Sharing your Grief

Sympathy cards are not my favorite cards to make. And I always say that I will make some ahead of time but rarely do. So I needed one today so that's my card tonight.

The image is from Beccy's Place cut with Spellbinder's rectangle dies. The sentiment is embossed with black Superfine embossing powder and is from the Sympathy Heartfelt Creations stamp set. I embossed the background card stock with the Victoria embossing folder.

I am entering this card into these challenges:

• Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger: inspiration picture
• Beccy's Place challenge: use a birthday bash freebie
• Sentimental Sunday challenge: flowers, flowers and more flowers
• Outlawz Friday challenge: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today. Hope your week is going well. I have an interview for a new job on Thursday and tomorrow we see the HR person about retiring. Do I retire or do I move to a new job? Decisions! Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Donna

Winner's of the Washi Tape Challenge and Comments

Just a quick post to let you know who won the the washi tape challenge and who won for commenting on the washi tape entry. First, let me thank everyone who participated; either by commenting or making a card. I also want to thank Operation Write Home for picking me to be one of the challenges for this Virtual Card Making Party; my very first time. It was a blast and I loved playing in all the challenges. Now without further ado, the winners:

From the Comments:

Robin from Crafting with Robin

The randomly picked winner for the challenge was:

Jessi from Jessi's Cards

Congratulations to Robin and Jessi. Please send me an email at drinckel at yahoo dot com with your mailing address and I'll get your prizes right out to you. Thanks to everyone who commented or played along. See you for the next VCMP!

Life

Happy Monday! The sun is shining at least for the time being. We have rain headed our way and colder temperatures. Oh where, oh where is spring? I am so ready for it. Have a nasty head cold so I took a day off of work. Even feeling bad I have a hard time sitting and doing nothing so I made a card this morning.

This is a Stella stamp from Bugaboo Stamps. The sentiment comes with the image. I colored it with Copic markers. The border is a double scallop from My Favorite Things. The striped paper was a scrap from my scrap box (probably from Hobby Lobby and Paper Studio). I added a faux stitched border around the top.

I'm entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug challenge: sketch
• Paper Makeup Stamps: stripes
• Outlawz Paper ala Mode challenge: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door challenge: anything goes

Well, I am off to take have a tequila nap. Maybe life will look better then! Have a super fantastic week.

Donna

The last of VCMP

Last weekend was the Virtual Card Making Party at Operation Write Home. There were 10 challenges that you can still play until February 25th. I had the last 2 challenges yet to play in and I did both challenges with one card. Challenge #9 was from Sharon at Desert Rose Outpost. She wanted us to use all white or cream and use three layers.
Challenge #20 was from Kaylee at 104 Cards for Soldiers. Her challenge was to use glitz and glam without glitter. So I took both of those challenges and made on card.

The sentiment is from A Piece of Heart. I was really drawn to this sentiment because several friends are going through hard times and I thought this sentiment might be of some comfort. I used the Sizzix Flourishes embossing folder in the background. The sentiment is cut with Spellbinder oval die and then backed with Spellbinder scalloped die. he flowers were made with Spellbinders Heartfelt Creation dies, glued together and then I added the center glam on each of the flowers. So there you have my final card for VCMP.
I've come down with a nasty head cold so I'm not sure if I'll get much more done this weekend. I really feel like I should be in bed. So we'll see what happens tomorrow. Hope you are all well. Thanks for stopping by to check out my card. Have a super weekend!

Donna

Hogs and Kisses

I hope you aren't being affected by Winter Storm Q. And if you are being affected I hope you are home, warm and safe and out of the nasty weather. It hit us about 6pm this evening and started as snow. So much better than the freezing rain they had predicted. I am hoping it stays colder all night and comes as snow rather than freezing rain. I am so ready for spring.
My card tonight is kind of spring-like. One of my coworkers is having a birthday so I made a card for our department to sign.

The stamp set that I used is called Funny Farm from Gina K. The inside sentiment is also from the set and says "Birthday Wishes from the Whole Herd". Since it's a single layer card I colored the images with colored pencils. I popped up the cute little piggies.
I'm entering this card into these challenges:

• Digi Stamps4Joy challenge: birthday card
• Lady Anne's Sentimental challenge: anything goes
• Lawnscaping challenge: stamp a scene

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you all are safe and warm. Have a wonderful Friday!

