I'll Play my Best for Him

Pa rum pum pum pum! Christmas in March. I am behind on my Christmas cards. I am definitely going to have to step it up. So here's one for several challenges this week.

The image and sentiment is from Flourishes, a stamp company no longer in business. The stamp set is called Drummer Boy. The designer paper is from Season's Greeting by Lori Whitlock and Authentique. I backed everything with black card stock and added three self-adhesive gems for embellishments.
I am entering these challenges:

• March Rudolph Days: anything Christmas
• Merry Monday Christmas challenge: Christmas Carol
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: use a sentiment
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge Extra: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper challenge: use patterned paper
• C.R.A.F.T. challenge:add some bling

Have you begun your Christmas cards yet? Hope your week is off to a great start. We had very nice weather on the weekend, then storms blew through and now we are chilly again. I am ready for sunshine and warmer temps. Maybe next week. Thanks for stopping by.

Donna

Spring is in the Air

Almost Sunday! And the new CAS challenge has been posted at The Outlawz. This week our theme is spring is in the air. So any project that is spring-like will work for this challenge. The possibilities are endless! Here is the card that I made for the challenge:

My designer paper is from our sponsor this month: Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. The paper is called Simply Spring Striped Paper.

I added a sentiment from Robin Williams. I printed a second copy of the sentiment and colored the flowers and cut them from the white card stock. Definitely a CAS card.Today was a gorgeous day. Sunny and close to 60 degrees. So I say "Let's Party!"
I am entering these challenges:

• Inspiration Destination: anything goes
• Creative Card Crew: CAS
• Digi Choosday: flower frenzy

Tomorrow is rain and I need to get more card done. So I hope to be back with something new. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope you will join us at The Outlawz challenge and check out my DT sister's awesome cards. Happy Sunday! See you soon.

Donna

A Birthday Hi

It's almost time for the weekend! I always look forward to them although this weekend will be shorter since I am working on Monday next week. So I only have a regular weekend this weekend. Poor me! Life can be so tough sometimes. I have another birthday card tonight.

This is Chef Freddy from Imagine That! Digis by Kris. I used the pre-colored image for this card. The sentiment is from the same set. I added the cherries to the background from Simon Says Ice Cream Dream stamp set. The designer paper is a scrap from my scrap box. I liked the spoons to match the chef idea. I used the Tuesday Morning Sketch challenge as inspiration.

I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch
• Creative Playground challenge (Imagine That!): birthday
• Seize the Birthday challenge: anything goes
• Simon Says Monday challenge: food and/or drink
• Crafting by Design: 3 or more layers
• Fresh Brewed; happy birthday

We had about an inch of rain today. Windy and chilly. I'm hoping the weekend will be sunny and warmer. I have to get some design team projects done this weekend. Hope that your weekend is relaxing and crafty. Take care!

Donna

Birthday Dirt

We had a beautiful day today! The temps were a little warmer but there was a chilly stiff wind. I did get to walk for a bit at lunch. I think we are supposed to have rain for the next few days. My card tonight is for a birthday. This one probably leans to the masculine side.

This adorable little pup is obviously getting into trouble. I just loved the sentiment that came with the set at From the Heart Stamps. The set is called Digging Dog. I colored the image with Copic markers and inked the bottom of the image with Mowed Lawn distress ink. I printed the sentiment and then used Mowed Lawn ink and Desert Sands ink to blend the sentiment strip. Finished it off with a banner with some paw prints on it from Paper Smooches. I used the sketch from i {heart} sketches with a twist #144.

The twist is to make a masculine card. I think I could use this for a masculine birthday without a problem! 

I am entering these challenges:

• I {heart} sketches with a twist #144: sketch and masculine card
• Stamp of the Month challenge (From the Heart): use the Digging Dog
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: cute and cuddly
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

That's it for me this evening. We had our daughter and son in law over for dinner this evening so I didn't get much time to play tonight. I need a sympathy card so I'd better get a move on. Thanks for stopping by and see you again soon.

Donna

Hello

Happy Monday! It's a bright sunshiny day here but kind of chilly. I went out early this morning to have some blood drawn for testing and I wore a jacket but was wishing for my winter coat again. Hmm, I thought we were into spring. One of these days I am sure it will arrive.
My hubby and I have been listening to a lot of Adele lately. He fell in love with her singing a while ago and he listens to her new album often. So when I saw that Scribbles Designs challenge was to create a card from a song I knew which one I needed to create. Have you heard "Hello" by Adele? It's such a haunting song and it sticks in my mind constantly. So here is my card for Adele's "Hello."

