Insta Love

I made this card using the Insta Love stamp set from Your Next Stamp, I paper pieced the camera with papers from My Mind's Eye-Love Me 6x6 collection, stamped and colored the hearts and glossed them over, the grey and white strip is washi, blue polka dot paper is from my stash and I put a blue gem in the middle of the lens.

I hope you like it!!

I would like to enter the + YNS challenge-sketch or photo inspiration, my card is based on the sketch.

+The Pink Elephant-ATG

+Through the Craft Room Door-ATG

+Artistic Inspirations-ATG

Open-Minded Crafting Fun...a new challenge blog!!

Hi everyone, I'm excited to announce that I have been asked to join the DT over at a new challenge blog called   Open-Minded Crafting Fun,  I am being featured today (so cool, as it landed on my birthday!!!) so please come check it out and see what we have in store for the 2014 year.  We have a lot of wonderful sponsors and a lot of wonderful designers, plus two amazing ladies who are the brains behind it all!!

                                              
                                Challenges start January 4th, hope you will all come and join us!!!

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to.....

Actually, I'm not really having a party.  I am having a birthday though and I do feel a little like crying.  It's not that I'm getting older....cuz really every birthday should be celebrated!!  I mean, it's one more year that we are alive, one more year that we have spent with family and friends, one more year creating memories and having life lesson type experiences. And in all honesty, I really don't feel like crying, at least not at this exact moment....give me a few and that might change!    ;)

What I'm kind of bummed about and a little down about is that there are some things/goals in my personal life that I wanted to have done by now and instead of reaching those goals, I've done a 180 and gone in the completely opposite direction.  I'm a little mad at myself, disappointed, but yet hopeful at the same time.  I'm hopeful that in a couple days I can leave 2013 behind, not that it was a bad year (it wasn't), but maybe I can leave my emotional baggage/bad habits/bad health/sometimes bad attitude and leave it all in 2013.

I'm not really a big "RESOLUTION" type person, I tend to get discouraged easily when I don't see results fast enough...especially when it comes to weight loss.  UGH!  That is the worst and that is when I throw my hands in the air and give up.....well giving up has only gotten me heavier and more unhealthy.

So..........as much as I do not care to make resolutions, I am going to make a commitment to myself to celebrate the progress.  Celebrate the baby steps, celebrate the small victories and realize that with each step I come that much closer to seeing and having a healthier attitude, healthier body and a better outlook on life.  Hopefully along this journey, I will also learn to be a little nicer to myself.

My hope, prayers and wishes to all of us is to have a blessed and prosperous New Year, to look forward to 2014 with hopeful anticipation and to have lots of love and laughter.

To all my blogland friends, thank you for stopping by and leaving love, thanks for all your sweet comments and for sharing my little space on the blogosphere.    Love to  ya all, have a safe and happy New Year!

Winter Kisses

Hi blog friends, I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas holiday, I know that I am still enjoying my holiday break.  I ended up taking some time off work when my son came for a visit and just decided to keep taking a few more days off, so I don't go back to work until Jan 2nd...YAY!!!  I can't tell you how much I needed this break and this time just to be home.  I'm dreading going back to work and not only because I will be buried with work but just because I really do enjoy being at home!  

I've been doing a lot of reading, some coloring and catching up on some netflix.  I'm now done with the series I was watching, so if anyone has any other suggestions, please share!!  :)

I made this card with an image and sentiment  from Simply Betty Stamps, I kept it simple, colored with copics, used some washi tape, a border punch, snowflakes and a doily.  I think she is such a pretty snow fairy.

These are the challenges I would like to enter:

+One Crazy Stamper-Winter/Holiday

The Pink Elephant-ATG #231

2 Creative Chicks-Christmas/Winter

Color Me Creative-Winter/Holiday

+Your Next Stamp-sketch or photo inspiration

Believe in the Magic

I love this adorable little fairy!!  I colored her during a Color Along with Kristy of Some Odd Girl, and colored in Christmas colors, I think she turned out so cute.  This is my first attempt at making a card that is completely out of my normal style by adding a lot of bulky embellishments, I'm not sure....but I think it turned out pretty cute.  I did make this a 6x6 card, but I decided I don't want to give it away and will add her to a canvas that I can use for a home decor item.  