Donna

Thinking of You

Another work day over and heading toward the down side of the week! My DH and I are meeting with HR people next week to talk about retirement. We still aren't 100% sure that we will actually take the plunge but there's a part of me that wants to do it. The other part is really worried about health insurance. I guess we'll see what they say next week. We have nasty winter weather heading for us tomorrow and tomorrow night. I am crossing my fingers that it will not get here until after I get home from work. I really hate driving in freezing rain. My card tonight makes me think of spring. Nice pastel colors and some glam.

The gorgeous flowers was a freebie from Beccy's Place. I colored them with Copics but it really looks like water colors close up. The sentiment is from a complimentary set that the company didn't add their name to. That always has astounded me but I use the sentiments a lot. I'd give them credit if I knew where they were from. I added pearls, lace and a button embellished with purple twine from Doodlebug Designs. This one makes me smile and know that spring is on it's way... at least some time soon, I hope!
I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Place challenge: anything but a rectangle
• Outlawz Friday challenge: sympathy or thinking of you
• CAS on Sunday: making the rounds
• Sentimental Sunday challenge: lace and pearls
• Cutie Pie challenge: pretty pastels
• Cuttlebug Spot: cute as a button

Thanks for stopping by. If you are in the midwest, stay safe and  warm and out of the nasty weather.

Donna

A New Design Team for Me

Today begins a new adventure for me. Lady Anne asked me to join her challenge blog as part of the Wednesday Stamp design team. So I said 'yes!' This challenge is monthly and you must use a stamp, either digital or rubber, clear, etc. Otherwise it's anything goes! Our sponsor this month is Crafting with Jack. Here's my creation with a Crafting with Jack image!

I colored the image with Copic markers and cut it out. I added the google eye because it really reminded me of an owl. The sentiment is from a Gina K set called Owl Always Love You. I added the ribbon with my favorite method: punch a hole, bring the ribbon up from the bottom, wrap three time. bring up from the bottom and then tie your bow. Holds it perfectly every time. I hope you will check out Lady Anne's Challenge blog and join us this month for some fun! You can enter up to three times and it ends April 3rd. Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Donna

A Little Caffeine for VCMP

Challenge #7 for the Virtual Card Making Party was hosted by Jen from The Sparkle Within. She wanted us to use caffeine in some form on our cards. I am not a coffee drinker. Sometimes I drink green tea at work to warm me up or keep me awake. LOL. But my real love in the caffeine world is chocolate. I am areal live chocoholic! So guess what's on my card. LOL!

After we got the first challenge of zig zags I got an email that showed me how to make my own zig zag. So I tried it out and decided to use it here. I love the sentiment from Ginger's House. The stamps are from Sweet and Sassy stamps. 

And here's the finished inside of the card:

Yum! I am also entering the challenge at Speedy Fox and friends which is to use white, brown, and pink. I do believe I nailed that one. LOL!
Thanks for stopping by today. Hope your week is off to a great start.

Donna

More VCMP Challenges

If you are looking for my VCMP challenge please go here.

I finished Challenge #4 of the VCMP. Penguinpapers asked us to make something with wings. The card I made was my favorite for the weekend.

The image is from Digital Delights by Louby Loo. The sentiment is from a retired Gina K set. I made the little banner at the top with little circles from card stock. I added the letters. The background designer paper is from Paper Studio. I used the sketch from the Outlawz Wednesday sketch.

Challenge # 6 is being hosted by Creepin Along and she's asking for things with wheels.

I used an image and sentiment from Doodle Pantry called Tractor Sheep. I used a number of Spellbinders dies to layer the card. I am entering this card also into the Outlawz Paper ala Mode challenge (movement) and Here Comes the Boys challenge (lots of layers).

Thanks for stopping by. I can't believe the weekend is almost over and we are coming to the end of VCMP. You have until February 25th to participate. Hope you get a chance to do that! Have a great week!

Donna

VCMP Challenge #8 Washi Tape

It's finally my turn to post for the Virtual Card Making Party at Operation Write Home. If you haven't heard about this fun weekend please check out the details of the VCMP! My challenge for you is to use Washi Tape on your cards.

