nothing was there at first; but we found dice and little things to put inside and she played a long time with open and closing the eggs. I hid some of the eggs in their bedroom to see if they would hunt for them since we've never had an egg hunt before. Valerie was very much interested and Arthur didn't really care. So I got more Easter eggs this week at Opportunity House and this morning I put coins and candy in each of the eggs. Tomorrow we'll have them hunt in the yard for the eggs. So my thought was to get each of them a bank so that they could put their coins in after they open the eggs. But we didn't find anything that wasn't glass or ceramic and we were sure that they'd break them too easily. So Tom suggested plastic peanut butter jars. I've been saving them because he's been putting nails and screws in them so we had some extra ones. I couldn't just give them a plain peanut butter jar so here is Valerie's jar.

The image is from Bugaboo Stamps called Bug Brats Easter. This is the same image I used for the Easter card that I sent to her. I die cut the image with MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Squares. The paper that I wrapped around the jar is from the Paper Studio and has cute little Easter bunnies on it.

You can see the bunny paper better in this photo. I used MFT Caption Alphabet dies to create her name and the Quickutz tags to die cut the tags in two colors. You can see the slot that my DH added to the top of the jar. I did cover it with clear Contact Paper so they couldn't pull the decorations off too quickly. Tom wanted them to be able to see the coins in the bottom of the jar so I didn't cover the entire jar. I am entering these challenges:

• The Outlawz April Progressive challenge: use Bug Brats Easter image from Bugaboo Stamps
• Catch the Bug: anything goes
• Penny's Papercraft challenge: anything goes
• The Paper Shelter: Easter time
• Simon Says Monday challenge: Easter/spring

Tomorrow morning I'll post Arthur's new bank. I hope you'll come back to check Arthur's bank out. Looking forward to having the twins and their parents for Easter dinner and the Easter egg hunt. Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe. Peace and all good!

Donna

Jingle with Kris Kringle

 Welcome to April and a new challenge at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up! A new challenge begins and as usual our theme is anything Christmas goes (as long as it's a card). We do have an optional twist. This month it's red and gold. Our sponsors this month is Taylormade Cards 4 U and Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. 

My card is an aperture card. I die cut the aperture with MFT Stitched Circles. The image is Retro Santa from Taylormade Cards 4 U. The glitter paper that I used for embellishment is from Recollections. The sentiment is from Papercraft Magazine and die cut with Clear Dollar Designs Labels (no longer in business). The designer paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Miscellaneous Christmas Red & Gold Patterned Paper Mini Kit.

And here is the inside of the card:

I added a gold glitter frame die cut with Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Frame. I hope you'll play along this month at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. Get those Christmas cards started now! I am entering these challenges:

• Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: anything goes
• Merry Little Christmas blog: anything goes
• Christmas Crafting All Year 'Round: G is for gold; H is for holly
• Creative Knockouts challenge: sparkle and shine

Thanks for stopping by today! Stay safe. Peace and all good!

Donna

Hoppy Easter

 I seem to be on a roll this week, finding time to be at my desk to craft. I've also written out about a dozen cards and sent them out too. That's major for me, as I tend to make them and then don't send them. LOL! I needed two more Easter cards so I actually mass produced these.

While looking for designer paper for yesterday's card, I ran into this cute bunny paper from Imagine That digital stamps and thought it would be perfect for a quick Easter card. I paired it with an old wood mounted stamp from Great Impressions with a bunny and carrot and the cute sentiment. I added some die cut washi tape from MFT Blueprints 13 (retired). Then I added Cotton Candy Stickles dots to the "washi tape" and the bunny's tail. I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Simon Says Monday challenge: Easter or Spring
• The Outlawz Paper ala Mode challenge: spring or Easter
• Scrapping4Fun challenge: Easter or spring
• Pattie's Creations challenge: anything goes

We got our second vaccine shot this morning. So far, so good. I'm feeling okay. They did say our flu like symptoms 10 days after our first shot was a side effect from the first shot. Hoping to get some additional time this afternoon to see what else I can create. Just sent a bunch of birthday cards out so I could probably use more of those and definitely more thinking of you cards. Thanks for stopping by. Have a beautiful day. Stay safe. Peace and all good!

Donna

Friends Who Care

 Just a quick card this morning for a friend who is going through a rough patch. I thought this might brighten their day. 

The image was a freebie from Cre8tive Hands ages ago. They haven't posted anything since 2016 but I still love their little cat and dog together. The background papers are all from Imagine That digital sets, using up scraps and die cut with MFT Stitched Frames. The sentiment is from Create with TLC. I am entering these challenges:

• Sketch~N~Scrap: sketch 
  
• Creative Knockouts: friendship
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes
• Love to Craft challenge: anything goes
• Jan's Digital challenge: anything goes

We had a great time with the twins on Sunday. It was windy and cold so we mostly stayed indoors and played but stopped at the playground when we took them home. I think they were rather tired by the time they went home. They never stop running around and wear themselves out. Thanks for stopping by today. Stay safe! Peace and all good!