I would like to enter the following challenges:

+Paper Playtime-Winter Fun

The Pink Elephant-photo inspiration

+Sister Act Card Challenge-ATG

2 Creative Chicks-Christmas/Winter

+Fairies Challenges-Christmas

+One Crazy Stamper-Winter/Holiday

+Oozak-something old, something new (new-silver leaves and white sprigs, old snowflake stickers)

+Marker Pop-Happy Holidays

+Color Me Creative-Winter/Holiday

+Simon Says Stamp-Bling it on....glitter, gems, stickles

Smile!!

                                         
               Here is another card I made using Photo Kaylee from Some Odd Girl, I kept this simple, I colored with copics, used various pattern paper and the frames are from Lacy Labels cricut cartridge. The word Smile is also from the Photo Kayless stamp set.  I just love how cute she is and was fun to color up.

I would like to enter these challenges:
An Inky Situation-Stripes, JFF
Pile It On-P is for ....pictures, polaroid
+Through the Craft Room door-ATG
Artistic Inspiration-ATG

Scribbles White on White challenge

Scribbles Designs Challenge #12

Shades of White...

White... snow, snowflakes, snow people, winter,   
White is everywhere...

So our Scribbles Designs Challenge to you is to 
make a card or project using 
Shades of White...

I used the Snow Capped Tree image and the LET IT SNOW ticket...I tried to keep the colors more subtle and focus on the white.....it's harder than I thought!!

I colored with copics, used some snowflakes, white ribbon, white sequins and embossed the background with my cuttlebug. 

 

I hope you like my card and please come join us for our new challenge!

I would like to enter the following challenges:
+Through the Craftroom Door-Anything Goes
+Cupcake Inspirations-photo inspiration
+Great Impressions-Use glitter/sequins
+Allsorts-Snowflakes
+JO's Scrap Shack-Winter
+Crafty Little Fairies-Let It Snow
+Moving along with the Times-Winter Wonderland

Picture Perfect

I have LOVED this image/stamp from Some Odd Girl from the moment I layed eyes on it, and this week, I finally got my hands on it!!  I made a couple cards with this image, I will post the other one tomorrow.  I just love it and she totally makes me happy.....I wonder if it's because at one point in life I wanted to be a photographer for a travel magazine and just travel where ever the winds took me and take amazing pictures along the way.  I think maybe yes!! 

Anyway, here she is, colored with copics, I used glossy accents on the camera, her shoes, and the polaroids. I also added stickles to some random dots on the pink paper but it's a little hard to see.  Added a flower, gem, and some bling along with some line work.  She's just a cutie!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Pile It On-P is for....pictures and polaroid's 

+Crafty Catz-ATG

+Sister Act Card Challenge-anything goes

+Little Miss Muffet-You've been framed

+Through the Craft room door-Anything Goes

Artistic Inspirations-Fav colors/anything goes

+Glitter N Sparkle-Show us some blue

Have an Ice Day!

Wow..I tell ya what, we here in the Southern Utah desert have an some ICE DAYS lately.   Last weekend, we got hit with more snow than I think we have had in decades and definitely more than I've ever seen while living here most of my life.   I know those of you who have snowy winters normally kinda laugh and say what's the big deal, it's 6 inches of snow....but for us, it gets crazy.  Mind you, we have NO equipment for snow, usually when and if it does snow, it doesn't stick on the roads, this time......it stuck and stayed.  We were told to stay home if we could and they called off church because of a SNOW DAY.  We live here precisely because of the mild winters.  The gorge between St. George and Las Vegas was completely shut down for more than 12 hours and people were stranded.  Kinda scary!

Anyway off of the weather and on to the cute card I made using this adorable penguin, it  and the sentiments are from SKdigis, you can find it HERE.  The snowglobe cut file is from My Scrap Chick and the snowflake is from The Joys of the Season cricut cartridge.  I colored with copics, used snow icicle stickles for a snowy glittery effect.  I hope ya like it!!