The roses are from Scribbles Designs (Friday Freebies). I colored and blended three different colors of colored pencils for the roses and two different colored pencils for the leaves. One of the roses is flat on the white card stock background. The other is popped up to give it some dimension. The sentiment is a Simon Says die cut. I also cut it from white fun foam and then popped it off the base of the card. I added some doodles to enter the CASology challenge and then discovered I am 45 minutes too late. (a day late and a dollar short. Oh well!) But I love the way the card turned out and I can use it for just about anything.
I am entering these challenges:

• Scribbles Design challenge: a song in my heart
• Paper Players: CAS spring
• Addicted to CAS: delicate
• Hiding in my Craft Room: blending

That's it for me today. I have errands to run and things to finish up. I hope your week is off to an awesome start. Thanks for visiting.

Donna

National Goof Off Day

Over at The Outlawz CAS challenege we are celebrating National Goof Off Day. And to celebrate we have an anything goes challenge. So easy!

My card uses a tag from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Tag Grab Bag. Lisa is out sponsor this month.

The tulips are from KnK Designs. I colored them with Copic markers. I added a sentiment from a Simon Says Stamp set using my MISTI. I added the ribbon for embellishment and popped up the tulips. A very easy peasy card this week. So how about goofing off and sharing what you make with us over at the CAS challenge.

I am entering these challenges:

• Inspiration Destination: anything goes
• Addicted to Stamps: inspiration photo
• Fresh Brewed challenge: anything goes

Have a wonderful Sunday! Thanks for stopping by to visit!

Donna

Easter Bunny

Happy wet and nasty Saturday. Rainy and chilly here so not much spring going on. But I got a little bit of crafting done this afternoon.Here's an Easter card I put together.

This adorable little bunny is from Gerda Steiner Designs called Nerdy but Nice. I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches for inspiration.

I started with a white card stock base and added a blue layer and then the striped design paper from my scrap box. I cut the three layers with the MFT inside and out stitched rounded square stax.  I used a blue layer on the inside of the card and put the bunny inside the card peeking out to the front. I added a panel from a blue scrap die cut with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitched Rectangles.  The sentiment is from Gina K designs (a retired stamp set) and die cut with Impressions Obsession Mini Rectangle Tags 2. And to finish off I added an adorable Easter Egg from Scribbles Design

 colored with Copic Markers. I'm really happy with how this one turned out. Here is the full bunny image on the inside of the card.

I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: the sketch
• Gerda Steiner challenge: share a design from Gerda Steiner
• Cut It Up: Happy Easter (bunny)
• Simon Says Wednesday: cute and cuddly
• Scribbles Design: a song in my heart (Here Comes Peter Cottontail)

Hope your weekend is going well. I need to get some design team projects out of the way this weekend as we are preparing to go out of town to visit family for a while. Have a wonderful weekend and happy crafting. Thanks for sharing a bit of your day here with me.

Donna

Happily Ever After

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I'm not Irish and I forgot to wear green today so I didn't do too much celebrating. But I did take the day off work and spent it with my daughter. Since we lost our grandson (her son) in November, I've been trying to take a day off each month and spend time just with her. Today we visited our grandson's grave and ordered his headstone. It was sad but I am glad that we have that behind us. Going to the cemetery was interesting today. He is buried in an area called Shepherd's Watch. It's an area only for little ones who have gone to heaven. I had to smile at all the Easter Bunnies on the graves. These children may have only had a short time on earth but they were very much loved. Our little Alexander was the same.
My card tonight started out as a design team card for this week but unfortunately I got it finished and then remembered I needed to use the sponsor's paper on the card. So I'll have to make a new card for the design team. The card I made is for my son and DIL's first wedding anniversary.

The main die cut is Simon Says Stacked Hearts cut in pink card stock. The sentiment was from a blog candy I won years ago. It was just a bunch of sentiment stamps without any indication of what company they came from. So I can't give credit. (if you know. let me know in the comments so I can label it and give credit). The background paper I made using the faux mother of pearl technique. I used pink pearl paint for the technique. I'm going to try this again. I loved the results but covering so much of the background it's really difficult to see the beautiful effect this has. I added some stars as embellishments. I love how this one turned out!
I am entering these challenges:

• Happy Little Stamper CAS challenge: faux mother of pearl technique
• Simon Says Monday challenge: use some lucky starts
• Inspiration Destination: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope your St. Patrick's Day was special! Our weather is supposed to turn cold and rainy again so it will be a sad weekend. But spring is coming and I'm glad f that. Have a wonderful weekend!

