You're Egg-ceptional!

One last Easter card for you and a chance to wish you all a very Happy Easter! Not much time this weekend to craft as the twins will be visiting. So this is my last chance to finish off Easter.

The image is from Beccy's Place called Basket of Eggs. This is a Freebie. I colored the image with Koh-i-Noor pencils and mineral spirits. Then I used gel pens to doodle on the eggs. I distressed the edges of the image and sentiment with Salty Ocean Distress ink. The sentiment is computer-generated. The pink dotted banner is washi tape. Behind the image is ribbon with Easter eggs on it but it doesn't show very much behind the image and banners. I used these dies: MFT Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips, MFT Fishtail Flag Stax, and MFT Stitched Circles. The cute bunny paper in the background is from Create with TLC. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Place March challenge: use a Beccy's Place image
• Anything Goes with Create with TLC Element: use a Create with TLC element (designer paper)
• 4 Crafty Chicks: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper challenge: use patterned paper
• Addicted to Stamps: photo inspiration (used the colors in the photo)
  
• The Outlawz Wednesday challenge: sketch 
  

Wishing you all a wonderful and Happy Easter. May the risen Lord bless you with all good things. I'll be back on Sunday with the new April challenge at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. Thanks for stopping by.

Donna

Sympathy

Thursday has rolled around again and we are headed for the weekend. I'm fairly sure tat we aren't traveling for Easter this weekend so it may be spent with the twins instead. Fine by me. I missed seeing them last weekend since I had conjunctivitis. I did see them at Head Start on Wednesday morning. Arthur is learning new words. Valerie's one and only word is "uh-oh." And she loves to say it. They are just so much fun to be around. My card tonight is for a friend who lost her grandmother the yesterday. I really need to start doing these ahead so I don't have to rack my brain when I need them.

Lots of die cuts on this card. They include: Paper Smooches Single Rose, Spellbinder's Foliage, My Favorite Things Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Squares, and My Favorite Things Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips. The sentiment is from My Favorite Things Essential Sentiment Stamp set. The background is inked with Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio, and Mowed Lawn distress ink. I also added a few gold sequins.
I am entering these challenges:

• My Favorite Things Sketch challenge: 
  
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• Outlawz Twisted Thursday: anything goes
• Catch the Bug challenge: photo inspiration 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

Thank you for stopping by. I worked at Opportunity House this afternoon and have to open tomorrow morning. I was taking a sick friends place today. Tomorrow is a regular shift for me. I am hoping to get in another card before the end of the month. But just in case, wishing you all a very Happy and Blessed Easter!

Donna

Warmest Thoughts

We could use a few warmer thoughts right now. They say by Easter we will be way below freezing again. Mother Nature where is the spring the calendar promised us? Not to be this year.
I finished a crd tonight for a couple challenges. I bought my first Distress Oxide ink this week at Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon. My favorite color Peacock Feathers so I had to try it out.

The image is from QKR Stampede called Christmas Cheer. I colored him with Spectrum Noir markers. The sentiment is from Create with TLC and is inked with the Distress Oxide Peacock Feathers and then spritzed with water. The patterned paper that I used is from American Craft and the strip of paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Bokeh Papers. Everything is backed with black card stock. I used the Tuesday Morning Sketch for inspiration.

I am entering these challenges:

• Rudolph Days: anything goes Christmas
• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch above
• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• Anything Goes with Create with TLC: use a TLC element (sentiment)
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• The Outlawz Thursday challenge: one of the seasons (winter)
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: song or carol (Frosty the Snowman)
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper challenge: use patterned paper
• Hiding in my Craft Room: any holiday

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my latest project. Something has come up to fill up the rest of my week so I'll won;t have as much craft time as I had hoped. Always something but I don;t think we will be traveling for Easter this year so that might help out my time. Have a wonderful rest of your week!

Donna

Cat's Dreams

If you visit my blog often, you know that I have four grand kitties. Both of my boys have 2 cats each. And the cats definitely rule the roost. So I often send them cat cards and I love to make them somewhat humorous. This image fit the bill. It's the progressive image this month at Gerda Steiner.

