Thanks

Good day everyone!

I was up before daylight this morning, making sure my girl was fed and taken care of, before she was off to take her ACT's.  As the days go on, the more it's starting to sink in that I'll be an empty nester very soon.  I still stop to wonder where time has gone.  My baby is technically an adult, and headed into her last year of school, before moving on to college. *sigh*  I'm thankful that she's such a great person, with a good head and a big heart.  I know she'll go on to do great things.

Anyway, since I was up, I decided to participate in a few challenges.  I actually made two cards.  Here is the first.

I debated about whether or not to actually post this card.  I had an idea in my head, but it didn't quite turn out how I wanted.  And, I still suck at masculine cards. lol  This paisley stencil from MFT though, is awesome!  I can see many uses for it in the future.  I was excited about using my new Abandoned Coral distress ink too.  That baby had been sitting on my desk, unopened, for months.  I guess this card isn't too terrible.  I think it needs a little "something" though.  Maybe I'll come back to it at a later date and figure it out.  At least I've got another card for my stash.  I'm going to submit this for the following challenges.

The Challenge #38:  Coral, Navy & Kraft
Freshly Made Sketches #190:  Sketch
Bloggers Challenge:  For The Boys
Crazy 4 Challenges #290:  Masculine Cards

Below is the second card I made.

This card was a bit over a week in process.  I colored the image with my Copics (I know, right?! lol) while on layover in Dallas, a bit over a week ago.  This is one of the better coloring jobs I've ever done, so I wanted to use it.  I added a vellum sentiment, embossed in gold and some Pretty Pink Posh sequins, and called it good.  I love how simple it is, and how the image stands out.  These colors together are lovely as well.  I'm going to enter this for the following challenges.

Word Art Wednesday #187:  Anything Goes
Just Add Ink #266:  Pink Pirouette, Night of Navy & Gold
YNS Challenge #16:  Sketch & Color Challenge (I only used the sketch, manipulating it a bit)
 
That's all for me today.  I'm going to attempt to take a nap, and catch up on some crafty YouTube videos.  I wish all of you a great day!

Hugs!

 

Happy Birthday

Happy Monday!

I know that may sound like an oxymoron, but for some reason, I'm in a fantastic mood this morning and the card I'm sharing with you today reflects that.  Check it out. :-)

This is a very yellow card, but I dig it.  I was excited to combine the following challenges.

Seize The Birthday: Birthday (monochromatic yellow for extra topping)
Just Add Ink #226: Sketch

I'm off to work, and then workout.  Hoping to reach my goal weight by the end of September for my 20 year class reunion.  Wow, just typing that makes me feel old. lol

Have a great day!

What's In It?
Paper: SU Very Vanilla cardstock, Bazzill Yellow Textured cardstock, MME Lost & Found Sunshine patterned paper
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Polka Dot Basics 2, Simon Says Stamp Birthday Balloons, SU Well Scripted
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink, Hero Arts Neon Yellow dye ink, VersaMark, Scattered Straw & Squeezed Lemonade distress ink
Accessories: Smooth Circle die, Picot Edge circle die, White Lace, Clear Embossing Powder, SU Summer Starfruit Satin Stitched Ribbon

Holiday Wishes

Happy weekend everyone!

I hope everyone is doing well, and having a great weekend.  Around here, we've been busy with getting my daughter registered for school, and back to school shopping.  It's tax free weekend in Iowa this weekend, so we did our shopping last night, after dinner.  We did some major damage on my check book, but she hates shopping, so we won't have to do that again for a while. lol  Today has been all about being lazy, and trying to get laundry finished.  In between, I made this card.

I'm sure by now, you know how I LOVE non-traditional Christmas colors.  This is definitely non-traditional, but I dig it.  I got to use more of my new Simon Says Stamp goodies, and I had fun putting this together.  I'm going to submit my card to the following challenges.

Just Add Ink Challenge #225: Color Combo (Smokey Slate, So Saffron, Whisper White & Basic Black)
52 Christmas Card Throwdown August Challenge: Sketch (my interpretation)
Crazy 4 Challenges #247: Banners

I'm off to make some veggie beef soup (my daughters request) and do a whole lot of nothing, except  maybe make another card.  I hope you have a wonderful afternoon!

