The Last for July

Can you believe it? This year seems to be flying by but then dragging too. Maybe it's just the pandemic that's dragging. Seems our state of Indiana is slated to be the next hot spot. Tomorrow the students will start coming back to town and I am sure that Covid will pick up in our city. It really worries me. While the university is requiring all students in a dorm to be tested for Covid, they are not requiring that for anyone who is not in the dorm. They have already shut down the football team because so many have it. I can't imagine what they are thinking to bring the students back right now. I'll be staying home as much as possible. Enough of that! I do have a card today; my last for July.

I found this Scribbles Designs sentiment and thought it was fun so I matched it with the cauldron from Scribbles Designs. I colored the image with American Craft markers and die cut it with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitch Rectangles (retired). The card base is orange but the orange paper actually has pumpkin heads on it. They aren't visible in the picture. That paper came from my scrap stash. The purple with dot is ribbon from Bo Bunny. I thought the dots looked like bubbles from the cauldron. The back  card stock is embossed with the Sizzix Spider Web embossing folder. To finish off I added some purple gems from Michaels. I am entering these challenges:

• Scribbles Designs gallery: use a Scribbles Designs image
• Sunday Stamps: getting sketchy 
  
• Creative Knockouts: tic tac toe (embossing, image, sentiment)
• Simon Says Wednesday: anything goes
• The Outlawz Monday Greeting challenge: anything goes with a sentiment

I'll be headed out to our other property later this afternoon. No Internet out there but I do have a post scheduled for tomorrow as the new challenge will go live for 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. Stay tuned for that. Thanks for stopping by. Please stay safe and God bless!

Donna

It's Your Birthday

Happy Thursday friends! I've been away a few days working on our barn roof. I am happy to say it almost under roof but we still need a cap. It's been raining all day today so the majority is dry as Tom and I got the south side under metal yesterday. Just in time! So I haven't had much time to craft but I had this image colored and I wanted to get it onto my card this evening.

The image is from QKR Stampede called Spring Set of 4 Digital Stamps. I used the flower image of course.  It's colored with Spectrum Noir markers. Since the image has a black border around it I just fussy cut the image but then backed it with some new dies from Gina Marie Designs called Mosaic Triangle Edge Squares. The background paper is from my stash with tiny yellow dots. The borders are punched with Martha Stewart Swirling Lace punch. I stamped the sentiment with Gina K Birthday Greetings with MFT Blueberry ink. I'm really happy with this card! I am entering these challenges:

• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• Cupcake Inspirations: color challenge (blue, yellow, white) 
  
• Sketch Saturday: sketch 
  
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

Probably spending the weekend working on the barn again. Hoping that this project will be coming to an end very soon. Thanks for stopping by. Please stay safe out there.

Donna

Have a Blast

A busy Monday for us. This morning I priced at Opportunity House and this afternoon we worked at Teacher's Warehouse as this is blitz week. Many teachers came today to "shop" for school supplies, even though some of them don;t know what school will look like this year. We provide free school supplies to teachers so they don;t have to use their own money to purchase supplies for their classrooms or students. But I do have a card tonight.

A quick birthday card made from leftovers from a kit I received from one of the Dueling Darlings. I used to belong to that group on Splitcoast Stampers but this year I thought we would be traveling more and it would be difficult to keep up with the group. So I opted out. The image and sentiment is from MFT Space Explorer and die cut with the matching dies. The sentiment was die cut with MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags (retired). The patterned papers were a part of the kit. I did follow a sketch but the challenge has expired. I am entering these challenges:

• Seize the Birthday: Non-Neutral Card Base 
  
• Simon Says Wednesday: reach for the stars
• Crafty Friends challenge: happy birthday
• Scrapping4Fun challenge: birthday
• QKR Stampede: anything goes

Thank you for stopping by today. Hope you are staying safe and healthy. God bless!

Donna

Cup of Christmas Cheer

Happy Saturday! Hope your weekend has some relaxing crafty time. I have an all day Zoom meeting today but I am posting on one of the breaks.

This adorable image is from Twinkle Lane Designs called Gingerbread Treat.  I colored it with Spectrum Noir markers. I added some glitter to the ends of the snowflake and on the gingerbread man. The sentiment is from the same set and die cut with Gina Marie Designs Wonky Stitched Circles. The plaid paper and the green snowflake strips are from my scrap box. The card base is kraft card stock. I added small square red gems where each of the wonky stitches intersect. I am entering these challenges:

• Cheerful Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• The Outlawz Progressive challenge: use Gingerbread Treat
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes
• Rudolph Days: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper: use patterned paper

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a super weekend. Please stay safe out there. God bless!