Donna

Bright and Cheery

That makes me think of Christmas but my card tonight isn't Christmas oriented. But this isn't quite my typical card.

My background paper is from K & Company called Citronella. I do like the sparkly part of the paper. I colored the Bugaboo image, Make it Snappy - Birthday Fishes, with Copic and Bic markers. I added some googly eyes to the fish. I layered a pink layer behind the Citronella paper.  The image is popped up with craft foam. Pretty easy. But is it bright and cheery? LOL!

I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug: bright and cheery
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: a bit o' green
• Crafty Sentiments Design: anything goes
• Craft Your Passion: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today and visiting me. Hope your week is going well. We are almost to hump day already. Amazing how fast time flies. We had a beautiful day weather-wise but it's down hill from here this week and the weekend is supposed to be chilly and rainy. Oh well. Take care and have a wonderful rest of the week.

Donna

Shamrock Basket

Welcome to a new week. Has your week started out good? I sure hope so. It's been a busy day. We had our daughter and son-in-law for dinner. I did have some time to play this afternoon and made this St. Patrick's Day card fro my aunt. I need to mail it tomorrow morning.

The image is Spring Baskets at From the Heart Stamps. I colored the image with Copic markers. I used the sketch and twist from i {heart} sketches with a twist #143. The twist is to use an embellishment from your stash.

The background designer paper is from Decosse Dynamite Doodles called Cloverleaf. The image is die cut from Lawn Fawn Stitched Party Banners. The Die-namic Button Quartets are from MFT. My embellishment is my stash of twine used on the banner and buttons.

I am entering these challenges:

• i {heart} sketches with a twist #143: sketch and twist
• Craft Your Passion: anything goes
• Open Minded Crafting: luck/St. Patrick
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: bit o' green

Back to work tomorrow. But I am only working three days this week. Thursday I am taking the day off to spend with my daughter. Thanks for stopping by today. Hope to see you again soon.

Hugs,

Donna

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I got a little time today to craft. My FIL's birthday is this week. His favorite is chocolate chip cookies so I took that as a theme for his card this year.

The jar image is from Imagine That... digis by Kris called Jars of Cheer. I colored the jar with Copic markers and then fussy cut the image out. The background papers are from my scrap box and backed with dark brown paper to match the chocolate chips. And I added some square self-adhesive rhinestones that kind of look like chocolate chips too. I used the Try Stampin' On Tuesday sketch as inspiration.

I am entering these challenges:

• Try Stampin' on Tuesday: sketch
• Creative Playground challenge: birthday
• Seize the Birthday: the great divide
• Hiding in my Craft Room: super scrap Saturday
• Penny's Paper Crafty challenge: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope to get more time tomorrow to craft as we are supposed to continue with the rain. Take care!

Donna

Nature with the Color Green

Happy Sunday! Welcome to a new challenge at the Outlawz CAS challenge. This week since spring is fast approaching we want to see something from nature and the color green. Pretty easy peasy!

I used a mixture of Simon Says Stamp kit stamp sets. The sentiment and the blue dots are from Life is a Journey stamp set. (no longer available on their site) The flowers are from Favorite Flowers. The leaves and the green set of dots is from Flower Frenzy stamp set. (no longer available) This one layer was really fun and quick. I'm going to be making more of these quick and easy cards. 

I am entering these challenges:

• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: bit o' green
• Catch the Bug: bright and cheery
• Crafty Friends challenge: anything goes
• Simon Says Work It Wednesday: something floral
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

I hope you will play along at The Outlawz CAS challenge this week. If your weather is like our's it's a great day for crafting. Rainy and wet and nothing to do outside. I hope you have some play time today. Many blessings for a great week ahead! Thanks for stopping by today.

Donna

Welcome Spring

Oh, yeah! I am so ready for spring. Today was a drab, dull, rainy day. I'm sure we probably got about an inch and  a half of rain today. It was constant almost all day. And I know we need the rain to bring on the flowers but I am impatient. I want it now. LOL! So I guess that's why I made this card.

