Wish You a Merry Christmas

Happy last day of March. Can you believe it? And it's not quite April Fool's Day yet but I have a Christmas card for you, no foolin'.

I wanted to play along with a couple of challenges before the month ran out and I really am down to the last minute here. Shortly I have to leave to watch the tiwns so here goes with a quick run down. The sentiment is from Birds Cards and I paired it with Scribbles Designs. The image is colored with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut with Spellbinders Tear Drop Circles, then inked with Fired Brick and Mowed Lawn distress ink. I tied a Doodle Twine bow in the tear drop holes. I then made the little embellishment in the bottom right corner. I started with the snowflake, colored it with CG2 Spectrum Noir marker and Spectrum Noir shimmer pen, added the red gem inthe center and then added white gel pen dots. I used The Outlawz Wednesday sketch for inspiration.
I am entering these challenges:

• Merry Monday Christmas challenge: red, white and green 
  
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Extra: anything goes Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper: use patterned paper
• The Outlawz Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• C.R.A.F.T. challenge: make your own embellishment

I am off to watch the twins. Thanks for stopping by today. Tomorrow I have three posts for 3 different design teams. Don't forget to stop back and check them out. No foolin'. Happy weekend!

Donna

Just Ducky

Happy hump day! I've finally finished all my design team things for this week so I decided to try to get another card in this morning. This one actually went together pretty quickly although I may have overdown it with all the colors.

The image is from QKR Stampede. I colored him with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut him with MFT Stitched Ovals. The sentiment is from Create with TLC. I use a Neat & Tangled stencil to ink in the background of the sentiment strip using distress ink. The other papers are scraps from my box. I added some washi tape flags and a few gems. I used the Tuesday Morning sketch turned sidewise for inspiration.

I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch above
• QKR Stampede challenge: antyhing goes with optional spring. I picked the duck for spring because as  akid I always knew it was spring when we went to feed the ducks again.
• Simon Says Monday challenge: things with wings
• Monday Outlawz challenge: anything goes
• Inspiration Destination: anything goes
• Digi Choosday: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today. It's chilly and rainy here and we haven't seen the sun much this week. Hope your week is crafty and sunny. Take care.

Donna

2 For One Day

I've been MIA this week as I've been busy with the twins. Tom and I had them all day yesterday and it was such a nice day we had them outside a lot so I hope they slept very well last night. Here's a pic we took of them yesterday. Aren't they beautiful?

So this morning I got busy to make a couple cards since I hadn't been at my desk for almost a week. I made 2 cards for challenges that are due today.

First up is the Tuesday Morning Sketch. I used a technique that I saw recently at Jennifer McGuire's blog. I white embossed the image and then colored it with white colored pencil and Versamark marker. The image and sentiment are from a retired Gina K set called Spring Florals. The butterfly paper in the background is from Create with TLC. The yellow backing card stock is die cut with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitch Rectangles. To finish off, I added some pearl sequins from Darice.

I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch above
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Cupckae Inspiration #400: Birthday and one other past challenge 
  
• Crafty Friends: B is for .... birthday
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes (I didn't use the option)
• Outlawz Monday: birthday celebration

My second card was made for I {Heart} Sketches with a Double Twist. I used the stamp of the month (Lucky Lil Birdie) to go along with this challenge and throughout the week I saw a bunch of blogs feature this stamp with this sketch so I decided to skip the sketch this week and go for the other twists. I interpreted the "easy does it" as a clean and simple card and I also used the color challenge (surprise, surprise! I usually don't do that! LOL!)

The image and sentiment are from the Lucky Lil Birdie set at From the Heart Stamps. I colored the image to match the color challenge with Spectrum Noir markers (CT4, TB2, DG2 and DG3). My card base matches the birdie color and I added dark green enamel dots from My Minds Eye to finish off the card.

I am entering these challenges:

• I {Heart} Sketches with a Double Twist: color and "easy does it"
• From the Heart Stamp of the Month: use Lucky Lil Birdie
• The Outlaw CAS challenge: us a bird on your card
• Addicted to Stamps: CAS

Well, that's it for me today. I am back on twin duty this evening. I'll be working on design team cards this week, I hope, to try to get caught up with some things I am behind on. Wishing you a wonderful week!