Donna

Santa's Little Helper

For getting such a late start on the Bugaboo Christmas in July challenge, I've been able to catch up this week. Day 7 is a color challenge. You might know I'm not fond of color challenges but I think I'm getting the hang of them to make it easier. I guess my mental block is getting better where color challenges are concerned.

The Bugaboo image is the Friday freebie this week called Knobby Knees Christmas -Sack. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and then die cut it with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitched Rectangles (retired). It is backed with black card stock. The patterned paper is from my scrap box. The card base is red card stock. The sentiment is from Crafty Nomad. I double die cut the sentiment with MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags (retired). I added some hearts from gold shimmer paper die cut with Simon Says Stacked Hearts die. The Santa hat also has glitter as does the present with polka-dots. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug Christmas in July Day 7: color challenge 
  
• Sketch -N- Scrap: sketch 
  
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: use a die/punch
• Cutie Pie challenge: use a digital image
• A Bit More Time to Craft Extra: anything goes

So glad I got all of the Christmas in July challenge done for Bugaboo. Wasn't sure how this week was going to turn out. I am going back to my craft desk this afternoon but I probably won;t post anymore. I do have some other things to get done. Please stay safe. God bless!

Donna

Naughty or Nice

Card #2 for today. This is Santa checking in to see if you've been naughty or nice?

The image is Bugaboo Stamps Santa Claus Peeker. I colored him with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut him with Gina Marie Designs Wonky Stitched Ovals. I distressed the edge of the oval with Mowed Lawn distress ink. I added glitter to Santa's hat and coat. The snowflakes are MFT Layered Snowflakes die cut with shimmery silver paper and light green glitter paper. The sentiment is from Crafty Nomad die cut with Clear Dollar Stamps (sadly out of business) Designer Label die. You know I love plaid. The background is a scrap from my scrap box. The card base is a dark green. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug CIJ Day 6: photo challenge 
  
• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: use a die/punch
• Outlawz Festive Friday: Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper: use patterned paper

So glad that I have a day to craft this week. I guess I should be out helping with the barn roof but my husband graciously gave me today at home to do what I want. Thank you! It's been a rough week around here. I'll be back later with my last card for the CIJ challenge. Have a super day!

Donna

Once a Year

Wednesday challenge for Bugaboo Christmas in July was to make it humorous. I picked a Bugaboo image to use but after I had the card done I thought maybe this year this isn't quite as humorous as it would have been last year given the state of our country. But everyone has at least one relative that they prefer to see only once a year.

The image is Crabby Cathy Right Idea from Bugaboo stamps. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and added a scalloped stitched frame from Gina Marie Designs. I found some really large green gem stones in my stash and just decided to put them on the card. Pretty quick and simple. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug CIJ Day 5: make us laugh 
  
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: use a die/punch
• Digi Choosday: anything goes

Today is craft and clean up day. I am trying to get caught up on challenges and things that need to be done by the end of the month so I'll be posting more today. Stay tuned. Please stay safe!

Donna

CIJ Bingo

This evening, after the twins went home, I had a chance to make my Christmas in July Bingo challenge card.  I used up some scraps, which is one of my goals this year.

The image is Bugaboo's Stocking Santa Ornament colored with Spectrum Noir markers and die cut with Gina Marie Designs Wonky Stitched Ovals. I added small green pearls around the oval where the stitching crosses. The designer paper is strips cut from my scrap box. the sentiment is from Creative Vision Holiday Sentiments (sadly no longer in business). I added glitter to Santa's hat and coat and white gel pen to the ornament. To finish I added a row of snowflakes below the sentiment and along the top by heat embossing with glitter embossing powder a snowflake from Peachy Keen Chill Baby Chill Snowman Set. I am entering these challenges.

• Catch the Bug Christmas in July Day 4: Bingo (sparkle, Bug image, sentiment or pearls, sentiment, die cut)
• Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: use a die cut/punch
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper: use Patterned Paper

After having the twins all day I am ready for bed. For those of you who have been following my brother's fight with Covid-19, he lost his fight this evening. They took him off the ventilator this afternoon and his wife got to be with him until he passed away. After more than 3 and a half weeks he's finally at peace. Stay safe and be healthy, please!

Donna

Tag, Your It!

