Halloween Coffins

Are you getting ready for Halloween? Our weather forecast for Friday evening is supposed to be cold, windy with a chance of (are your ready for this?) SNOW flurries! Who would have thought that word would be in the forecast this early in the season. Oh my!
Because of my weight loss this year, I've decided not to give out candy this year. So I found little packages of pretzels to give out. I hope the kids like them. We really don't get too many kids anymore. We used to get about 100 but lately it's been more like 20-25. I do like to give my co-workers something. So tonight I finished my project for my co-workers.

I made little coffins and originally I just had the RIP on the front but it looked too plain. So I found this pumpkin by Beccy. I put the R on top of the pumpkin. I'm going to fill them with pretzels.
I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's challenge: use an image from Beccy's Place
• Inky Impressions challenge: Halloween
• Love to Create: more than one fold
• Paper Makeup: pumpkins

That's it for tonight. I am looking forward to the weekend and hoping to get  a bunch of crafting time.  But every time I plan that something always comes up. I do have to make a handout for a Girl Scout science and math training I have coming up. Always something to keep me busy. Have a wonderful Thursday!

Donna

Sharing Your Grief

Lots of rain today but by late afternoon we saw some sunshine. Cooler temperatures for the rest of the week. And they are saying our first hard freeze will be Friday night. Hot tub and sitting by the fire sounds heavenly for the weekend. Have you ever had a day where it just seems you put out fires all day and nothing gets accomplished. That was today at work. I am hoping to be able to get something done tomorrow.
 One of my co-workers lost her mother last weekend so I needed a card. I do wish I would make these ahead of time since I always do these kinds of cards in such a rush.

I am not always great at CAS but I really like the way this turned out. I used a Simon Says Stamp Kit. I embossed the roses and leaves with gold embossing powder and then water colored them. I added the sentiment from Close to Your Heart. And then I added a few enamel dots.
I am entering these challenges:

• Through the Craftroom Door: anything goes
• Outlawz Monday challenge: anything goes
• CAS on Sunday: one layer wonder

I am hoping that my co-worker will find some comfort from the card. Tomorrow is Wednesday already. Happy Hump Day! Hope your week is goign well. Thanks for stopping by.

Donna

With Love on Thanksgiving

Ha! I had a couple minutes tonight to do another quick CAS card. I colored this Bugaboo image over the weekend and saw the Paper Players sketch when I got home this evening and I thought the two matched up really well. My first Thanksgiving card for this year.

The image was a free Bugaboo image a couple weeks ago. I thought she was adorable for a Thanksgiving Day card. I colored her with Copics and then added some silver Spica pen under her feet and some Spica gold pen on the turkey. So in real life it has a little sparkle to it. I embossed the border with the "With Love" embossing border and inked it with Vintage Photo distress ink. I added the flower according to the Player Player's sketch.

I am entering these challenges:

• Outlawz Paper ala Mode challenge: anything goes
• Paper Players challenge: sketch
• Hiding in my Craftroom: any holiday

Okay, this is definitely my last for today.  Have to head for bed so I am ready to work tomorrow. Take care!

Donna

Aged to Perfection

Today is the last day for the Outlawz party so I wanted to get another card in. This is a sketch challenge card.

I used the star embossing folder to give the background some texture. The image is from Doodle Pantry. The sentiment is from the same set. The sentiment is cut from a Spellbinder's tag die. Added a little ribbon with some circles and some veneer car cut outs.
I am entering this card in these challenges:

• Outlawz sketch challenge: sketch
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes
• Through the Craftroom Door: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today. I do hope you got some time to play along at the Outlawz this week. And I hope that you win one of the great prizes. Have a wonderful last week of October!!!

Donna

Happy Birthday MIL

It's getting really late tonight but I wanted to get this one up. I did manage to finish all the 30 Christmas cards I showed you one of last night. I am so glad those are done! And then I needed to do my MIL's birthday card before she comes tomorrow night. And here is it!