I love purple and yellow together. And I absolutely love pansies. They were my mother's favorite flower and they always remind me of her. This image is from Imagine That digis by Kris.  The image is called Teacup Pansies. I used the pre-colored image. The sentiment is from a new set called Leesa's Tulip.I used distress ink to color the die cut square. I used MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Corners Squares.The edging is embossed with the Victoria embossing folder. I used the Freshly Made Sketch as inspiration.

I am entering these challenges: 

• Freshly Made Sketches 227: the sketch
• C.R.A.F.T. challenge: Easter or Spring
• Addicted to Stamps: CAS
• Digi Choosday: Easter and/or Flowers
• Penny's Paper-Crafty: anything goes

So let me remind you that Imagine That is celebrating their birthday. Lots of fin things going on. Check it out here.

Thanks for stopping by today. Tomorrow starts the weekend. I'm hoping that I have lots of crafty time this weekend. I'm hoping you have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Donna

Cool Day

Happy Hump Day! Since I have a four day work week I have two days down and two to go. Definitely a busy week with all kinds of things just cropping up to block getting real work done. Just a regular work week, right? Business as usual. But I made a fun card tonight and I really like the way it turned out.

I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches for this week. And the sentiment and image are from From the Heart Stamps called Wind Blown Penguin. I cut the sentiment with a brand new (and I think it just might be a new favorite) cross stitched rectangle from Gina Marie. The designer paper is from leftovers from a Simon Says Stamp kit. Each of the layers is backed with black card stock. I used the sentiment as the focal point and inked it with Peacock Feather distress ink. The little penguin is colored with Copics and the balloons are covered with Wink of Stella. I finished the card off with some Zva pearl creations.

I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: the sketch
• i (heart} sketches with a twist #142: I used the twist this week: use a big sentiment
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Penny Paper-Crafty challenge: anything goes
• NBUS challenge: used my new cross stitched rectangle die

Hope you like my card tonight. I love the sparkle and the cross-stitched rectangle die/ Looking forward to the weekend and I hope the rest of your week is awesome!

Donna

Count Myself Lucky

I so wanted to craft more today but life got in the way. I had a bone density test at lunch time. My daughter and son-in-law came for dinner so I had to cook. And then my daughter and I cook a second meal so we have one meal ahead for the week. It's great to be one step ahead. So before the bone density test I had time to get one card in. I need to do a couple St Patty's Day cards this week so I can get them out. I don't need a bunch but just a few will work. Here's the one I made this morning.

The vintage mailbox is from Create with TLC. The image is die cut with Spellbinder's Splendid Circles. The background designer paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp set called Card -Exchanging Friends. It looks like it's out of stock on the web site. I stamped it with my MISTI. The inside of the card says "To have a Dad like you! Happy St. Patrick's Day." I used the sketch from CAS on Sunday.

I am entering these challenges:

• CAS on Sunday: sketch
• Get Creative challenge: St Patrick's Day
• Simply Create Too: green only
• Cut It Up: St Patty's Day
• Addicted to Stamps and More: holiday

I hope your Monday has been a really super and your week is off to great start. I know that work tomorrow will be heavy. Lots to do and several meetings. Looking forward to crafting when I get home. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll stop by again soon.

Hugs,

Donna

Sounds of Spring

Happy weekend! The new challenge at The Outlawz CAS is up and running and we want to see what animal or sound reminds you of spring. For a twist we are to add something with musical notes. Our sponsor this week is Decosse Dynamite Doodles. Lisa Decosse does some amazing design and I love her paper. It prints like a dream. You can see it in my card. I used Lisa's textured paper from the Colours of the Rainbow Kit.

My sentiment is from Create with TLC and my musical notes are a sticker from my stash. The adorable little bees were a Friday Freebie from Scribbles Designs. I popped the bees off the card. Everything just came together for this card really easy and I love the way it turned out. Can't wait to send it to someone special.
Sp what is your favorite sound of spring. I hope you'll play along with our CAS challenge this week. Visit and see the amazing cards from my design team sisters.
I am entering these challenges:

• Scribbles Design challenge: use a Friday Freebie image
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday: touchy feely; add texture
• Freshly Brewed: spring

Hope your weekend is going well and the beginning of your week is amazing. We are traveling this weekend and we'll be home later this afternoon. So I haven't had any crafting time this weekend. Maybe tonight after we get home. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you like my card today!