The image is Cat in Bookshelf and it's just adorable. This card was very easy. I colored the image with a variety of markers and then fussy cut it out. I did go around the image with a black Copic marker to reduce the amount of white spots where my cutting wasn't that great. The larger sentiment is from Ginger's Houseand punched with an ekSuccess label punch and the smaller sentiment is computer-generated and die cut with Spellbinder's Conversation Bubbles 4. The background paper is actually a wall paper scrap that I thought worked well. I am entering these challenges:

• Gerda Steiner Progressive challenge for March: use the Cat in Bookshelf image
• Outlawz Thursday challenge: anything goes
• Digi Choosday: anything goes
• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope to be back soon with a Christmas card for Rudolph Days. We'll see how my time goes. Take care!

Donna

Catch of the Day

This is post # 2 for today! The storm has been going on all day today so I had a little time to play at my desk. Finally! We've been hovering between rain, snow and sleet all day but right after dinner it turned to all snow and very heavy. So we have a couple inches now and it's still coming. The front seems to have settled over us and it continues to snow. I think Mother Nature forgot that the calendar says it's spring. So while I have a chance I'm going to play.

This is the progressive challenge image at The Outlawz for March. It was drawn by Anne Fenton. I think it's just adorable! I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers. The clouds were stenciled by using the MFT Cloudy Day stencil. The background paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodle Bokeh paper. I embellished it with the fun metal arrow. I finished the inside of the card too because I loved the sentiment.

The sentiment is from Tiddly Inks. I used a lot of dies for this card: MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags Stax, MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Squares, and Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitched Rectangles.  I think this is a real fun card! I am looking forward to sending it to the angler in my family! I am entering these challenges:

• The Outlawz Progressive challenge: use the image Catch of the Day
• The Outlawz Sketch challenge: sketch  
  
• Crafty Friends challenge: anything goes
• Digi Choosday: anything goes
• QKR Stampede challenge: anything goes

That's it for tonight. Since I was diagnosed this morning with conjunctivitis and I'll be contagious for 4 or 5 days I'll probably be crafting more. Not going anywhere soon. Thanks for stopping by today. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Donna

Egg Truck Shaker

I am a bit behind today in posting this. I thought I would have time this morning but it turned out we have a storm moving through. And I had to make an unexpected trip to Prompt Care. Ugh! The storm was all rain when I left but turned to ice while the doctor was seeing me. Road conditions declined very quickly so I am thrilled to be home safe and sound and out of the weather. But I have conjunctivitis and I'll be contagious for about 5 days. So I doubt I'll get to see the twins for a while. Bummer! They were supposed to come tomorrow.

Today is my last guest design post over at Scribbles Designs challenge blog. Head over and check out the guest designer's awesome work. This card for my grandson Arthur!

I made a shaker card. Something I don't do very often. The image is Egg Truck from Scribbles Designs. I colored the image with markers and then built the shaker frame around it and added sparkly sequins. The sentiment is also a freebie at Scribbles Designs. Hop over and pick that up with a cute little Easter egg too. Thank you to Lisa and Sandy for inviting me to be a guest designer for the last 3 months. It's been an honor and lots of fun to pay with Sandy's images.
I am entering these challenges:

• The Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode: interactive card
• 4 Crafty Chicks: for the love of kids
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Simon Says Monday challenge: road trip
• Pile it On: circles or squares
• Crafty Awesomeness challenge: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today. Hope you are safe and warm and hopefully not in the path of this storm. Take care. Have a wonderful weekend!

Donna

He Is Risen

I can't believe it's been almost a week since I last posted. Time is flying by. I've been working on wedding favors and have about half of them done. So I haven't been doing many cards. But Easter is coming up fast so I need to get some of those cards done. Here's one tonight.