Hugs,

Donna

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Over at the Imagine That! Creative Playground we are taking a walk down memory lane to celebrate Imagine That! Digis by Kris' 4th birthday! Over the years, Kris has drawn amazing digis and it's been such fun to be part of the team. Thanks to Kris for the wonderful digis and asking me to be part of her team. So for the next two days there will be four posts to celebrate Imagine Thats! 4th birthday. Each of the design team is sharing their first post when they joined the team and then designed a project with one of their favorite stamp sets designed by Kris. I haven't been with the team very long. I joined the team after being a guest designer last year so my first post was in July 2016. At that time my daughter was pregnant with twins and she wanted to have a reveal party. So my first project was using some of the Imagine That Digis by Kris baby stamp sets to make a centerpiece for the party.

The twins actually turned out to be a boy and a girl but at the time I didn't know for sure. So I made little favor boxes to resemble baby bottles and then filled them with Hershey Kisses. The big question mark was for the gender and names that were revealed at the party. I used these Imagine That stamp sets to create this centerpiece.

Little Blessings

Baby Boy Digi Paper

Sweet Pastels Digi Paper

The card that I created for the birthday celebration uses one of my favorites stamp sets called Teacup Pansies. Lisa asked us to tell why this was our favorite set. Here's what I wrote: Growing up in Ohio, my mother always grew plants. We ate fresh vegetables and enjoyed flowers all spring, summer, and fall. My mother's favorite flowers were pansies because she used to tell me they had such sweet faces, always smiling at you. Whenever I see pansies I think of her and her sweet face that I miss so much. Kris drew such beautiful pansies and with this set I have created more cards than any other stamp set that I have. I love to color it or use the gorgeous pre-colored image too.

I will be sending this card to my daughter (the mother of the twins) for Mother's Day. I colored the image with colored pencils and shaded to give the image dimension. I die cut the image with MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Squares and inked the edges with Seedless Preserves distress ink. The base card and backing card stock is dark purple. The sentiment is from the same stamp set. I die cut it with MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags and used Shaded Lilac distress ink to ink the flag. The background hearts designer paper is from the Sweet Pastel Digi Paper set. The other designer paper is from the Knit Sweater Digital papers.

Teacup Pansies

Sweet Pastels Digi Paper

Knit Sweater Digital Paper

Happy 4th birthday to Kris and Imagine That Digital Stamps. I hope you will stop by the Creative Playground and check out the design team projects. Comment on the four birthday shares to win your favorite set of Imagine That! stamps.

Birthday Post #1

Birthday Post #2

Birthday Post #3

Birthday Post #4

I am entering these challenges:

• 30 Days of Coloring: color an image
• The Flower challenge: anything goes 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Simon Says Monday challenge: layer it up
• Cupcake Inspirations: tea party 
  

Hope you have an awesome week! Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I hope it's brought a smile!

Donna

Lovely Spring Day

Well, I wish I could say that was out weather today but that's not even close. We have rain right now but not far off lurks a mass of snow. It will likely miss us, thank goodness. But my card today reminds me of a lovely spring day and hopefully it won't be too far off in our future. I am dying to get the twins outside for some fun.

This is the progressive challenge image over at the Outlawz challenge blog. The image is from Beccy's Place and it's the spring window from the Seasonal Window stamp set. (Beccy has an awesome sale right now that you should check out. Not affiliated. I just love her stamps!) I used the pre-colored image and took additional inspiration from the Tuesday Morning Sketch.

Most of the papers are scraps from my scrap box. The exception would be the largest piece that comes from the Recollections Home Basic Paper Pack. The solid pick card stock was embossed with Sizzix Flourishes EF. The image and sentiment were die cut with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitiched Rectangles. The sentiment is from a retired Gina K stamp set called Heartily Yours Addition. The sentiment was stamped with MFT Latte pigment ink and then the panel was inked with Spun Sugar distress ink. I was going to go with the card without the sentiment but at the last minute changed my mind. I don't make many cards without sentiment on the front. I thought this one needed something else.

I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch above (their are two sketches this week so you have a choice)
• Beccy's Place challenge: use a Beccy's Place image
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room: super scraps Saturday
• Word Art Wednesday: inspirational sentiment
• The Outlawz Progressive challenge: use the Beccy's Place Spring Window

I am off to have lunch with a friend and then over to watch the twins this evening. Wishing you a Happy St. Patrick's Day! However you celebrate the day, I hope you have fun! Also enjoy the weekend!

Donna

A Season to be Jolly

Since it's been so cold this week I decided it was time for a Christmas card. I'm not surprised that spring break has been pretty frosty around here, since our winter has been so mild. We're going to be in the 40s the next few days and then a day of 50 and 60 before we head back down again. Mother Nature just can't make up her mind.