Just a quick post this morning as we have the twins all day today. It will likely be an indoor day as we have storms and lots of rain moving through. They always prefer to be outside though. So I was able to get another project done for the Bugaboo Christmas in July challenge. This one is anything but a card I made a tag!

The image is Santa Stocking Ho Ho Ho colored with Spectrum Noir markers and fussy cut and popped up on the tag. The tag itself is MFT Cross-Stitch Tag (without the cross stitch). I used traditional colors of card stock. The fun banners in the background is Gina Marie Designs Bunting Banners. I just ordered this one, first time to use. Isn't it cute? To finish off I added some gold glitter stars and some gold ribbon. Love how this turned out. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug Christmas in July Day 3: anything but a card
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: use a die or punch
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• The Outlawz Monday challenge: anything goes
• NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff): bunting banner die

I hopefully will have time this evening to craft a little more but things pop up on  a daily basis around here. Who knows. The twins will be a wonderful distraction today. Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe!

Donna

Bugaboo Christmas in July

This week is the fun yearly Christmas in July challenge at Catch the Bug. Life has been happening around here so I am getting a late start on this challenge, but I was able to get 2 cards done this afternoon and evening. So here's what I did.

This card is from Day 1 of the Christmas in July challenge. The theme is Santa's workshop. All Santa's helpers are helping to pack the sleigh for the big trip! The Bugaboo image is Scene It - Santa and Friends. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and added some sparkle with Recollections glitter. The oval is die cut with Gina Marie Designs Wonky Stitched Ovals (just the outside oval). I used two different background papers from my scrap box and the red with snowflakes is a scrap of ribbon from my ribbon box. I backed the layers with black card stock. The base of the card is greeb card stock. The sentiment is from Newtons Nook All Aboard for Christmas stamps and die cut with Spellbinders Circles Large. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug Christmas in July Day: 1 Santa's Workshop
• Outlawz Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: use a die cut/punch
• Creative Knockouts: furry friends (Rudolph)
• Cutie Pie challenge: delightful digi stamps

Day 2 of the Christmas in July challenge was a sketch challenge. 

My card features one of my favorite Bug images: Santa Claus Peeker.

I colored Santa with Spectrum Noir markers and added some Recollection glitter on Santa's hat and coat, and even a few sparkles on his beard. I die cut the image with Spellbinder's Lattice Rectangles and backed it with a scarp f patterned paper. I used two other patterned papers from my scrap box for the background. I added a ribbon with gold sparkles on from my ribbon box. The sentiment is from a retired Flourishes stamp set. To finish off I added some gem stones. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug Christmas in July Day 2: sketch above
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper: use patterned paper
• A Bit More Tine to Craft: anything goes
• Pattie's Creations: anything goes
• Christmas Card Throwdown: Santa

That's it for me today. Just a quick update on my brother. Rick is still in ICU on a ventilator. He isn't getting better very quickly. Please keep  him in your prayers. Thanks! Have a super week and stay safe!

Donna

Love U Bots!

I thought I wouldn't ever get this card done. It took me forever. I kept changing my mind, I would make a piece for it and then lose it. Everything that could go wrong did. But, I finally got it finished. Yeah!

Love how it turned out; although the picture really makes the card base look green. It's really a blue green like the lines in the washi tape. The image is from Limited Runs. I colored the images with Spectrum Noir markers. The smaller images were printed and then die cut with MFT Single Stitch Rectangular Frames. I then cut a frame with the same die in black. The large image I fussy cut and added him to the panel. The sentiment is computer-generated and die cut with MFT Stitched Ovals. I used black card stock to back everything. The panels are washi tape. The silver sparkle is from AlteNew and the colorful tape is from Scotch. The border die is Spellbinder's Classic Scallop Borders. I used two of the dies in that set because I liked the cut out circles. I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketch: 11th birthday sketch challenge (Happy Birthday TMS!)
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Crafter's Cafe: anything goes
• QKR Stampede: anything goes

So now on to using all the cucumbers I picked out of the garden today. Heading up to make refrigerator pickles. We finally got some good news about my brother in the hospital with corona virus. He's been transferred out of ICU. He had an added complication of ICU Psychosis. I'd never heard of that. But his mental state was better today and he was taking liquids. More prayers so he fully recovers, but thank you Lord, for getting him this far! It's a miracle. Take care and stay safe!

