Sandy's Crafty Creations

Hello

2012-03-11T18:31:00.000-05:00

MoJo Monday Sketch #231

The sketch on MoJo Monday this past week is such a fun one. I love the semi-circle and the banner. I decided to use this sketch for a "Hello" card for Operation Write Home.

For this card, I pulled out a 6x6 piece of Authentique Paper--Free Bird, Series One, Delight for the background over a nice pink card base. I used the back side of the paper for the solid green stripe and rummaged around in my paper scraps to find the plaid for the banner. The circle is a Sassafras cardstock sticker. I used pink pearls for the embellishments on the edge if the banner and tied a pink Satin bow using the Bow-Easy template that I got in the mail last week. The "Hello" sentiment is an acrylic stamp and I outlined the tag with pen stitching.

Next up, if I get them made today are cards made from Sketch Inspiration sketches for the past couple of weeks and maybe even today's new one!

Spring Time Happy Birthday!

2012-03-11T14:54:00.001-05:00

Flutter By Wednesday #193 ~ Spring Time

Well hello! I'm back!! Yes, I've been away from my blog since March 1st! TEN DAYS! Wow! For those who don't know, I have issues with my back and left hip. Ten days ago, pretty much after my last post, my back decided that was a good time to stiffen up. As usual, my back stiffness and pain lasts only a day or two BUT the residual of it into my left hip and leg is extreme. At least I think so! And now after a MRI (which shows that my discs are just minimally herniated), daily trips to the Chiropractor and a trip to a back doctor for more meds, I finally feel like creating a card or two and blogging. I'm not 100% and perhaps I never will be, but I do hope there will be days, weeks, maybe months when I am. I'm so much better today than I was last weekend that's for sure! But enough about me and this crummy back of mine! Ha, Ha. Let's look at a pretty card!

I created this card for Flutter By Wednesday#193 which always requires you to use a butterfly, fairy or angel in your project along with their weekly challenge. This time the challenge was "Spring Time." Seems appropriate as today is the first day of "Spring Forward" on the clock and spring is certainly just around the corner. (Pretty much here already for Texas!) For me, Spring Time always means flowers!

Most of this card I created the night before my major back ache! The butterfly is made from some lovely ribbon. I added yellow pearls and used white pearl hat pins for the antennae. Today I colored the flowers & leaf with my Copic pens ( Y000, Y15, G20 & G24). If you've never colored flowers with Copics, you might want to consider it. It's a great way to get flowers in just the right color for you project. I buy the usual scrapbook flowers & leaves in white. Then color them any palette that I wish! I added brads for the centers of the flowers and arranged it all over a vintage paper doily and lovely pink tulle and yellow ribbon.

Well, this new time has me bumfuddled! It's later than I think but perhaps I'll be able to create one or two more cards before this afternoon is gone.

Have a beautiful day!

P.S. I'm sorry that my blog background is still decked out in it's February finery of pink and love. I really like it and haven't found a spring one just yet.

For Mother, With Love

2012-03-01T07:30:00.000-06:00

This evening I'll be heading over to my favorite scrapbook store, Cat's Creations Scrapbooks, for a card making workshop for Operation Write Home! We'll be making Mother's Day cards for the troops! Each attendee is to make 20 cards (half Mother's Day and half Other Occasion). The workshop is from 6 pm. to 8 p.m. Now I don't know about you but I cannot make twenty cards in two hours. Nope, not going to happen especially when you visit and talk and shop. So...I make my twenty cards in advance and then take card kits that I pre-planned to make maybe 6 more. All the cards brought and made tonight will be boxed up together and mailed off to our OWH shipper in time for them to be distributed to the troops way before Mother's Day.

Over the past few weeks I've been working on my Mother's Day cards for tonight. Here are a few of them that I will be taking with me.

All the cards that I'm making this year for Operation Write Home are in loving memory of my own Mother, Maebell Clawson, who passed away last April.

If you make cards, I encourage you to make a special one for your own Mother or someone who's like a mother to you or maybe start making cards for OWH. They still need lots of cards for the troops and many are waiting patiently for the beautiful handmade cards to send home to their loved ones.