I've mentioned several times this week that they are having a party at the Outlawz site. This is a card made for one of the challenges. DeeDee's digi is giving this set for free and she also has a sketch. Use the digi set and the sketch and join the challenge. Besides the free set, I used a Die-namics die for the button. I embellished the buttons with some twine. And I used the twine to add the banner at the top. I also used washi tape on the banner and hung it from two star brads. I added the Happy Birthday tag at the top. The sentiment is also part of the free set. I used the precolored image but there is also line images for your to color. Since my MIL is a purple fanatic this was perfect.
I am entering these challenges:

• Outlawz Freebie challenge: use the freebie and the sketch
• Seize the Birthday: use washi tape
• Craft Hoarders: Layer it
• Simon Says Monday: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by. It's past my bed time so I am folding it up for tonight. LOL! Have a super weekend!

Donna

Guest Designer for the Outlawz

There's a party going on over at the Outlawz and they asked me to guest design for the Thursday challenge. I am so honored to guest design for them, especially during this special week. And the challenge is so easy; it's ANYTHING GOES. That's one of my favorite challenges. So here's the card I created for the challenge.

The images and sentiment are from Lawn Fawn. The tag die is also from Lawn Fawn. I added some craps of ribbon and a little patterned paper and a punched heart and it was an easy card to make. I hope you will check out the great fun at the Outlawz site this week. Lots of games and challenges. And tons of great prizes!

I am entering this card in these challenges:

• DigiStamps4Joy: animals
• Craft Hoarders Anonymous: layer it
• Pile it On: uplifting message

Thanks for stopping by and please join us at The Outlawz.

Donna

Peace and Joy

This weekend Tom's parents are coming for a visit. Next week is my MIL's birthday and for her birthday I usually hand-make her Christmas cards for her. So the last few weeks I've been working on that project. I made 30 of these cards for her.

Most of the card is done with Spellbinder's Fair Isle Pendant. It seemed to take forever to cut out each piece. But it finally came together. The sentiment is the progressive image for October from DigiStamps4Joy. The image of the Baby Jesus is from Doodle Pantry. Both are fussy cut which I did during the Colts win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Go Colts! LOL! And of course my MIL is a purple lover so most of the colors are in shades of purple.

I am entering this card in these challenges:

• DigiStamps4Joy progressive challenge: use the progressive image
• Hiding in my Craftroom: embossing
• Through the Craftroom Door: anything goes
• Simon Says Monday challenge: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today. I need to go finish the insides of the 30 cards. Have a wonderful Thursday!

Donna

Birthday Wolf

I need two more birthday cards this month. Nothing like waiting until the last minute to get things done. Saturday is my youngest's birthday. He will always be my baby even though he'll be 26 years young this weekend. Time flies when they are growing up. And he's my next wedding. He will marry his sweetheart next May. So more wedding bells in our future. His favorite animal has always been a wolf. So I decided to use that as my theme.
I loosely used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches.

And here's my card:

The wolf is really my oval from the sketch. It's a 2006 set from Stampin' Up! called Wildlife Reserve. And the trees are also an old set but one of my favorites from Stampin' Up! called Lovely as a Tree. I decided to keep the trees plain and make the wolf stand out by coloring him and also popping him up from the background. I heat embossed the Happy Birthday sentiment, from Hero Arts, with Tim Holtz Distress Walnut Stain embossing powder. Then add three star brads. I really like the way it turned out. I hope he does too!
I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch
• Sweet Stamps: anything goes
• Party Time Tuesday: anything goes
• Outlawz Thursday challenge: your favorite technique (embossing)

I am feeling better today. I went back to work and had several meetings. They always make me tired so I hope to sleep good tonight. The weather is supposed to be a little warmer this week. I think they are predicting 60'sso I hope to get out and do some walking while I still can. Make it an awesome Wednesday, friends!