Donna

Beary Merry Christmas

I got a new computer yesterday. So this is my first post with the new one. It is so much faster than my old computer. I can't say that I am used to it yet but I'm working on it. Christmas in July is here so I thought I'd do a card for that.

I used another one of the backgrounds from Spring Card Camp 1 and die cut a circle from the center. The background was die cut with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitch Rectangles (retired).The image behind it is from Bugaboo Stamps mini set of Winter Bears.  I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers. To finish it off I added a cork ornament shape from Freckled Fawn. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: man or boy
• Crafty Friends: circles
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Monday Outlawz Greetings: Christmas in July

That's it for me tonight. Had the twins all day today and they wore me out. Busy day tomorrow and we are working on the barn roof all weekend. Going to be a hot one! I am praying I don't fall off the roof. Take care and please stay safe!

Donna

Birthday Thoughts

I actually started making cards today because I needed thinking of you cards and I wound up making a birthday and Christmas card tonight. Go figure! Since I needed multiple cards so I went back to the Spring Card Camp 1 techniques and used one to make the backgrounds for several cards that you'll see this week.

Kristina Werner gave us templates to use with designer paper. So I used the MFT Merry & Bright paper pack. I die cut the designer paper with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitched Rectangles (retired). The main image is from Bugaboo Stamps called Jesse Boy Bear. I colored him with Spectrum Noir markers and fussy cut him. The clouds are die cut from Spellbinders Conversation Bubbles 4 and then I cut the little conversation tab off to make them look like clouds. The sentiments on the clouds are from Jillibean Soup Balloon Party (Party, Let's Celebrate, and stars) and W Plus 9 Unforgettable *(Happy Birthday). I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug challenge: anything goes
• Scrapping4Fun challenge: birthday
• Incy Wincy: curves
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Papers: use patterned paper
• Outlawz Festive Friday: child's birthday

That's all for me tonight. Past my bedtime. For those of you who might be wondering, my brother is still battling the coronavirus. They moved him to a military hospital since San Antonio has a huge amount of cases. He is in the ICU on a ventilator. The last report that I received said his numbers look good so we are hoping he can beat this. If you have a few spare prayers we could sure use them. Thanks! Please stay safe!

Donna

A Note to Bug You

Tonight I have a fun card that I made. We've been working on the barn at Baby Creek and I almost forgot to post this.

The cute little bee is from Little Scraps of Heaven and was a free file at the time I got it. I fussy cut each bee. The honeycomb paper is from Scrap Illusions (unable to find it any more).The sentiment is from Create with TLC. I double die cut the sentiment using MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags (retired). I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Catch the Bug challenge: anything goes
• Crafter's Cafe: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

That's it for me tonight. I have some pictures to post of the twins but it will have to wait for another post. Just getting too late this evening. Please stay safe!

Donna

New Challenge

Today launches the new challenge at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. This month is a fun one! Of course you can always do the anything goes challenge but our twist is to check our list, flip a coin, and then do what the coin tells you to do. You will need to go over to the 12 Months website for the details. I couldn't get the table to copy over to my blog. But here is my card:

Our sponsor this month is a new one for us. We are welcoming All Dressed Up as a new sponsor! So my flips gave me more than 1) 4 or more layers, 2) a rectangle or square card, 3) dots, 4) gems or pearls, and 5) stitching. Such a fun card to make! I used two different designer papers both from the paper pack that Lisa Decosse (Decosse's Dynamite Doodles) designed for this challenge. 

I used both the dot paper and the stitching paper. The image of course is from All Dressed Up called It's Snowing. I colored him with Spectrum Noir markers and fussy cut him. The sentiment and stitching paper is die cut with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitch Rectangles. The large snowflake is die cut from shimmer paper with MFT Layered Snowflakes. I added the banner behind the snowman die cut from MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags (retired). To finish off all my flips I added pearls as the snowman buttons and the center of the snowflake. Really a fun challenge. I hope you'll go check out the other designers "flips" at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up and then join us this month. What better fun than Christmas in July!

I am entering these challenges:

• Atlantic Hearts challenge: sketch 
  
• NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff): paper pack and image
• Christmas Crafts All Year 'Round: Cool It!
• Simon Says Wednesday: bright and cheerful
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: snowflakes

That's it for me tonight. Please stay safe out there. My brother is fighting for his life in IUC because of Covid-19. So many people think this is no big deal but it really is. It's leaving many families feeling shocked, confused, and angry over their loss. Be careful that you aren't one of them.

Donna