I would like to enter the following challenges:
+YNS-picture inspiration
+Paper Playtime-Winter Fun
+Crafty Catz-ATG
+JO's Scrap Shack-Winter fun
+Crafy Little Fairies-Let It Snow
+Simon Says Stamp-Snow
+Bitten By the Bug2-Winter, snowflake and snowglobe cut with cricut

A Christ Centered Christmas

This post is a little different from my normal crafty posts or a random post with pics of my daughter.

 

This video is "O Come, Emmanuel" from The Piano Guys.  The Piano Guys live in my hometown and I went to school with Paul Anderson, who is behind the scenes a lot, but is making his way out to the front at times and it's fun to see the growth and success they have reached.  They are amazing, their music and videos are moving and you can see the pure joy on their face when they perform. 

 

Please enjoy this video and check them out on youtube...they have TONS of videos and all are amazing! 

 

 

 

The reason for this post is to  help put me in a different "spirit of Christmas" this year and maybe touch someone else at the same time.  With all the stories out there of the killings and injuries involving shopping.....SHOPPING of all things!!   Who would have thought shopping would be dangerous?  The Black Friday frenzy is getting worse year by year and I know that for myself, I'm trying to focus more on what Christmas means to me, instead of making sure that I buy everything on my list.  In fact, I would love it if I didn't even have a list....but I don't think I can get away with that!!  ;)

 Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't like big crowds or lots of traffic, so I tend to stay away from any kind of shopping around Thanksgiving weekend anyway. 

 

At church, I'm part of a committee that plans activities outside of our normal Sunday worship hours and this past activity was all focused on having a Christ Centered Christmas and how to go about doing that.  We had a lesson and a darling live nativity with some of the cutest little wise men, angels, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.  Also, we had some crafts that were focused on the nativity with the title "Wise Men Still Seek Him", it turned out great and I think it put a different focus on Christmas for those attending.  My mom also gave us a 25 day countdown to Christmas all with scriptures, songs, and stories centered around Christ and his birth, unselfish service and gratitude.  I know that for me, putting Christ in the center of Christmas will be my goal this season. 

 

I hope that however you celebrate Christmas, you have a safe and enjoyable time, surrounded with friends, family and lots of love!

With Sympathy- Remembrance Challenge

We are at mid-way point with our Fancy Folds/Remembrance challenge over at Scribbles Designs Challenge and hope you will come join the fun.  I used the image Flower Doodle 5 and absolutely LOVE it!

  I printed it out twice, colored it up and cut out the flowers and popped them up with dimensionals.  I also used orange stickles to add some sparkle.  I colored with copics, used some twine and washi tape.  the inside has a yellow polka dot print.  I'm not so good at fancy folds, but I'll get there!! ;)

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp-ATG

Paper Playtime-ATG

Happy Holidays

 

I made this fun little card last night using a pre-done card base, torn paper with icicle stickles, distressed ink for the sky and the cute trees.....they are from Unity Stamp Co. but they are BANNERS!!  I just turned them upside down and they made the perfect trees!  I punched out little stars for the tops and glued white sequins down with glossy accents to resemble snow falling.  I also spattered some white acrylic paint, and the sentiment is a rub-on.  

 

This card was made for the challenge over at Studio D, to use sequins on a Christmas card.

 

I would also like to enter the following challenges:
+Love to create-use 3 favorite embellishments: stickles, sequins and punches
Paper Playtime-ATG
Sentimental Sundays-Winter Wonderland + Sentiment

Oh BE-HAVE!!

Used 60's Mod Mae and some really old papers from a kit I've had FOREVER! It didn't turn out quite how I had imagined, but I guess that happens sometime.  I created this for the challenge over at Some Odd Girl to use speech bubbles.  The speech bubble is a Some Odd Girl cut file. 

Be grateful

I made this card for a few challenges, the image is from Simply Betty Stamps and was a freebie for FB fans that consistently play along with the challenges.  I colored her up with copics, used some super old prima flowers, the leaves are from my leaf punches that I used today for the first time...yay for using stuff that's been in the drawer for close to a decade!!!  Pearls, gems, a doily, lots of distress ink, and the papers are from Echo Park and Doodlebug Designs.

                         I don't normally do the inside, but think I might start...at least when I remember!!