I used the Stella Sketch as inspiration for the design of this card. The image is from Bugaboo stamps called Christmas Kidz 01. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and added Diamond Stickles to the Santa suit. The image is die cut with MFT Stitched Circles and backed with Spellbinders Scalloped Circles cut from green card stock. The designer paper is scraps from my Christmas paper; both from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. There is glitter ribbon behind the image. The three gifts are from Doodle Pantry (sadly no longer in business) and the sentiment is from Flourishes Christmas Music (retired). I used a Wink of Stella pen on the gifts that are popped up from the card.
I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug Stella Sketch: sketch  
  
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge: antyhing goes; optional theme Santa Claus
• Addicted to Stamps and More: holiday 
  
• Hiding in my Craft Room: super scraps Saturday
• Christmas Card challenge: anything goes
• Thursday Outlawz challenge: anything goes with twist of 3 embellishments, 2 patterned papers and 1 ribbon

I am off to finish dinner before the kids get here. Then we'll watch the twins this evening. Last night I sang the song Bingo to Valerie and she just giggled and giggled. It was such a fun evening. They are such easy going babies. And they love their bathtime! I think they would both rather be naked than have cothes on. Wait until they are 2 or 3 and can figure out how to get them all off. I think they will be little streakers. LOL! Have a wonderful day!

Donna

Think Spring

Happy Wednesday! I finally remembered what day it is this week. LOL! Mother Nature is playing cruel tricks on us. I knew, since the winter was so warm, we would pay for it later. Very cold and windy although we do have bright sunshine. I shouldn't complain. The east coast is so much worse than we are with all their snow. My prayers go out to all of you.
Don't you just love when a card comes together better than you expected? I have one of those today. I'm just really pleased with the whole card.

The image from Bugaboo Stamps is called Spring Block. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and the background with Copic B00 marker. The background is what I call "sloppy coloring" because it shows some white through and makes it really look like sky or clouds. I made an easel card and propped the easel with a flower I created from Heartfelt Creations Daisy Patch Flower Dies. The leaves are from Spellbinder's Foliage dies. The flower was inked with Picked Raspberry and the leaves with Peeled Paint. The sentiment is from a blog candy that just had a bunch of sentiments and no indication of where they are from. I stamped it with Stampin' Up Very Vanilla Pigment ink and then rounded the bottom corners with a corner rounder punch. I love the flower. I may have to make a card just with the flowers. The inside dotted paper is a scrap from my scrap box.
I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug theme challenge: birds, bees and butterflies
• Simon Says Monday challenge: handmade flowers
• The Outlawz Thursday challenge: frame or easel
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Cutie Pie challenge: dies and digis
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes

That's it for me today. I am off to watch the twins this evening. Since this is spring break week here, I would imagine everyone who left town for warmer environments is rejoicing that they aren't at home this week. Stay warm and toasty. Thanks for stopping by.

Donna

Less Troubles, More Blessings

What day is today? I am slightly lost this week. My weeks and days kind of run together. I needed one more St. Patrick's Day card so I made a quick on.

For the background I used the MFT One Way Chevron stencil in three shades of green: Peeled Pain, Mowed Lawn and Cracked Pistachio distress inks. The Cracked Pistacjio at the top of the card stock is very light and difficult to see in the photo. The sentiment and shamrocks are from Create with TLC and I die cut it with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitched Rectangles. The images and edge of the rectangle are colored with Spectrum Noir markers.
I am entering these challenges:

• Doing Life: Anthing Goes with Create with TLC element: use a TLC element
• Simon Says Work it Wednesday: use the color green
• Outlawz Monday challenge: use shamrocks or an Irish sentiment
• Digi Choosday: anything goes
• Inspiration Destination: anything goes
• Cards in Envy: keep it simple

I am off to watch thetwins this evening. So I'll bring this to close. Hope you are having an awesome day. Fot all those in the northeast who are getting dumped with the storm, including my two sons in Boston, I am praying for you. Stay safe and warm.

Donna

Spring Blessings

Happy Sunday! Beuatiful sunshine today but very cold. I am hoping that spring arrives soon. I need to thaw out and warm up. LOL! My card today was inspired by spring and the sketch at I {heart} sketches with a twist.

The twist this week is "almost spring." Since we've had some warmer weather our daffodils are blooming here and probably froze since we've had this cold snap. But daffodils and crocus are usually the first flowers to appear around here and herald the news that spring has sprung. The image of the daffodils can be found at From the Heart Stamps. I colored them with Spectrum Noir Markers and die cut the image with MFT Stitched Circles. The background for the image was cut from a scrap of green card stock with Spellbinder's Scalloped Circles. The sentiment is from the Daffodil stamp set and die cut with MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags and finally inked with Squeezed Lemonade distress ink. The background is a scrap from my scrap box backed with black cardstock and a green card stock base. Here's the sketch I followed:

I am entering these challenges:

• I {Heart} Sketches with a Double Twist: sketch and twist of almost spring
• Cut It Up Challenge: think green
• Sweet Stampers challenge: Easter/Spring
• Creative Knockouts: lots of green
• C.R.A.F.T. challenge: Easter/Spring

Hope your day is awesome. I have to go pick up the twins and they'll be with us for dinner and a little time after until we have to get them home for baths and bed. I am hoping it warms up this week so we can get them out for walks. Take care! Make it an awesome week.