I used several widths, colors and patterns of washi tape on my card. And then embossed over the top with a Sizzix Chevron embossing folder. The image is from the February Doodle Pantry release called Love Star colored with Bic markers. The sentiment is from the same set cut out with one of the Spellbinders Trio Tag dies. I sponged over the sentiment with Stampin' Up Certainly Celery and Pink Passion. I popped up the front panel with pop dots. I have several other samples of cards that I used washi tape on: Paper Pieced Balloons and Butterfly.
I have two prize packages to offer up today for two lucky winners. I will choose one winner randomly from comments and one winner randomly from those who enter the challenge. U.S. only please.

Here's the bag of stamps for the random comment winner.

And the prize for the challenge winner. A baggie with embellishments and other goodies and a sentiment stamp set from My Favorite Things. I hope you will join in the challenge.
I will draw and announce winners for the prizes on February 25th when InLinkz closes. Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you are enjoying this VCMP weekend!

VCMP Challenge #5

More VCMP! So I am back with challenge #5. I know I skipped challenge #4. I'll get back to that one in a little bit but #5 intrigued me this morning so I tried it first. The challenge from The Crooked Stamper is called the disappearing act. You were to use a 12x12 piece of designer paper to make 6 cards using OWH sketch #63. I have plenty of 12x12 paper. The most difficult part was picking which piece to use. In the end I took a piece of patterned paper from an animal patterned paper pad that I used for a bunch of Girl Scout projects. And my theme this year has been to reduce, reuse, and recycle so I decided to use critter stamps that were already stamped and colored. So my cards are not all the same which I think is technically what the challenge was meant to do: make 6 exact cards. So only two of my cards are the same because I did have a double for one of my stamped images. Since these were in my stash I don't know where they all came from. So sorry about that but if you know the image please let me know because I prefer to give credit to the artist who drew them.

The sentiment is from a Gina K stamp set and the illustrator is Theresa Momber called Hang in There. I tried to find it on the Gina K site and wasn't able to so it may be retired. The little bear image was from my stash and he's one that I don;t know the origin of.

This adorable little guy and sentiment was from a fund raiser for Katie Renz, a stamper who suddenly developed cancer and sadly she has passed away. Sorry about the photo on this one. It's a bit fuzzy.

The parrot image is a pre-colored image from Doodle Pantry called Quirky Parrot. The sentiment came from a friend who sent me some stuff. I haven't the foggiest idea where it came from. So sorry! I added a row of golden pearls.

This is the first of a couple turtles. The image and sentiment is from Doodle Pantry called Baby Sea Turtles. I popped up the sea turtle to give it some dimension.

And last but not least two other turtles I had in my stash.

These turtles I think I got in a stamped trade. I couldn't find them anywhere among my digis. I deviated from the sketch slightly in making the right panel a bit bigger than the other cards and added the fun twine accent on the left side piece. I punched a hole to tie the twine through. I love doing twine and ribbon that way. It makes it so much easier to tie!
That's it for challenge #5. I am next up with a challenge at 2pm so please stop back and play along. Can't wait for it to post! See you soon.

Donna

VCMP Challenges #2 and #3

I combined the second and third VCMP challenge and just made one card. The second challenge is at Deliteful Gifts and asks you to make a kid's card with a critter on it. The third challenge is at BunnyScrap and challenges everyone to selectively emboss parts of your card. So I combined the two challenges and came up with this card.

I may have to hold on to this card for a while since winter cards are over for Operation Write Home. But I love this Doodle Pantry image called Quirky Polar Bear. I used the pre-colored image. I used the snowflake embossing folder with a shim that did not emboss and rounded area in the middle behind my little polar bear. The sentiment I cut out and then edged the sides with a scalloped scissors. That's a bit hard to tell from the picture. I just really like how this turned out.
I'm also entering this card in these other challenges:

• Simon Says challenge: white on white
• Through the Craft Room Door challenge: anything goes
• Digi Haven challenge: snow/snowflakes challenge
• Hiding in my Craft Room challenge: embossing

Thanks for stopping by! Remember there's more to come for VCMP. Don't forget to stop back and check out what's going on. Have a wonderful evening!

Donna

It's VCMP Time

I am really excited this weekend! I set aside a bunch of time this weekend to be part of my very first Virtual Card Making Party with Operation Write Home.  So the challenges have begun and I've made my first card already.

The challenge from Scrappin' Intervention was to make a zig zag card. I used a Penny Black stamp set called Puzzle Parts for my background. I used the chevron stamps and stamped in rainbow colors. The image is from Doodle Pantry called Love Earth. The sentiment I created with Word Art on my computer.  I sure hope you can find some time to participate in the VCMP. Be sure to check back tomorrow for my special part in VCMP. It's going to be fun! Make it a wonderful weekend!