I would like to enter into the following challenges:

+Simply Betty Stamps-image

+Your Next Stamp-sketch (loosely) and color inspiration from photo

Color Me Creative-ATG

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards-Grateful

+Crafty Creations Challenge-Thanksgiving or Christmas

+Make it Monday-ATG

Senior Sadies

This past Saturday was my daughter's high school Sadies dance, her last Sadies dance.  This year will be the many LASTS for her as a senior.  Yes, there will be many firsts as well, but as a senior, it kind of has a bittersweet taste.

 I'm not going to dwell on the sadness of that ...at least not here in this post.  I might break down and need to get all my thoughts, emotions out at another date in the future as my baby gets closer and closer to graduation, but for now......I just wanted to share some super cute pics of her and her boyfriend!  These pics were taken by a professional and I don't have the pics of their "day date" where they went on a photo and video scavenger hunt, hopefully I can get access to those soon! 

 

cute ^

 

LOVE THIS^^^

                                                         uh oh ....kissing  ;)                                                           

                                                                     The group^^^

Anyway, just want to preserve these fun pics with these great kids.  Something that I can look back on and reminisce when I'm an empty nester and crying in my diet coke!! ;)

12 Days of Christmas with Damaris

If anyone out there in blogland wants some amazingly wicked awesome cool Christmas inspiration, you need to follow Damaris over at Studio D, she is doing  12 Days of Christmas on her blog.  She did this last year and I was in awe of her amazing talent.  So go...check it out, you won't be sorry!

In Remembrance

 

 

 

Scribbles Designs Challenge #11

                                                      Remembrance with Fancy Folds...

With this challenge "Remembrance" can be a different things. 
It can be about the many before us have fallen in bravery to keep our countries safe & free...
Or it can be about someone in your life that you want to pay tribute to, remembering them in a special way... 
Let's remember them with a card 
with the added optional design theme of fancy folds

 

                      Remembrance with Fancy Folds is also 
                      sponsored by our friends Bugaboo Stamps!

 

Sandy also has a freebie image over at Scribbles Designs if you would like to pick it up and join our challenge!

 

Here is the card I made, I used a gate fold style card and I'm embarrassed to say that this is my first card done with a different fold *gasp*  

It's a good thing I had to do this challenge, it made me break out of my comfort zone and try something different!!

 

I used Scribbles image FLOWER 1

colored with distress inks, I actually printed 3 flowers and colored each copy a different shade, cut out and popped up for some dimension.  The rest of the paper and photo corners are from my stash.

 

Merry & Bright

Ok, I totally fell in love with this tree! You can find it HERE.  I love the little baubles on the end of the branches and they look like ornaments, as I was coloring this I realized it could be for any reason, season or color.  How cute would it be in pinks and purples, it could be for a girl or a boy, it could be done in manly colors, fall colors, spring, summer, you get the idea and it would be perfect with almost any sentiment. 

I used a kraft base for the card, some paper scraps from a 6x6 Christmas paper pad, snow flakes, twine and the Merry & Bright is a stamp that I've had for YEARS..yay for using older supplies!! :)

SKdigis Challenge Blog will be taking a break but please stop by to check out our latest projects and find some inspiration along the way!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

+Make it Monday-Anything Goes

+MarkerPop-Anything Goes

+Paper Playtime-Sparkle-Snowflakes have glitter and bling

+Ohh-la-la Challenge Blog-Stitching faux or real

+Hobbycutz-Winter Wonderland or Glitter N Sparkle (both)

+2 Sisters-Christmas Sparkle

+Color Me Creative Challenge-Wintry, Frosty, Cold

+Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge-Outdoors

+Divas By Design-Use a Digi

Blog Candy at Nicole's Craft Nook-GO!!

Just wanted to direct anyone and everyone over to Nicole's blog, she is having blog candy!!!  Go check out her blog for the chance to enter to win and besides that, she has amazing style and her cards and projects are to die for!! 

Lots of Love Scribbles Mid-Way challenge

 

Join us...

Scribbles Designs Challenge #10

                                     Shades of Orange...

                            Orange... pumpkins, cats, candy, leaves, trees,  
                                   Shades of Orange is everywhere...

                         So our Scribbles Designs Challenge to you is to 
                                   make a card or project using 
                                      Shades of Orange...