Donna

Some Bunny Loves You Part 2

Today I have Valerie's Easter card to share with you. I used a bunny image from the same set of Digi Dee's Easter/Spring file (no longer available).

I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut it with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitch Rectangles. I inked the edges with Broken China distress ink. The sentiment panel I played around with measuring to get the shape that was in the sketch from The Outlawz that I used as inapiration.

I originally was going to use ric rac on that panel but decided to use my Easter Egg stamp from Studio G. The sentiment is from Daizefli (another blog I can no longer locate). I inked that panel with Fossilized Amber distress ink. I added some brads as embellishments. The top brads have little white dots on them so I used my white gel pen to add dots to the image panel and to doodle the Easter egg row on the sentiment panel. The background designer paper is from a stamp set from year's ago.
I am entering these challenges:

• SimonSays Wednesday challenge: for a special girl (my granddaughter)
• C.R.A.F.T. challenge: Easter/spring
• Hiding in my Craft Room: spring colors
• Catch the Bug challenge: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• The Outlawz Wednesday Sketch: sketch above

So you can see part one from yesterday. And of course since I posted pics of Arthur, I have pics of my special girl, Valerie, too.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Donna

Some Bunny Loves You Part 1

Happy Thursday! Up until now I've been making one card for each holiday for the twins but I decided that Easter would be different. Mostly because I found a couple adorable images that would work for them. I couldn't resist making a card with these images. Today is Arthur's card.

Most of the digi stamps that I have in my files have been free to me and some have been there for a very long time. I labeled this image with Digi Dee and I am unable to find any trace of someone who used that name. So I think the site has been removed. Likewise the sentiment is by Daize Fli. I can't find any trace of that name either. I'd love to give credit for the wonderful digital stamps but I am at a loss. I colored the adorable image with Spectrum Noir markers and then added detail to the eggswith white gell pen (ala Kathy at 30 Days of Coloring challenge). I die cut the image with Spellbinder's Beaded Ovals and used Mowed Lawn distress ink to ink the beaded areas. The sentiment I die cut with MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags and inked it with Salty Ocean distress ink. The background designer paper is from a Simon Says stamp kit. I punched the corner piece from a Stampin' Up! corner punch and the added egg embellishment is from a Studio G stamp also embellishmed with white gel pen. I really am pleased with the coloring and the card in general. It's fun to embellish with the white gel pen too.
I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• 30 Days of Coloring challenge: color an image
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: anything goes
• Pile It On: humor or pun
• Monday Outlawz challenge: Easter or spring

So here's the little guy this card is going to. New pictures this week after his 5 month birthday.

He's my favorite little fellow. Have a wonderful day! The weekend is almost here.

Donna

Timeless Classic

Wow! It's Wednesday already. The weeks just fly by. I have another masculine birthday card today. I needed a card for my FIL's birthday this month. I'm not sure why I don;t make masculine birthday cards ahead of time but I usually have girly borthday cards but not ones for the guys.

My FIL owns a tractor that's in the vinatge of the 1940s. So I thought this silhouette of a tractor (Graphics Fairy) would bring a smile to his face. I colored in the scenery with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut the image with MFT Cross Stitch Ovals backed with dark blue card stock. I inked the edge with fired brick distress ink.The background plaid is from my scrap box and it was die cut with an MFT Blueprints 3 die. The sentiment, from Create with TLC, is punched with an EK Success tag punch and inked with fired brick distress ink as well. I used washi tape in the top right hand corner of the card and brads for embellishments. I used the Die Cuttin Diva's sketch this week for inspiration.

I am entering these challenges:

• Die Cuttin' Divas: sketch above
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes birthday
• Scrapping4Fun challenge: boys, male, masculine
• Doing Life Create with TLC Element: use an element from Create with TLC (sentiment)
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

That's it for me today. I hope your week is going well. We are on the down side of the week anyway. We have bright sunshine today but rather windy. But the daffodils are blooming so I hope we don;t get a nasty frost. Take care!