Stay crafty my friends!

What's In It?
Paper: SU So Saffron, Basic Black & Whisper White cardstock, Simon Says Stamp Card Kit patterned paper (from last year)
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Holiday Envelope Sentiments
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink
Accessories: Simon Says Stamp Maryane Snowflake, Anabelle Stamps Twine, Kaiser Black Pearls, Avery Elle Lemonade Blend Sequins

Two For One

Hello!

How's your day going?  I'm enjoying a bit of a break from the chaos that is 4 teenage girls sleeping over, while they're at the pool.  I can only imagine that they're going to come back sunburned and/or "crispy" from being there most of the afternoon. lol  In the nice, quiet, alone time I have had, I created two cards.  I usually only post one at a time, but I wanted to share both of these right now.  I was a bit impatient in sharing these. :-)

Here is the first.

A few weeks ago I saw a card posted using a crochet mat.  I did some investigating, and found that Jessi Fogan, makes AND sells them.  I was super excited to place my order, and was even more excited when they arrived so quickly at my house the other day (she's awesome!).  I've asked her to try to find some neon thread.  Wouldn't they be awesome?!  It had been a while since I'd created anything but a square card, so I went with round for this one.  My peach/white flourish panel is actually the emboss resist technique, which I really should do more often.  I matted it in a pale yellow, and added it to my sage green crochet mat.  I then added a wood veneer banner that came in one of my Simon Says Stamp card kits, a twine bow, a hand crocheted flower I ordered on Etsy, and a few sequins.  In all, I think this card took me 20 minutes to complete, and I love it!

I've combined the following challenges in this card:

Stampin Royalty #189 - Photo Inspiration (hope I got close enough to the colors)
Drunken Stampers #137 - Twine (Hi Jessi!!)
Totally Gorjuss #197 - Die Cuts/Punches (my shaped card was made with dies)

And, here is the second card. 

If you know me, you know I LOVE blue.  I reminded myself about the need to continue my use of the emboss resist technique, and wound up with this beauty.  I made two identical panels, only one is embossed with snowflakes and has Mr. Huey's mist on it.  For a bit of added interest, I matted them in opposite directions.  The bottom layer starts with the darker colors at the top, and the focal panel starts with the lighter colors at the top.  I have to say, this turned out much better than I expected.  I added an MFT snowflake, a beautiful I Am Roses paper flower, and some cork paper leaves on top of my ribbon and sentiment, and was finished.  I think the emboss resist technique will be used again this afternoon, for some gift tags.  Or maybe a couple of bookmarks.  Ooooh, yeah...that would work!

I've combined the following challenges in this card:

Cards Galore August Challenge - Bingo (embossing/masks, sprays/inks, ribbon)
Cardabilities #81 - Sketch
Jingle Belles - Tic Tac Toe (embossing heat or dry, ribbon, stamping)
Just Add Ink #178 - Just Add Snowflakes
Just Us Girls #202 - Monochromatic Blues

Now that my long post is done, I've got a question to ask you awesome crafty people!  I recently started thinking that I might want to try my hand at getting published.  I've added it to my bucket list, but am in no hurry.  What advice would you give someone who's never tried this?  Any tips or hints at anything to help me out would be greatly appreciated. 

I'm off to try to create something else to share later in the week.  I'll be back on Monday with my next House of Cards project.  Hopefully, you'll get the chance to stop by and check out what I've made for that.  I do hope the rest of your weekend is fantastic!

Stay crafty my friends!

XOXO

Hi y'all!

Happy Humpday!  I'm SO glad today is Wednesday and we've only got two days left to go, before I get to sleep in.  If only we had more days in the weekend, I'd be a happy, happy girl. lol  I'm sad to say that we didn't make it to the College World Series after all, due to my having to work on Saturday.  Boo!  My daughter, being the amazing young woman she is, just blew it off and decided that she'd be happy if we went to see Man of Steel instead.  I was more than happy to oblige.  It's a GREAT movie, by the way, for any of you who are unsure of seeing it.  A lot better than I expected anyway.  The new Superman (Henry Cavill) is very nice to look at, especially when he's without a shirt. lol  Anyway, I made a card this morning.  Here's what I came up with.