Donna

Happy Pumpkin Season

Fall day here today but this afternoon the sun made an appearance. That hasn't happened much lately. I was home today sick from work. I slept late today but my head is still congested and at times I feel achy. I did get a flu shot last week and it seems every year I get sick right after I get the shot. They say it isn't possible to get sick from the shot so maybe it is just coincidence. But I will likely go back to work tomorrow and live with the congestion.
        I had a little time this afternoon to work on a few cards. I am working on my MIL's Christmas cards as her birthday present. I need them done by this weekend because she's coming for a visit. But the card I have for you tonight is a Halloween card. Easy peasy!

I used the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch. The image and sentiment is from Bugaboo and colored with Copics and then used yellow Stickles for the smile and nose. The circle background paper is from my stash and thought the Halloween colors were perfect! I used a cobweb embossing folder on the black background and added some cobweb ribbon the the left edge. I finished by using faux stitching around two sides of the card. I can't believe how fast Halloween is coming up so I better get a move on.
I am entering these challenges:

• Sweet Sunday Sketch: sketch
• Simon Says: color coordinates
• Open-minded challenge: use a pumpkin
• The Stamping Boutique: trick or treat
• Sentimental Sunday: too cute to spook
• Outlawz Sentiment challenge: circles

Speaking of the Outlawz, you need to check them out this week. It's party time over there with lots of games, challenges and prizes. Lots of fun! I hope your week is off to a wonderful start.Thanks for stopping by!

Donna

Fall Happy Birthday

I found a spare fall image in my pile and decided to color it up. Unfortunately I couldn't find where I got this image so I don't know who to credit.

I colored the cute image with Copics. The background paper is from Lawn Fawn. I cut the sentiment from Simon Says banner die and added some fun fall ribbon. I love the way it turned out!

I am entering these challenges:

• Inky Impression challenge: anything goes
• Papertake Weekly challenge: Super Fly (anything that flies)
• Through the Craftroom Door: anything goes

Thank you for stopping by today. I have to work on my MIL's Christmas cards this weekend. I usually give her handmade cards for her birthday. So that's my weekend project. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Donna

Beat Cancer

Happy Hump Day! Halfway through the week. Work has been so busy lately and the days seem to go fast. I really love when the days go fast but I want the weekends to go slow. Can you believe we are already half way through October. It's been very rainy this week. It rained most of the day today and I haven't been able to walk at lunchtime for the last few days. I am hoping tomorrow will be better but I don't think we are supposed to have sun until Saturday. Tonight I mad e a card for the progressive challenge at Imagine That. This is the image for the challenge.

The image and sentiment are from the Imagine That set for this month. I fussy cut the elephant image and popped it up on the card. I cut the sentiment out with a tag die and then pounced an inked dauber across the tag. I added some ribbon across the background.
I am entering these challenge:

• Imagine That challenge: use the stamp set of the month
• Outlawz CAS challenge: cancer awareness
• Party Time Tuesday: anything goes
• Through the Craftroom Door: anything goes

Hope your week is going well. Hope to see you back soon!

Donna

Life and the Piano Guys

Life has gotten in the way of crafting again. So I don't have a card for you tonight. But last night we had the incredible good fortune to get tickets to the The Piano Guys in Indianapolis. The show was awesome. If you've never heard them play before check out their videos on YouTube. They are amazing! We had VIP tickets so we actually got to meet them after the show. I thought I'd share our picture.

We also have tickets to see them in Boston in December. We'll be visiting our son and get to see their Christmas concert. Can't wait!

Hope you are having a wonderful week. I'll be back with something crafty tomorrow night. Hugs to you!

Donna

Ship in a Bottle

Gorgeous weather today! I got a nice walk in at lunch time today and another one after dinner tonight. Tomorrow is my maintenance meeting for my Diabetes Prevention Program. I am hoping to have lost a little more weight but with the wedding I'm sure that I wasn't as on target as I hope. I'll let you know after the meeting.
Tonight I have another birthday card for a guy.