Donna

December 25th

Happy Monday! It's a very gray and miserable day around these parts. It's been steadily raining since before dawn and we do need the rain but it's still kind of depressing. I've been cooking all morning, trying to get ahead for the week. There is always plenty to do around here.
My card today is a very simple Christmas card. I used the sketch from 52 Christmas Card Throwdown as inspiration.

The stripes are designer paper scraps from other projects. I like the assortment of different patterns and colors. The image/sentiment is from When the Scrap Hits the Fun. I die cut the image with Gina Marie Designs Wine Bottle Labels. Then I inked the die cut with Bundled Sage distress ink. I thought it gave it a vintage look. I added a couple self-adhesive gems to finish off the card.

I am entering these challenges:

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown: use the above sketch
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: anything goes, option of vintage
• The Outlawz Festive Friday challenge: anything Christmas
• Happy Little Stampers: anything goes, optional star
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Extra challenge: anything goes Christmas

Today is the twins' 5 month birthday so I thought I give you a peek at how much they have grown. It's getting difficult to keep up with them. When they start moving around Grammy is going to have to start running again. LOL! Not looking forward to that.

This is Arthur. Since he needed  a respirator at birth his feeding tube was down is throat. He hated that tube and would always try to push it out with his tongue. So most of the time his tongue is still out of his mouth. I think he thinks that's where it's supposed to be. He has the most delightful giggle you ever want to hear. His eyes and his smile are bigger than life.

This is Ms. Valerie and she is usually full of smiles. She love to listen to you sing or talk and she hangs on every word you say. She's always looks right at you. She and I have conversations. She likes to "coo" at me. Tomorrow we'll go to story hour at the library. I'm looking forward to that. I'll be leaving shortly to go baby sit for the evening.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope your week is off to a great start.

Donna

Easter Blessings

Just a quick card as I am at the last minute getting this one in for a challenge. Not enough hours in a day around here.

This adorable image is one of my favorites at From the Heart Stamps called Easter Trio. I colored the image with a variety of markers (Copics, Bics, Spectrum Noir) and then die cut it with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitch Rectangles. The background iece is a water color sheet that I had from another project. I used the watercolor lifting technique from Jennifer McGuire's blog to make it. I used my MISTI to place the sentiment, a retired stamp from Spring Florals at Gina K Designs. I added the yellow ribbon as embellishment. A very easy card.
I am entering these challenges:

• I {heart} sketches with a double twist: I just used the twist of water color this week
• The Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge: anything goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room: spring colors
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Addicted to Stamps: anything goes

We have 65 degrees today so I'll be taking the twins out for a walk. Tomorrow is their 5 month "birthday" so I'll be showing some pictures I hope. They are growing like weeds. Stay tuned. Have a wonderful day!

Donna

Bring on the Green

Good morning! This is my second and last post as a guest designer for The Outlawz CAS challenge. This week we are using green on our projects. I made a St. Patrick's Day card.

The image is from Scribbles Design called Shamrock Balloons. This is  freebie and can be downloaded at that link. I colored the image with Copic and Spectrum Noir markers. The sentiment is from Create with TLC. And to complete the card I added some green sequins.
I am entering these challenges:

• Simply Create Too: lots of green
• The Crafter's Cafe: CAS
• Digi Choosday: anything goes
• Simon Says Work it Wednesday: use the color green
• Pile It On: humor or puns
• Doing Life ATG with Create with TLC: use a Create with TLC element

I hope you'll join along with us this week and check out our "green" over at The Outlawz CAS challenge.Fun time for all. Thanks for stopping by today.

Donna

Easter Blessings

Welcome to the March challenge for the Imagine That! Creative Playground. It's an anything goes challenge but if you use an Imagine That Digis by Kris image you'll receive the featured set of the month: Lamb with Cross.

I used the featured set for my card this month.

I used the Sunburst Technique for this spring card and really love it! All the papers used in the sunburst are from the Imagine That Sweet Pastel Paper set. 

I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut it with MFT Stitched Ovals. Then I inked the edges with Salty Ocean distress ink. For the sentiment, I printed and then inked it with Squeezed Lemonade distress ink. I added all the elements to black card stock and then a white card base. The final touch was the glittery ribbon from my ribbon stash. I love the sunburst. It's perfect for Easter!

I am entering these challenges:

• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• The Outlawz Saturday challenge: spring
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper challenge: use patterned paper
• Word Art Wednesday: anything goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes

I hope you will join us this month at the Imagine That! Creative Playground challenge. It's so easy to win a special set or prize. Happy weekend to you all. I am looking forward to warmer weather this weekend and hopefully getting the twins out for a walk in their stroller. 

Donna