Donna

Hap-bee Birthday

Just a quick post this morning before we have fun with the twins today. I thought I would get this card done much earlier in the month but it wasn't to be (no pun intended.).

This is the progressive challenge image for March at The Outlawz. The image is Lulu Bee from Paper Nest Dolls die cut with MFT Stitched Ovals. I used Spectrum Noir markers for the coloring and added Yellow Stickles to the flower and bows on the image and then also on the black borders. I used Black Diamond Stickles on the antenna hearts. The honeycomb paper is from Optical Illusions blog. Kate is now on Facebook, but her blog hasn't been updated since 2017. My sentiment is computer-generated and then I cut the words out be hand. The image is edged with Black Soot Distress Oxide ink. The borders were punched with a Martha Stewart punch. I am entering these challenges:

• The Outlawz Progressive challenge: use Lulu Bee image
• Sketch Saturday: sketch 
  
• Crafty Friends challenge: happy birthday
• Love to Craft challenge: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday! It isn't the bright sunshiny day we had yesterday but I guess we'll muddle through. Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe. Peace and all good!

Donna

Warm Holiday Wishes

Happy Saturday! Today was the most gorgeous spring day here. Temps reached the 70s. I turned over a part of our garden this afternoon and put my little plants out on the porch for the day. I now have zucchini, butternut squash, tomatoes, and marigolds sprouting. I also have planted jalapenos, spaghetti squash, red peppers, and basil, but they haven't sprouted yet. We've already planted onions and radishes in the garden. But I need to get some cards done before the end of the month, so I tried unsuccessfully this afternoon to get something done. Finally finished one card.

I used a retired set from Gina K called Winter Foliage. It's one of my favorite sets. I used MFT Green Elf ink for the needles. For the pine cones I inked MFT Latte first and then "rock and rolled" Memento Rich Cocoa ink. Afterward, I used Prisma Color pencils to add more shading to the pine cones. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamps Big Holiday Wishes. I added the front to a red card stock base. I am entering these challenges:

• Rudolph Days challenge: anything Christmas goes
• Sparkle Christmas challenge: clean and simple
• Merry Little Christmas challenge: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: anything goes
• Winter Wonderland challenge: trees

We have the twins tomorrow. I wish it would be a day like today so we could run outside a lot. But it's supposed to rain tomorrow. I am hoping it will pass through overnight and be not so bad tomorrow. Hope you are having a sunshiny weekend. Take care! Stay safe. Peace and all good!

Donna

Starry Sympathy

 One of our neighbor's father passed away. He wasn't able to go to his funeral because of the pandemic so I made him a card in hopes of him realizing that someone cared.

I love that starry paper. The combination of the teal and gold really make it shine. I decided to go with the black card stock base because it makes the color pop. I used Spellbinder's Chevron Border die to die cut the starry paper. The sentiment, from Folded Paper and Printed Pixels (the site didn't come up),  is difficult to read so I'll print it for you:

Perhaps they are not the stars,

But rather openings in Heaven,

Where the love of our lost ones pour through

And shines down upon us

To let us know they are happy.

I die cut the sentiment with Gina Marie Designs Wonky Stitched Ovals. I backed the die cut with gold paper. I carried the star theme into the inside of the card too. I am entering these challenges:

• CAS Colours and Sketches: sketch 
  
• Little Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft Extra: anything goes
• Love to Craft challenge: anything goes
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today. It's been busy. Volunteered at both Opportunity House and Teacher's Warehouse. One big project that I've been working on at OH is coming to an end (I hope) so I am hoping for more craft time. I spent a lot of time at home working on that project. Stay safe. Peace and all good!

Donna

Easter Chick

 Good evening! I quick post for one of the cards I was able to finish today. This one is for my granddaughter, Valerie. I could picture her doing this for Easter.

Stamps: Image: Bugaboo Brat Easter; Sentiment: Create with TLC

Layers: black card stock layering

Dies: Spellbinder's Classic Scallop Borders (dotted washi tape on the left edge); MFT Inside & Out Stitched Rounded Squares (sentiment)

Embellishment: inked the sentiment die cut with Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink; Stickles: Orange for chick beaks and butterfly, Cotton candy for bunny ears and pocket flower on shirt, red for heart and wheel center.

I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug: Bingo (middle column: washi tape, Bugaboo image, die/punch) 
  
• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch (turned on it edge) 

  
• Scrapping4Fun challenge: Easter/Spring
• Creative Knockouts: spring is in the air
• Through the Craft Room Door challenge: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe! Peace and all good!

Donna