Some of my family like religious cards so I like to do a few of them. The image is from From the Heart Stamps called Risen Easter Egg. Unfortunately Faith passed away but she leaves a legacy of beautiful images. Her web site has been taken down. I colored the image was colored with American Craft markers. I die cut the image with MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Squares. The designer paper I got from a donation to Opportunity House. The banners were die cut from MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags (retired) and the smaller one is MFT Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips. I added some self-adhesive gems to the four corners. I am entering these challenges:

• Sketch Saturday challenge: sketch 
  
• Lil Patch of Craft Friends: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: floral frenzy
• Craftaholics R Us: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today. Tomorrow won't be a crafting day. I'll be volunteering at Opportunity House all day tomorrow. They are short cashiers for tomorrow so I am cashier all day. I'll probably have the twins on the weekend, so I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I do have a design team project for Saturday so I'll hope to see you then.

Donna

Birthday Bear

Happy Friday! The weekend is almost here. I have the twins tomorrow and will hopefully get to spend Sunday out at our other property, Baby Creek. I haven't been there for quite some time. As the weather gets warmer we'll spend more time there I hope. I finished a birthday card today. I am a little low on those kinds of cards.

I used the My Favorite Things Sketch challenge for this card. The images are from MFT Birthday Bears. I colored them with Prisma Color pencils and American Craft markers. The paper in the background are scraps left from another project. The die cut is MFT Happy Birthday Circle Frame. The sentiment at the bottom of the card is also from the Birthday Bears set. I used Black pen and white gel pen to embellish some of the balloons and the bear. I am entering these challenges:

• My Favorite Things Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• The Outlaw Twisted Thursday challenge: Tic Tac Toe (die cuts, free Space, green)
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes
• Time Out challenge: Birthdays are full of sunshine, love and laughter
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper challenge: use patterned paper

Thanks for stopping by today. I'm not sure if I'll get back again this weekend so I hope you have some relaxing and crafty days ahead. For those of you in the northeast who are shoveling out and preparing for another storm, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Please stay safe. Thoughts and prayers going to Florida too for the victims and families of the bridge collapse. Please stay safe!

Donna

Dueling Darlings Time

It's the 15th of the month already and this month Judy and I were in charge of the kits for the Dueling Darlings. So I sent out a variety of goodies to the ladies and here's what I came up with for my card.

Our theme this month was birthday. Here's what I included in the kit:

Images and sentiments from Art Impressions Wine Diva stamped on Neenah Crest Solar White card stock

Images and sentiments from My Favorite Things Happy Hippos stamped on Neenah Crest Solar White card stock

My Favorite Things die cut of Happy Birthday Circle Frame

4 pieces of designer paper (6x6): the balloon paper and the flowered paper is from the Paper Studio; the plaid papers are from an unknown source (I volunteer at a resale shop that supports a free preschool for children in the area. I am in charge of crafts and office supplies and get first pick at what comes in for donations. These came from a donation.)

Embellishments: 3 yellow brads; 1 small clothes pin; 1 section of Floral Garden Diamond Wrap; 15 inches of Doodlebug twine; 15 inches of shimmery ribbon (unknown origin); 5 sequin stars.

I used two of the paper sheets,the Art Impressions imageSome of the Floral Garden Diamond Wrap, black card stock and pink card stock for the base of my card. I used Spectrum Noir and Copic markers to color the image. I hope you will check out what the other Darlings have done with my kit. You can find their links in my side panel.

I am entering these challenges:

• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper challenge: use patterned paper
• Inspiration Destination: anything goes optional spring/pastel colors
• Crafty Friends: for a special lady

Thanks for stopping by today. I have a very busy next few days so I'm not sure what kind of crafty time I'm going to get. Take care!

Donna

St. Patrick's Bear

Happy Wednesday! Oh my this week is flying. I spent this morning at Head Start with the twins. They are always so much fun to be around. It's spring break week here so some of the kids were out this week. They all seemed kind of tired today and by lunch time there were a few melt downs. But all was good and I always enjoy my time with them. Today I made a Easy St. Patrick's Day card. I should make one more but I have to get them into the mail very soon. They are probably already late. LOL!