 

 

Here is the card I made using the Heart Doodle 5 image you can find it HERE.

I colored with copics, added stickles to some of the hearts, glossy accents to others and some I left with just some color.  I added some bling, ribbon, primas and brads, I also got out my old letter rub ons and used for the sentiment.

 

I hope you like my card and will join our challenge, Sandy also has a freebie available, so come check it out!!

 

 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

+Divas by Design-Add some Orange

+Penny's Challenges-Add Black or bling

+Glitter N Sparkle-add black

 

A Huge Happy Birthday-SKdigis

When I saw this so freakin cute elephant that Sonia has just come out with I absolutely had to make something with it!  I think he is just the cutest elephant EVER! 

 I colored him up with copics, used pattern paper, my border punch, some prima flowers, the leaves are from a punch and I just drew lines on them with my copic, the banner was actually part of the pattern paper pad that I used and hand cut, then flipped it so I had the polka dot side.  The Happy Birthday sentiment is from Paper Smooches and I used orange and blue gems.  I used the sketch at SKdigis Challenge  for the inspiration.  I hope you like it, and I hope you will check out the challenge, see what the other designers have done with the sketch and see some new digi images. 

Also remember, there is a FANtastic Linky Party each month and the sketch challenge each week. There is a progressive challenge with the opportunity to receive a free digi each month.  Please check it out!! 

Have a wonderful day! :)

 

Here is the sketch I used from SKdigis

 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sunday Stamper-Roses

Lexi's Creations -Birthday

+Hiding in My Craft Room-Use a Critter

+Seize the Birthday-Birthday Celebration

 

You drive me BATTY!!

Hi and Happy Monday to ya!!  I'm trying to be chipper and happy on this Monday, but it's a tad bit hard as I had a horrible bout of insomnia last night, even after taking meds for restless leg and sleep...ugh, I feel like I've been run over! 

Anyways, today Scribbles is sponsoring the challenge over at Fetch A Sketch, I created a fun card using the sketch. 

                                       I used this adorable bat from Scribbles, you can find it HERE.  The BATTY is from part of a digi sentiment from Scribbles as well, I just colored it and cut it away from the other words.  I made this with my husband in mind, because he does drive me BATTY, but in a good way!!  ;D

 

I hope you like my card and will check out the challenge at Fetch a Sketch!

 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

+Glitter N Sparkle-Add Black

Quirky Crafts-Make Me Laugh

Hiding In My Craftroom-Use a Critter

+Marker Pop-Boo to you

 

What's in your future??

I used this oh so awesome image from Simply Betty Stamps -Fortune Teller, she is an image that I got for the Oct facebook challenge and am entering into that challenge.  I colored her with copics, used some stickers from a Disney Jasmine sticker sheet that I've had FOREVER...yay for using up supplies! Some bling, black enamel accents and cut the frame from my Lacy Labels cricut cartridge.  The inside is decorated too and says "a very Happy Birthday"

I would also like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting When We Can-Make it Sparkle
Dreamweavers Stencils-Mystical and Magical
+Color Me Creative -Anything Goes

Shades of Orange

We have a new challenge over at Scribbles Designs and the theme is Shades of Orange.  I used this awesome Tropical Fish image and colored with copics.  I also embossed the black and orange papers, inked them with white ink added some gems and photo corners.  I kept it really simple and will add a sentiment when I know what occasion it will be for.  

I hope you will come join us at Scribbles and play along with our challenge!

 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

+Make My Monday-Texture

+Glitter N Sparkle-Add Orange

+By Lori Designs-Black, Orange +one

 

Cute Scarecrow-SKdigis Sketch Inspiration

Hi all and happy Monday to ya! I can say happy Monday, because I had today off...Thanks Columbus Day!! So I've had a nice 4 day weekend, part of it was spent not feeling well, but any day that I'm not at work is a good day!!  Can ya tell that I'd rather not be at work?!!! ;)

Anyway, here is another sketch and inspiration from SKdigis, Sonia is just amazing with her sketches, which she also has an svg available for the sketch and her absolutely adorable images are so fun to play with!