I am trying to do the CAS thing again.  I wanted something simple, but not boring.  Thank goodness that my distress inks were able to help me accomplish my goal.  I embossed the back panel with the Tim Holtz rays embossing folder, and really like how it turned out.  I made this for a very dear friend, I met through blogging, who's always been there for me.  I do hope she enjoys it.

I've combined the following challenges in my card today:

Just Add Ink #169 - Inspiration Photo
Papertake Weekly - Hot, Hot, Hot (It is kind of a stretch, but I'm hoping Rays embossing folder fits this challenge)
Inky Chicks Challenge #6 - Love
SCRS Challenge #107 - Inspiration Photo
Without Words June Challenge - Hot Colors

I just found out this morning that I had received this:

For THIS card I made last week.  I'm totally stoked to be a Dynamic Darling! 

That's all for me today.  I'm headed to work, and then to my daughters softball game this evening.  Have a wonderful day!

Hugs!

Use It Tuesday Challenge #31

Hiya!

I'm back today with the next challenge at Use It Tuesday.  The challenge is All About Mom.  For all of the details, click HERE.

This card turned out exactly like I pictured it in my head.  That doesn't happen to me that often, so I'm always quite surprised when it does. lol  I've had these stamps for about a year now.  The doily, button and ribbon have all been in my stash for at least six months each.  Here's to using up more hoarded stash!  I used the colors from the photo below, and I've combined the following challenges in my card as well.

Raise The Bar #103 - Text/Letters/Type (the background is stamped with a text background stamp)
Paper Sundaes #119 - Mother's Day
Delightful Challenges - Mother's Day
Sentimental Sundays #101 - For A Special Woman

The other designers have put together some awesome Mother's Day projects.  I do hope you'll get the opportunity to head over and check them out.

Hugs!

Drunken Stampers #84

Well hello!

Looking at my last post, I am wondering where time has gone.  It has been almost two weeks since I last posted anything.  Goodness, that's bad. lol  It's end of month for us at work, again, and it's so crazy busy that my creative mojo hides from me.  Hopefully, I'll get back to posting more crafty stuff for you soon.

Anyway, I have my last Drunken Stampers card to share with you.  Sadly, I won't be able to stay on for another term, as I am just too busy with work.  I have truly enjoyed being a part of this team, and am thankful for the opportunity.  The challenge this week is Thank You.  For all of the details, click HERE.

I really like these colors together.  The patterned papers I found in these colors actually go quite well together also.  I'm not sure why I hadn't used this MFT doily die yet, but I love it.  It came together pretty quickly, and I'm sure the recipient will enjoy it.

I've combined the following challenges in my card:

Just Add Ink #106 - Sketch

Colour Create #90 - Lilac, Blue, White & Kraft

Delightful Challenges - Patterned Paper

Crazy 4 Challenges #125 - 2 Layered Card

Our Creative Corner - Over The Edge (have an element not restricted to the boundaries of your edges)

I hope you'll check out the Drunken Stampers blog to see what my friends have created for you today.  They're all pretty fabulous.

Hugs!

Appreciation

Hi ya'll!

Well, I tried to put together another masculine birthday card yesterday, as mentioned, but instead I would up with this.

This is going to that new special someone. *wink*  He was definitely my rock, and I was so glad that he didn't run away when I needed him most.  It's a bit girly, but I think he'll like it just the same.  I've combined the below challenges.

Just Add Ink #72 - Coloring (my hearts are colored with my Copics)

Stampin B's #115 - Border Punches

Corrosive Challenge #121 - Ribbons & Bows

I'm definitely going to attempt to make my masculine birthday card tonight.  I'm running short on time, so it has to be done quickly.  We'll see how it turns out. lol

Have a good day!