New challenge

I am posting a bit early for the new challenge set to go tomorrow at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. But life is moving fast and we'll be leaving with no Internet tomorrow. So please check out this new challenge tomorrow, September 1st.Happy September! This year is really flying by. Our new challenge for September is all about kraft. Use kraft somehow in your project. Our sponsor this month is Pattie's Creations. And Lisa has designed a wonderful kraft paper set you are going to love. Here is my card.

The adorable gingerbread house is from Pattie's Creations. The sentiment is from Create with TLC. It's die cut with MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Squares. I fusst cut the kraft mat behind the image. The gingerbread paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Gingerbread Cookies. The candy strip paper is from an unknown source. Had it in my stash and haven't been able to find it in my files. I added ribbon for the horizontal strip. All layers have a kraft layer behind. The base card stock is also kraft. For accent around the gingerbread house I used Rock Cabdt Stickles. We sure hope you will join us beginning September 1st at 6pm EST at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. We'd love to comment on your creations!

I am entering these challenges:

• Try Stampin' On Tuesday: sketch 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: Christmas anything goes
• The Outlawz Monday Greeting: anything goes

Thanks for dropping by today. Happy Labor Day to all my U.S. friends. For those in Florida in the path of the hurricane, please be safe. My prayers are with you. 

Donna

Humorous Challenge for the Dueling Darlings

Happy Thursday! The week is flying by. But the 15th of the month is always the best time as the Divas and the Dazzlers face off in our monthly challenge. This month Jeanette (Dazzlers) and Kelly (Divas) sent us a kit with the theme of "humorous." I'm a Dazzler so I received Jeanette's kit. Here's what we had to work with:

• Images and sentiments: Taylored Expressions Adventure Land stamp set (stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Recollections 110#White CS)
• Dies Taylored Expressions "Wish"
• Punched Pieces: Stampin' Up! Photo Corners
• Designer Paper: DCWV Birthday, Paper Studio Pink Lemonade (Banners), Simple Stories Say Cheese (Cameras), and others from unknown vendors
• Ribbons: Amuse Studio Bubble Gum Pink and two others from Celebrate It
• Embellishments: Tim Holtz Giggles Ticket and other items from unknown vendors

So we had an amazing assortment to work with (Thanks Jeanette!). Here's my card:

So I used two of the designer papers on my card. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers. I used Spellbinder's ATC card dies to die cut the image and MFT Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips to die cut the sentiment. The DP is backed with black card stock and the base is a blue card stock to match the striped paper although the photo of the inside doesn't make it look like the same color. I used several of the embellishments provided.

One of the embellishments that Jeanette provided was some fun confetti for a shaker card. While I didn't make a shaker card I did use some the confetti pieces on the inside decorations. I hope you'll check out what all the Dazzlers and Divas created. Their links can be found on the right side of my blog. Thanks to Jeanette for the fun kit!

I am entering these challenges:

• Atlantic Hearts challenge: sketch (I turned the sketch) 
  

Waving "Hi!" to all the Divas and Dazzlers visiting. Thanks for stopping by!

Donna

Yay! It's Your Birthday

It was a busy day today. Tom and I volunteered at Head Start with the twins all morning and this afternoon we volunteered at teacher's Warehouse. We are trying to consolidate our volunteer time to Wednesday and Thursday so that we have the other days for things we need to do around the house and out at Baby Creek. Next week we'll be cutting down a 40 foot tree. That will bring some firewood for the winter! I did get a card off yesterday for our nephew's little boy.

The adorable image is a retired image from Beccy's Place. I just love this set with the images from 1-9, and I use them often for cards for little ones. I colored this image with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut the image with MFT Blueprints 32 frame. I also used MFT Sweet Celebrations paper pack for the fun designer paper. I used dark teal card stock as the backing for the deign and finished it off with some hearts. The sentiment is from Simon Says Big Birthday Wishes stamp set.
I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Beccy's Place: use a Beccy's Place image
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Creative Knockouts: furry friends

I hope you had a productive day today. Tomorrow we are off to Opportunity House to volunteer in the morning. We have to stop back at Teacher's Warehouse to help unload a truck and then take the twins to a Head Start event at The Splash Pad tomorrow evening. Another full day for sure! Rarely a dull moment around here! Thanks for stopping by. Stop back tomorrow for a new Dueling Darlings challenge. Fun things coming!

Donna

Happy Birthday

Happy weekend! I really have to step up my game for birthday cards as I am in desperate need of lots for the next few weeks. So today's card is a birthday card. I found the image in my stash already colored so I just had to put the card together.