Hope you have a special day, and Happy First Day of March!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday

2012-02-29T11:33:00.000-06:00

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday # 143

Well, I haven't done any creating in my craft room since Sunday, but I do have stuff on my workdesk to share today for WOYWW #143 over on the Stamping Ground blog. Right now I'm putting labels on the backs of the cards I'll be shipping to Operation Write Home and tucking each one into an envelope. In the center of my table in the basket are all the cards I need to label and tuck! I've also been wrapping my loose ribbon on the laundry pegs. Someone in a comment last week called them pegs. I liked that. Pegs. Normally I call them clothespins but then I associate that with the clip type so pegs these are. Ha, ha. Saw this idea on Pinterest and I think I'm going to like it! You take one end of a loose piece of ribbon and insert it into the slot of the peg and then start rolling it up and then take a bit of the end and insert it into the slot to hold it all in place. I'm putting mine into this basket I had and for the pieces of ribbon that are really too short to even bother putting on a peg, I've loosely tied them on the handle of the basket. Oh yes, there on the front corner---my February Unity Stamp kit that arrived in the mail Monday. Love it! Can't wait to use them on some cards.

A closer shot of my basket of laundry pegs and ribbons.

I have much to do today. Need to finish up getting the cards ready for the shipper, make more cards if I find the time, put together a few card kits for me to take to work on at the OWH workshop tomorrow night AND actually do some office work in my husband's home office for his construction business. I guess you know what I'd really rather do--yep, make cards in my crafty room!

Have a wonderful Wednesday and thanks for stopping by!

I'm a Winner!

2012-02-27T11:52:00.000-06:00

I love blog hops. And I've been guilty of just looking and not commenting, even when there is blog candy. But this time I decided to comment as I hopped along for the Use It Tuesday Birthday Celebration Blog Hop and guess what? I won a digi image on one of the blogs that I commented on! Sweet!! Yep, my comment over on Scrap Every Moment was the random winner of this adorable digi stamp from Amber Ink! I'll be making some cute cards with this image that's for sure!

So if you like this image, you can buy if from Amber Ink--it's called Love Bunny - Grown Up.

Thanks to Scrap Every Moment and Amber Ink for the goodie and thank you to Use It Tuesday for the blog hop!]

It's a good day!

Thanks For All You Do

2012-02-26T19:06:00.000-06:00

Sketches by Carly #50

I'm beginning to really love the 4.25" square cards! I like the square look and design and they still fit in a A2 card envelope! For this week's Sketches by Carly challenge, I went back to making cards for Mother's Day with pink. I truly love pink of any shade on a card. This was an interesting sketch and it made a fabulous and unique card!

I used a white card base and added the light pink solid card stock. The triangles or flags at the top, the partial circle rings and the rose printed paper square are from my scrap stash and are the front and back of the same paper. I added pink rhinestones at the bottom edges of the rose square and a hot pink seam binding ribbon bow and some bits of scrapper's twine in white that I scrunched and curled up. The sentiment "thanks for all you do" is an acrylic stamp.

I'm happy to report that all the newspapers and cardboard we'd been stock piling for a few weeks have been taken in to the recycle bin! Yay! The house looks much cleaner! That, and I vacuumed today too. Ha, ha. I see that new blog challenges have been posted for the week, so I'd best enter them into my calendar notebook so I can stay on track!

It's been a lovely weekend and I hope that you had a good one too!

Simply the Best Mom!

2012-02-26T13:46:00.000-06:00

Stamps R Us ~ Anything Goes Challenge

In making Mother's Day cards for Operation Write Home, I discovered that I make a lot of PINK cards. Mom's like pink, right? Well, I do but then maybe there are some that can't stand it. Hmmm...so I thought I'd have a go at using some different colors. And this is how this particular card for the final challenge over on Stamps R Us came about. Anything goes. And it's a good thing. Ha, ha. How in the world did I come up with orange and green for a Mother's Day card? This is one of those card bases that I create using scraps of paper. Since the little scrap of printed paper with the trees had several shades of green AND orange trees, I went with those colors for my flowers and ribbon and accent colors. Can't say that this is my best and certainly not my favorite card but I'm going to be positive that somewhere out there is a Mom who is not only "Simply the Best" but also loves green and orange!