This is mostly die cuts. The image is from Bugaboo stamps. It must be an older stamp because I couldn't find it on their site. I colored the image with American Craft markers. The die cuts used were MFT Stitched Circles, MFT Stitched Frames and Spellbinder's Scalloped Circles. The green card stock is all from my scrap box. I added some Green Stickles to the scallops for some glitz. I am entering these challenges:

• Hiding in my Craft Room: super scraps Saturday
• Catch the Bug: Nature's Wonders - All Creatures Big and Small
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Craftaholics R Us: green
• Crafty Cardmakers: go green
• Monday Outlawz challenge: St. Patrick's Day

Thanks for stopping by today. Tomorrow is the 15th of the month already and another Dueling Darlings card. This month was my turn to provide the kit so I hope you'll stop back and see what I made. Have a wonderful day!

Donna

A Purr-fect Day

Hello, friends! Tuesday has almost flown by. I can't believe how fast the days go sometimes. I always think I am going to get more accomplished. Today was the last day to get in the Limited Run Progressive challenge on Facebook. I'm really glad that Nicki reminded us because I had printed the image but not finished it. So this morning I got busy.

If you've been around here long, you might know that I have 4 grand-kitties so I can always use kittie images. This one is a cutie. I added the sentiment from Create with TLC di cut with Spellbinder's Labels 13. The paw prints and hearts are from paper Smooches. The striped paper is from the Paper Studio. I fussy cut the kittie and added wiggle eyes. I am entering these challenges:

• Anything Goes with a Create with TLC Element: use an element from Create with TLC
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Word Art Wednesday: anything goes
• The Outlawz Friday challenge: favorite animal or use a die cut
• QKR Stampede challenge: anything goes
• Crafting by Designs: anything goes

I have a few things to finish up this evening and hopefully I may get back to some crafting. Thanks for stopping by today. See you again soon.

Donna

Easter Blessings

Happy Monday! Busy weekend and busy day today. Our short trip to Boston was fun and eventful. We finalized plans for our son's wedding rehearsal dinner and went to a bridal shower and met my future DIL's relatives. We got to see our sons and DILs and spend some time with them. So it was a great time. Got a chance to make a quick card today.

This is a Bugaboo Stamp image called Bug Brat Easter 01. I used the pre-colored image and I die cut it with MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Squares. The sentiment is from a retired stamp set from Gina K called Spring Florals. The designer paper is from Paula Dean. I added some lace from my stash. I am entering these challenges:

• Stella Sketch at Catch the Bug: sketch 
  
• Simon Says Monday: Easter/spring
• Crafty Friends challenge: for a special lady (this will be my granddaughter's Easter card; hope she counts as a lady)
• Bugaboo Crafty challenge: use a Bugaboo image
• A Perfect Time to Craft: anything goes

That's my quick card for the day. Tomorrow I have a "free" day and hopefully some more time to craft. I have to get my St Patty's Day cards done so I can get them off. I don't make many but I do need a few. Have a wonderful week and stop back and see me again soon!

Donna

Guest Scribbler

Happy Saturday!This is a scheduled post as I am in Boston for the weekend visiting my sons. But today is the guest design post over at Scribbles Designs.  Today I chose to work with one of Sandy's Easter images.

The image is Bunny Collection. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers. I added strips of plaid paper from my scrap box on each side. Then I just finished it off with a little embellishment. The grass at the top is a die cut from MFT. The bunny tail has Crystal Stickles and the bunny noses have Black Stickles. I just loved the fun collage for Easter. Check out what the other guest designer has created by going to Scribbles Design Challenge Blog. Don't forget that the present challenge is go for green. Lots of possibilities. Thanks for stopping by today. I'll be back next week and hopefully will find time to craft. Take care!

Donna

United in Love

Usually my coloring is just mediocre. I've always wanted to take some coloring classes to improve but have never taken the time to do it. Once in a while I luck into something that I really think I did a good job on. This card is one of them.