I used the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch. The ship in the bottle image is from Doodle Pantry and I colored it with Copic Markers. I tried outlining the bottle with BG10 but it seems to be running out of ink and it's difficult to see the color. The brown card stock has been embossed with a wood texture. I added a couple of rhinestones to the sentiment panel. The sentiment is from Hero Arts. I am entering these challenges:

• Sweet Sunday Sketch: sketch
• Speedy Fox and Friends: brown
• Outlawz Thursday: taking a ride

Thanks for stopping. Hope the end of your week moves quickly toward the weekend. That's what I am hoping for.

Donna

Stormy Day

Rain, rain, rain, almost all day today and tonight we've had two tornado warnings. Fortunately no damage around our house but I don't know about the rest of the county. Tomorrow is supposed to be a beautiful day but back to rain on Thursday. Temperatures have been cool. We've had a fire in the wood burning stove several nights so we haven't turned on the heat yet.
Next week I have a couple birthdays. One is Tom's little niece. She is such a girly girl so I made her a card with lots of bling!

I used an image from Doodle Pantry called Pumpkin Peeps. The image was pre-colored. I cut it out with Spellbinder's Classic Ovals and backed it with Spellbinders Beaded Ovals. I used some designer paper from my stash for the background. And then I added a few flowers and lots of bling: pearls and self-adhesive rhinestones. The sentiment is from a Gina K stamp set. I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches.

I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: the sketch
• Paper Makeup Challenge: anything goes
• Doodle Pantry challenge: use a Doodle Pantry image
• Sentimental Sunday: bling it up
• Outlawz Paper ala Mode: for a child

Thanks for stopping by today. I have a couple more cards to make this week for birthdays next week. So I am looking for more crafting time this week. I am looking for some inspiration!

Donna

An Apple a Day

Happy Monday! How was the start of your week? Busy day at work and then spent an hour with some neighbors in our stitching group. Next month they will be at my house. Everyone works on their own projects usually but we all collaborate on a crocheted/knitted quilt that we donate to our local women's shelter. We do one each year. So my card tonight was made last night.

The image is the October Stamp of the Month over at From the Heart Stamp called Apple Market. I colored the image with Copics. I stamped 12 apples and colored and cut them out. Then I popped up the apples. I used a paper punch to create the fringe around the image. And then I added the banner with the sentiment. The Happy Birthday was embossed with fine black embossing powder. The background paper is from Basic Grey.
I am entering This into these challenges:

• Stamp of the Month challenge (From the Heart Stamps): use the image
• Outlawz Wednesday challenge: sketch

Thanks for stopping by today. I am going to have to kick Christmas crafting into high gear here really soon. Are you crafting for Christmas yet? What kinds of projects are you doing? I am always looking for new ideas to make as gifts. Have an awesome week!

Donna

Happy World Cardmaking Day Weekend

It always seems that this first weekend in October is always a busy one for us. Yesterday Tom and I helped with a Girl Scout campout. Tom did word burning and I worked with basket weaving. Cold and windy this weekend. If fortunately had an indoor space but Tom was outside and he was mighty cold by the end of the morning. Last night we had theater tickets and say The Mystery of Edwin Drood. It was very well done by the IU students. So today is my first Sunday home in quite some time. So besides watching the Colts game I'm also looking for some crafting time. I wanted a fall card today so I decided to make my own background and do the shaving cream technique.

I punched the leaves from the paper that I made with the shaving cream technique. I used Spellbinder's Labels Thirteen to cut the sentiment. I colored a chipboard heart with Copic R27. I cut a second Labels Thirteen in orange card stock and embossed it with MBossabilities wood texture. And then I used more of the shaving cream technique on the inside of the card.

I forgot how much I loved the results of the shaving cream technique. So much fun! I'm entering these challenges:

• Sweet Stamps: use a die
• Delightful challenge: what did you say? add a sentiment
• Outlawz CAS challenge: fall wedding card
• Through the Craftroom Door: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you got some crafting time in this weekend to celebrate  World Cardmaking Day. And hope your week gets off to a great start.

Donna