Card created with scraps of paper, orange seam binding ribbon, felt flowers with rhinestones and acrylic stamps for the swirls, sentiment and flowers on stems colored with Copic pens.

While I was thinking of spending my Sunday afternoon sewing some quilt blocks (and maybe I'll still have time to get back to that), I've just been informed that we must take newspapers and cardboard to town to the recycle place. What fun!

Enjoy your afternoon and may you find time to be crafty!

Hello & Happy Mother's Day

2012-02-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

Sketch Inspiration #307 & #308

Since New Year's I've been participating in a weekly sketch challenge by Sketch Inspiration and also posting the creations on Cat's Creations Scrapbook facebook page. So far, I've been able to do one each week! Sketch Inspiration gives a fabulous sponsor gift each week to a random winner of those who post their creation on the SI website. Most people create a 12x12 scrapbook page from the sketches but I've been condensing them down and creating cards! That's quite a challenge too. Ha, ha.

Last week I created this one from Sketch #307:

I used strips of blue and dotted printed paper on a brown with white dots background. Added a flower that I colored with a Copic marker, blue brads, scroll hot pink border, blue ribbon and buttons. I stamped the "hello" sentiment with an acrylic stamp.

And this week I created a Mother's Day card for Operation Write Home from Sketch #308:

This one is created on a yellow card base and I used the front and back of a printed paper--dots on one side and stripes on the other. Added a pre-punched hot pink flower border, large hot pink flower and a brad plus a small pink/white twine bow. The "Happy Mother's Day" sentiment was printed out on my computer.

A new sketch will be posted today on Sketch Inspiration, anyone can join in and you don't have to have a blog. You can upload your sketch creation to the SI gallery each week as long as you use their sketch for inspiration plus you just might win a fabulous prize! Deadline to upload each week is on Saturday by midnight (central time).

Merry Christmas!

2012-02-25T23:16:00.000-06:00

ABC Christmas Challenge ~ Distress It!

MoJo Monday Sketch #229

Yes, I know it's not Christmas but I am making Christmas cards--actually every other week or so for the ABC Christmas Challenge. This time the challenge is for the letter D which means create a Christmas card and "distress it!" When I pulled out my Christmas papers and such I decided that the current MoJo Monday Sketch #229 would be perfect for this Christmas card.

There's lots of distressing stuff going on with this card. I'll try to share what I did. First, I picked the Bo Bunny Blitzen Collection 6x6 papers. I used the "Christmas words" printed paper and cut it into strips following the design of the MoJo Monday sketch. Then I cut a coordinating large dots paper for the first layer over the strips. I lightly sanded the edges of that paper and then distressed it with "Walnut Stain" Distress Ink (Tim Holtz by Ranger). Next, I cut out a square of the printed paper that had the reindeer so that it would be the centerpiece of the sketch. I sanded the edges of that too (I use a Bazzil sander) and distressed it with "Pine Needles" and "Walnut Stain" Distress Ink (Tim Holtz by Ranger). THEN I used Ranger Distress Crackle paint in Clear Rock Candy and painted the reindeer so that he ended up with a crackled, glittery, distressed, vintage look. I also distressed the edges of the entire card and the tag with the distress inks. I added a beautiful ribbon/bow using a gorgeous sheer green with blue edge May Arts ribbon. "Merry Christmas" is stamped on the tag with an acrylic stamp and attached with red brads. And that's my distressed Christmas card, not to be confused with stressed which is what happens in December when I start making Christmas cards, but this year by making a card for each ABC Christmas challenge I hope to be a lot less STRESSED!

I know I've done several blog posts for today, but I have to do them when I can and I want to make sure to get these posted for the challenges ON TIME! Ha, ha. This should be the last one for today...it's getting late and I feel like I'm holding my eyes open with toothpicks!