I really like how her hair and the flowers turned out. The card came together nicely I thought. The image is from Bugaboo stamps called Pretty Bride. The background paper I won from (A Bit More Time to Craft) Papers by Lozzy called Anika. The sentiment is from Beccy's Place Wedded Bliss Digital Stamps. The strip is from a Martha Stewart Border Punch. I used MFT Stitched Circles and Spellbinder's Scalloped Circles die cuts. To finish off I added small pearls around the scalloped circle. This card is for the bridal shower this Saturday for me future DIL. We'll be headed for Boston so I can go to that. I'm happy with this card! I am entering these challenges:

• Stella Sketch (Catch the Bug): sketch 
  
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Bugaboo Crafty: use a Bugaboo image
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: girl power
• Pile It On challenge: circles
• Alphabet challenge: Y for your choice

I forgot to say what I used to color. The hair and flowers are using Koh-i-Noor Woodless Pencils and mineral spirits. The rest is American Craft markers. I am beginning to love mixing different coloring mediums. Hope you like it too. Thanks for stopping by today. Tomorrow I have 2 meetings and getting ready to fly out to Boston very early on Friday morning. So if I don't make it back here before next week, have a wonderful weekend!

Donna

Birthday Balloon

Hello Friends! Yesterday I posted a birthday card for a little boy who is one of a set of twins in our family. Today I am posting the card for the little girl twin.

I am really pleased with the way this turned out. The image is Girl Balloon from Bugaboo Stamps.  I colored her with Spectrum Noir markers. The sentiment is from Hero Arts Int's Your Day stamp set.  The image is die cut with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitch Rectangles. The plaid and balloon papers were scraps from my desk. I added Wink of Stella to the little girls hair and bow, glossy accents to the balloon and white gel pen to various parts of the image and as a border around the card base. I think that border adds a lot! I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug challenge: anything goes
• Sketch Saturday: sketch 
  
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes birthday
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes
• Twisted Thursday at the Outlawz: anything goes

Tomorrow I have a few errands but hope to have some crafty time/ The rest of my week is really busy. Friday we'll be leaving for a quick trip to Boston. Saturday I'll be going to a bridal shower for my son's future wife. Friday afternoon we'll be making the arrangements for the rehearsal dinner. Fun time coming in May for the wedding. Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Donna

Turning 4

Happy Sunday evening! It's been a busy weekend. The twins were here both days over the weekend. They've been home from Head Start last week being sick so they were glad to get away from their house. They also bought a couch that we had to move in today and get rid of the old one. So the kids will have more room to play in their tiny apartment now that they have a new couch. We have another set of twins in the family that will be turning 4 this month so I thought it would be fun to send one of them this card.

This adorable image is from Beccy's Place. This set called Quilted Number Digital Stamps. This set will soon be retired so the price has been reduced. The set is adorable  so grab it while it's still available. The sentiment is computer generated. The designer paper is from the Paper Studio called Safari. The die cuts used include: MFT Blueprints 32 (frame) and MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags. I used the MFT Sketch challenge as inspiration.

I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Place March challenge: use a Beccy's Place image
• MFT Sketch challenge: sketch pictured above
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• The Outlawz Paper Ala Mode: anything goes
• Scrapping4Fun challenge: masculine, boys
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes

That's it for me tonight. The twins have worn me out. I am happy they are feeling a bit better and hopefully will go back to Head Start very soon. make it an awesome week!

Donna

New Challenge: Beary Sweet Christmas

Oh my, it's March 1st already and that means it's a new challenge at the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. The challenge is always anything goes but we have an optional theme. This month it's a Beary Sweet Christmas. Our sponsor is Imagine That Digis by Kris.

My card uses Bear Angel with Star. The image is colored with Spectrum Noir markers and embellished with Gold Stickles. The clouds are from Spellbinder's Sunny Days. The squares are die cut from MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Squares. I tilted them to go with the Sketch Saturday challenge. The star paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Starry Sky. I also used washi tape in the background.

I hope you'll take a few relaxing moments to start on your Christmas cards this month. It's never too early. And you could win some fun images from Imagine that Digis by Kris or some fun designer paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. For all the details be sure to check out the 12 Month's of Christmas Link Up blog. And while you are at it, check out my fellow DT member's using some other beary sweet stamp sets from Imagine That! I am entering these challenges:

• Sketch Saturday challenge: sketch
• Imagine That Year Round Link Up: use an Imagine That image
• Hiding in my Craft Room: any holiday
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: anything goes Christmas with a touch of gold
• The Outlawz Festive Friday challenge: Christmas

Thanks for stopping by. Have a super day!

Donna