I used Little Scarecrow for my card this time, followed the sketch (mostly) and used up scraps of pattern paper that fits the fall colors and colored him with copics.  I used some twine, but other than that kept it pretty simple.  Sometimes I won't add a sentiment until I know who and for what occasion the card is needed for.  

Please head over to SKdigis to see what my DT sisters have created, join our FANtastic Linky Party, if you join us, you have the chance to get a free image each month, definitely check out the details HERE! 

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

+Color Me Creative-anything goes 

+Eureka Stamps-Fall Theme with String/Twine

+Tammy's Scrappin Corner-Fall Colors 

Cards for Men-Halloween

A Different Look

Hi all, I'm just trying out a few different looks with the blog, and since I am not in any way shape or form a techy person, this will be an experiment of hit and miss until I can figure it out!!   I hope some of you can feel my pain!! ;)

SKdigis Fall Blog Hop Winners!!

                  
                                            Go HERE to see who the winners are and thanks for hopping with us!

                                                         The winner from my stop will get her choice of one of the images I used on my project which you can see HERE.

 And my winner is Laura!!! Congrats Laura, please check out the details on the SKdigis blog to claim your prize!!  

Thanks everyone for stopping, hopping, and for your sweet comments!! :)

Mad Scientist Tobie

I made this card using Mad Scientist Tobie from Some Odd Girl.   I think he's pretty much the coolest little mad scientist EVER! 

I used some Halloween themed paper for the background, colored Tobie with my copics, used glossy accents on the liquid and bubbles, and did an ombre background, added some glitter modeling paste with a stencil...kinda hard to see in the pic, but it was pretty fun to play around with.

Anyway, I hope you like it and hope you all have a Wonderful Wednesday!! :)

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Some Odd Girl-Ombre

+Through the Craftroom Door-Anything Goes

Cards For Men-Myth and Magic

+Craftin Desert Divas-Anything with a sentiment

Marker Pop-Anything Goes

+The Pink Elephant Challenge-Use Black, Orange & Purple

Birthday Blog Hop

Happy Birthday, Calypso!

Calypso is having a birthday today!  We are so excited to share with you a Surprise Birthday Blog Hop!!!  Every stop along the hop has a surprise birthday card or project for Calypso created by members of two Design Teams... 

Sentimental Sundays and Scribbles Designs.

Calypso keeps all of us so organized; is such an inspiration to all of us and also is right there with unfailing support and compassion for any of the team members.  

Her talents abound and we adore her!

Please join us in the (surprise)

Birthday Hop for Calypso 

and stop by her blog at the end to wish her Happiest of Birthdays! 

Happy Birthday, Calypso!

Here is my card

I used this cute freebie image from CC Designs, colored with copics, used my cricut to cut out the scallop shape, flowers, circle and border. Used some prima flowers, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, some gems and black brads. Hope you like it!! 

Next head on over to 

Julie's blog for the next project!

Be sure to comment on the Birthday Hop post on one or both blogs 

Sentimental Sundays and Scribbles Designs.... 

one person will be randomly chosen (on October 8th) from all comments collected from both blogs to receive a prize in the mail.  

The prize will be sent to you and we welcome you from anywhere in the world you reside in!   

Here's the lineup in case you get lost 

(Make sure your last stop is CALYPSO so you can wish her a Happy Birthday!)

We'll start with Angi of Sentimental Sundays....

Doreen of Sentimental Sundays...

Vicky  of Scribbles Designs...

Jennifer  of Scribbles Designs...

Archana of Sentimental Sundays & Scribbles Designs...

Deanne of Scribbles Designs...

Sharla  of Scribbles Designs...

Julie of Sentimental Sundays...

Karolina of Sentimental Sundays...

Lisa of Scribbles Designs...

Cely of Scribbles Designs...

Sam of Scribbles Designs...

Tracey of Sentimental Sundays...

Nick of Scribbles Designs...

Sandy of Sentimental Sundays & Scribbles Designs...

(Your last stop is CALYPSO so you can wish her a Happy Birthday!)

Calypso 


I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
MarkerPop-Anything Goes
+Catch the Bug-Anything Goes
+Delicious Doodles-Shaped Card
+Kitty Bee Designs-Flowers
+Sister Act Card Challenge-Anything Goes
+Seize the Birthday-Anything Goes