Donna

Easter Blessings

Happy "almost the weekend!" The weather was gray today but I met with my "movement buddy" and we exercised at lunch time. He's a sophomore at the university working on a degree in Physical Education. He's a really nice young man. And I am enjoying the class. I've signed up for a yoga class that will be at lunch time on Wednesday. It doesn't start until after spring break but I'm looking forward to that too.
My card tonight is for Easter and I used the Tuesday Morning Sketch for inspiration.

The image is from Imagine That Digital Stamps called Watering Can Tulips. I used the pre-colored image and added an Easter sentiment from a retired Gina K stamp set. I die cut the image with Gina Marie Designs Wine Labels. A die cut a second one in green to form the frame. The background paper is from a Simon Says stamp kit. The ribbon bow die is a new die that I never used before. It's also from Gina Marie Designs. And another Easter card is ready to go out!

I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: the sketch
• Creative Playground challenge: show us your heart
• NBUS Never Before Used Schtuff) challenge: never before used ribbon bow die
• Tuesday Throwdown: frame it
• Crafty Sentiments Design: spring

Before I go tonight I want to let you know about a Third Birthday Bash  at the Creative Playground the blog for Imagine That Digital Stamps. 

There is an inspirational blog hop going on right now and it looks like there will be a lot of fun throughout the month of March. I hope you will join in the fun! Thanks for stopping by tonight. I hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead!

Donna

Ages Improves with Wine

Halfway through the week. How awesome is that! And wonders will never cease, I did my i {heart} sketches #141 with a twist card before the last day of the challenge. I had a little incentive. I won't be home much this weekend so I have to get some things done during the week. I needed a birthday card for a friend.

The image is Birdbrain Wine colored with Copics and die cut with MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Corner Square Stax. I followed the sketch from i {heart} sketches #141 and followed the twist that was to make an easel card.

I die cut several banner flags for the embellishments and for the sentiments. On the sentiment flags I inked the card stock with Squeezed Lemonade distress ink. And I got my DH involved with this card. He cut apart a wine cork for me to use as embellishments. I thought using the cork was clever on the card.

I am entering these challenges:

• i {heart} sketches with a twist #141: sketch and easel card
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes birthday
• Simon Says Wednesday: touchy feely; add texture
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

I hope your week is going well. Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you'll come back to visit soon.

Donna

12 Months of Christmas Link Up

I have some exciting news for you today. I've joined the team over at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. I figured it was a great way to help my get my Christmas cards done before Christmas this year!

Here's how to play along:

The Basics

While you can find out ALL the information you need to know in order to participate in the challenge by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page (or by clicking HERE), here is a refresher of the basics.

• Anyone can link up as many Christmas and/or December holiday themed cards (including Happy New Year's cards) throughout the month with an ANYTHING GOES theme.
• Every person who has linked up a MINIMUM of two (2) cards will be eligible to receive a specially designed Christmas themed digital paper.
• Each month there will be an OPTIONAL theme to follow.  Anyone who submits a card adhering to the monthly theme will have the chance to win a prize from that month's guest sponsor.
• Every holiday card you submit to the link up, earns you one chance to win a special digital Christmas kit that will be offered up after the year is complete.

Now that the basics are out of the way, how about we get on with the details of Challenge #15.

Optional Theme:  Holiday Decorations

Here's my card as one of the new Sleigh Belles.

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I love this new background paper by Lisa Decosse. It screams Christmas to me. And what better holiday decoration than colored lights. Love it! The image is from our sponsor this month A Day for Daisies. My image is called Dressed Up For Christmas. I colored the image with Copic markers and die cut it with MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Corner Square Stax. The sentiment is embossed with white embossing powder and cut from MFT Pierced Fishtail Banner Flag Stax. 

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set aptly called Holiday Decorations.  Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of March will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set. The specific paper up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post. Additionally, one random winner will earn the full set of papers. 

I hope you will join us this month and get a start on your Christmas cards. Who wouldn't want their Christmas cards done early.

I am entering these challenges:

• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge: use a sentiment
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge Extra: anything Christmas goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper challenge: use patterned paper
• Hiding in my Craft Room: any holiday
• Simon Says Wednesday: anything goes

Lots of rain today. I am thrilled it wasn't snow. I do think it dropped about 30 degrees today. It's going to be cold for the next few days again. I hope you have sunshine. Thanks for stopping by today.