Donna

Doodle Pantry Sponsoring

Happy Saturday! Today Doodle Pantry is sponsoring Send a Smile 4 Kids challenge. The challenge this week is Clean And Simple for kids. I used a Doodle Pantry image that I have always wanted to use but hadn't used yet.

I just love the ants but the big draw for me here is the machinery. You see my hubby is a big kid at heart and loves his machinery. Right before Christmas he bought a track hoe. So far we don't have a dump truck but I'm sure he'd find a use for it if we did have one. LOL! Of course the image is from Doodle Pantry called Toy Truck Ants. I used the outline stamp and colored it but it also comes pre-colored. The background paper is more recycled wall paper. The sentiment is also from the same set, die cut from a Clear Dollar Stamp die set. I rounded the corners of the image and the background piece. It's embellished with some gold twine. I hope you'll join in with the challenge and make a card 4 a kid! Have a super weekend.

Donna

Another Copic Class card

I have one more card tonight that I did Monday evening at the Copic card class I took.

I believe the stamps are from a Paper Smooches set. I love the saying and that the stitches are built right into the stamps. If you know me at all you know I am not a very good seamstress. So these are my perfect stitches. LOL!

I am entering this card into these challenges:

• Hiding in my Craft Room challenge: super scrap Saturday
• Catch the Bug challenge: affairs of the heart
• Outlawz CAS challenge: hearts challenge
• Sentimental Sunday: love is in the air

I think I am starting to catch a cold. Coughing and feeling stuffy today. It doesn't help that my work area is extremely cold. I am hoping that I can nip it  before it gets too far. Have a wonderful Thursday. We are starting toward the weekend. Take care!

Donna

Queen of Hearts

Happy Tuesday! I am back on the job market again. I applied for yet another job at the University today. This will definitely be my last attempt. If this one doesn't work out I will likely retire and have more time for cards! That's of course my dream but I was kind of hoping for about 2 more years of work before retiring. So we'll see how this goes. One of my friends thinks I am a shoe in for this job. But who knows. I've thought that before too.
Last night I went to a Copic class at my LSS. I haven't had a lot of practice with Copics but this was fun. The card I am showing tonight is a real departure from my usual style. This is a Tim Holtz stamp.

All the materials were given to us as part of the class. So other than the stamp being from Tim Holtz I don't know the paper source and embellishment sources. I really like the way the card turned out. And I really need the practice with the Copic markers. I'm going to practice more this weekend.
I am entering this card in these challenges:

• Through the Craft Room Door challenge: anything goes
• Sentimental Sunday challenge: love is in the air
• CAS-ual Friday challenge: inspired by a love song (Queen of Hearts)
• Outlawz Friday challenge: Valentines

Thanks for popping by today. I hope your week is going extremely well! Tomorrow we are halfway through the week. I am really looking forward to the weekend. I'll be participating in the Operation Write Home Virtual Card Making Party. I hope you will join us for the fun! And I'll give you a hint. There's a nice prize for someone that participates from my blog! LOL!

Donna

More Heart Cards

Beautiful day today! Some lovely sunshine and in the 40s. So my heart goes out to the east coast with all that snow and those in the northern midwest that's getting hit with the new winter storm. We are supposed to have rain tomorrow with some possible storms. I am in Cincinnati visiting my in laws but have a couple more cards from the Valentine's Kit I bought last week.

More stickers from Doodlebug Design. The image is on the inside of the card so it was a challenge to get a good picture. I think I need one of those neat stands that people photograph their cards with. The little banner is stamped with the sticker heart.

I am entering this card in several challenges:

• DigiStamps4Joy challenge: romance is in the air
• Outlawz Thursday challenge: anything goes with a Valentine twist
• Speedy Fox and Friends: love

Another easy card. Scraps of paper 'artfully' displayed (ha! I always wanted to say that!) Added a cute little sentiment with a couple of stickers some popped up with dimensionals. I am entering these challenges:

• Simon Says challenge: have a heart
• Cutie Pie challenge: Valentines
• Through the Craftroom Door challenge: anything goes

Have a super crafty Sunday! Thanks for stopping by to visit!