This image is from Bugaboo Stamps. It may be retired as I found similar images on the web site but not this exact one. I'm not sure what I colored it with as it has a nice shiny appearance to it.I die cut the image with MFT Cross-Stitch Oval die. I layered with black card stock. The sentiment is from Hero Arts It's Your Day stamp set. I created the scalloped edge with a Stampin' Up! punch and some paper that was on my desk from another project. I finished it off with a few enamel dots.
I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug: anything goes
• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: add a die cut
• My Favorite Things Birthday Project: birthday bouquet
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

We are leaving shortly to visit my FIL for a few days. He has some jobs that need to be done around his house. So while I do have some crafty things packed I may not get much crafty time. We'll see how that goes. Have a super weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Donna

Freeze a Jolly Good Fellow

I actually got a card done today! That was in between cleaning and volunteering today. Our new volunteer spot doesn't open until 3:30 pm in the afternoon so it makes dinner quite late but it gives me plenty time to get things done before we go. So I finished a birthday card for a friend.

The image is from Bugaboo Stamps called Birthday Penguin Cupcake. I colored with Spectrum Noir markers. The designer paper is from MFT Sweet Celebrations Paper Pack, 3 different patterns and colors. The sentiment is from Create with TLC and die cut with MFT Pierced Fishtail Banners (retired). I finished the front of the card with a party hat from Miss Elizabeth's Scrapbook Stickers. I finish up the sentiment on the inside of the card.

I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug Saturday challenge: anything goes
• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• The Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge: chevron or geometric

That's it for tonight. I need to get some other things done this evening before heading for bed. Thanks so much for stopping by. Tomorrow is our day to be with the twins at Head Start!

Donna

The Secret to Marriage

Welcome to Tuesday! Lots going on this week but I need to find some craft time as I have several birthdays coming up that I don;t have cards for. Yesterday's project though was an anniversary card.

The image is from Bugaboo Stamps called Stella and Gus Marriage Secret. I colored with Spectrum Noir markers. The designer paper is MFT Sweet Celebrations Paper Pack. The image is die cut with Spellbinder's Labels 13. I used MFT Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips to die cut the small banners and Stampin' Up! scalloped border punch for the scalloped border. And the little scraps from the front of the card I used to decorate the inside of the card.

I am entering these challenges:

• Bugaboo Stella Sketch: sketch 
  
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday: anything goes
• The Outlawz Festive Friday: anniversary
• Crafting by Designs: anything goes

Hope to find some more time today to create a birthday card. Make it a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by.

Donna

Amazing Birthday

Happy weekend! We spent last night out at our other property and then came back today to help with a fund raiser for The Teacher's Warehouse. Tom and I started volunteering there this week. The Teacher's Warehouse gathers materials for teachers in the surrounding 5 counties. The teachers can shop for free and take what they need for their classrooms. It's an awesome place. I wish there had been such a place when I was teaching.
Today I have a birthday card that I sent to a friend this morning.

The focal point is the sentiment from a retired stamp set from Simon Says Stamps (Happy Everyday from 2013). The flowers and heart are from the same stamp set. The balloons are from MFT Happy Hippos. The balloons were colored with Prismacolor pencils and accented with a white gel pen. The inks I used were all distress inks: Lucky Clover, Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, and Mustard Seed. I was trying to match the MFT Sweet Celebrations paper that I used in the upper left corner.
I am entering these challenges:

• My Favorite Things Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Seize the Birthday: flowers
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• Crafting by Designs: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes

Hope your weekend has been fun and relaxing and hopefully some creative time. We have the twins all day tomorrow so there won;t be any creative time for me tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by. I need more birthday cards this week so I'll be back! Thanks for stopping by.

Donna

12 Months of Christmas Challenge

Wow! August has begun. This year is flying by. We have a new challenge at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  The challenge is always an anything goes challenge but we do add a twist. This month it's sparkle, glitter and bling. Let's see you sparkle up those gorgeous Christmas cards. Our sponsor this month is Oddball Art. Here's my card for the challenge:

I used the image Cute Reindeer with Bow colored with Spectrum Noir markers. I added yellow Stickles to the bow. The background paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Touch of Christmas Glitt.er & Gloss

I added some sparkly paper to accent the tag. The sentiment is from Create with TLC die cut from Quick Cutz tags. I added some yellow ribbon from my stash ad some enamel dots. I hope you will play along this month. Christmas is rapidly approaching.

I am entering these challenges:

1. Atlantic Hearts Sketch: sketch 
   
2. Catch the Bug challenge: color challenge 
   
3. Christmas Card Throwdown: stash challenge: ribbon
4. Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: ribbon/twine
5. Simon Says Wednesday: anything goes
6. Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

Come join the fun at The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. Lisa has designed some amazing papers this month. You won;t want to miss it. Thanks for stopping by!

Donna