Donna

Cute Fox

I found this cute little guy as a freebie at Bugaboo Stamps and fell in love! So I colored him up and used  sketch from Flourishes challenge to put him on a card. The designer paper is digi paper but I can't remember which company it's from. Very likely it's Doodle Pantry. The sentiment is from Flourishes Strawberry stamp set. I used some scraps of paper for embellishment. The banner paper was cut with a square punch. The image was cut with Spellbinders circle die. I used 6 self-adhesive rhinestones. I am entering Bugaboo challenge of anything goes.

I hope you have a spectacular Friday and a relaxing weekend. After work tomorrow my hubby and I will be driving in to Cincinnati to visit his parents. We are supposed to get some rain but my son in Boston called and they are expecting several feet of snow. So if you are in that area please be safe! Thanks for stopping by!

Donna

More Valentines

Here are a few more Valentines that I made from the kits I bought.

Once again the main image is a Doodlebug Design sticker. Love the die cuts and the lovely ribbon as embellishment. Easy peasy! I am entering this card in to the challenge at Through the Craftroom Door.

My second card is a little more involved but still uses the stickers. Beautiful background papers: the striped pink and the written designer paper. Cute little envelope look and some great twine to finish off the embellishment!
I am entering this card in these challenges:

• CAS on Sunday challenge: Be Mine Valentine
• Outlawz  Paper ala Mode challenge: Heart or word Love
• Hiding in my Craft room challenge: red or pink

Thanks for stopping by today. Hope you are on the down side to your week and all is going well.

Donna

Deepest Sympathy

Just a quick post tonight. I am really tired from being outside all day in the cold unloading Girl Scout cookies. Really took me a long time to warm up after I got home and I am really tired tonight. So here's the card I made last night.

At the beginning of the year I wanted to make some sympathy cards so that I had them on hand when needed. I needed several at the end of the year and I never had them ready. So this is a very simple card. The butterflies are a piece of scrap designer paper. I added faux stitching along the edges. The image and sentiment is from a Gina K set called Spring Florals. I embossed the sentiment in gold. I am entering these challenges:

• The Paper Players challenge: sympathy
• Simon Says challenge: anything goes
• Outlawz Sunday challenge: CAS and a 4.25 inch square card

Hope your week is off to a great start. Thanks for stopping by. Love your comments. I'd appreciate it if you'd leave on for me!

Donna

Love is in the Air

Happy Super Bowl Sunday! Do you have a favorite team for the game? I'm looking forward to spending the evening watching. My LSS had a kit for Valentine cards. I'd never bought one before so I thought I would try it out. Here are a couple of the cards I made from the kit.

The bird cage, heart and LOVE sentiment are stickers from Doodlebug Designs. I added the twine to make it look like it's supporting the bird cage. The rest is just scraps of papers. I am entering this card into these challenges:\

• Scrap Creations challenge: Valentines
• Beccy's Place challenge: something that begins with B (bird cage)
• Outlawz Monday challenge: hearts and red and sentiment
• Through the Craftroom Door challenge: anything goes

Here's another card from the kit:

More stickers from Doodlebug Designs with a scrap of fun key paper. I added a bit of black twine. The card is a 4 inch square. I am entering this card into these challenges:

• Hiding in my Craft Room challenge: reds
• Crazy 4 challenge: card that brings smiles or happiness

Hope you all enjoy the Super Bowl! For me it's Go 49ers! And make your week amazing! Mine starts out in long underwear trying to stay warm as we unload 4 semis of Girl Scout cookies. Why is that so much more fun than work! LOL!

Donna

Dolphins

Welcome to the February release at Doodle Pantry. Today is the day that Laurie releases all the new sets for the month. As usual Laurie has outdone herself. I got the pleasure of working with the Dolphins set.

This is a heart box that used the image, sentiment and paper from the set. I used the pre-colored image from the set but it also comes with the outlines. Pop over to the new release page and check out all the sets. Check out all my design team sisters listed on the Doodle Pantry blog. You won't be disappointed! Before you go don't forget to check out the blog at noon today for the Doodle Pantry challenge. Everyone who participates in the challenge receives one of the new sets called Phonograph, a gorgeous vintage set. You will love it. And as usual, Laurie has a set free with any purchase from February 1st - 24th. This month it the Quirky Frog set. Before you go here are a couple other pictures of my box.

Thanks for stopping. Have a wonderful weekend!

Donna