Love Birds! Happy Birthday

2012-02-25T22:12:00.000-06:00

Seems a Little Sketchy #7

Clear It Out - Birthday Card, Use Your Bling!

Oh wow! I had so much fun creating this card! A little of this, more of that....I'm thinking that so far since I started making cards last year that this just might be my favorite, at least for now. I love, love this sketch from Seems a Little Sketchy!

And this is the first time I've participated in a Clear It Out challenge which requires you to use something you have a lot of or have been hoarding--this time it was to Use Your Bling! and create a Birthday Card (to celebrate Clear It Out's 1st Anniversary!)

I followed the Seems a Little Sketchy #7 sketch pretty close and used this pretty yellow and white dotted paper for the background. The next layer is a vintage paper that looks like a post card. For the circle I used a crumpled "paper sack" doily that I'd received in an embellishment kit I ordered from an Etsy shop. The next layer is a light colored printed paper with blues and yellows in the design and then for the layer behind the love birds I used a scrap of floral printed papers with the same blues and yellows. I colored the love birds with my Copic pens and cut them out or as some say "fussy cut." Used to be I could not cut out detail things very well, until I bought my Tim Holtz scissors. Oh my! I can cut out with those and I'm thrilled that I can now "fussy cut" stuff! Ha, ha.. Below the love birds I stamped "happy birthday" with an acrylic stamp and then criss-crossed a yellow and white twine. Then I added the bling! A few pretty silk leaves and this gorgeous pearl and gold button. I then added three pretty pink rhinestone brads to pick up the pink color in the floral paper. I love this card so much that I would have sent it to myself for my birthday!

Even though I accomplished a lot today, I'm a bit sad to see Saturday come to a close. I so enjoy having a full day of crafting in my "crafty room."

I Like Jelly Beans!

2012-02-25T21:01:00.000-06:00

Whimsie Doodles February Monthly Challenge ~ Oh Scrap!
I've had a very productive day here in my crafty room! Got a lot of cards made and ready to post for various challenges. But I almost goofed up yet again by forgetting about a monthly challenge I've been wanting to participate in. Lucky for me I decided to check my Google Reader and saw a reminder post over on Whimsie Doodles. So here it is...Whew! I think I made it just in the nick of time!!

For this challenge I decided to create an Easter card using Whimsie Doodles' cute digital image "Jelly Belly." Their "Oh Scrap!" challenge required me to use scraps of printed paper for my project. I found two prints that I thought would be perfect for an Easter/Spring card. I then colored "Jelly Belly" to coordinate with the colors of the papers. I just had to take a photo of it with my adorable Peter Rabbit! Be sure to check out the other participants entries over on the Whimsie Doodles Blog, February Monthly Challenge - Oh Scrap!

Here's a better close up of the card:

I used a brown card base, attached the scraps of printed paper and added a paper doily and then the "Jelly Belly" digital image from Whimsie Doodles. I used "Hug Snug" Seam Binding for the bow in Kelly Green. I'm in love with this seam binding ribbon--it's so soft and pretty and makes it easy to tie a bow. I also added a lovely pink flower from my flower basket. The sentiment that comes with "Jelly Belly" says: "I never met a jelly bean I didn't like." I colored "Jelly Belly" with the following Copic pen colors:

I'm so happy that I read Whimsie Doodles blog posts this afternoon and that I was able to create this Easter card with their adorable digital image! Can you believe it? Easter will be here soon--it arrives in early April! Better start buying your favorite jelly beans.

You're the Best!

2012-02-25T10:13:00.000-06:00

Stamptacular Sunday #152 ~ Charm Me!

Good Morning! It is still morning isn't it? Well, it is for a couple of more hours here in Texas! Ha, ha. And for now I'm enjoying the morning making cards in my craft room. Well, after taking care of my cat menagerie that is. They are all fed, water changed, litter boxes cleaned and are happily napping now.

First up for today is this card I finished up for the Stamptacular Sunday "Charm Me!" challenge #152.

The printed paper is a scrap left over from another card and the card base is pink cardstock. I then stamped various flowers, colored them with my Copics pens and added Stickles and rhinestones to add sparkle. Then I used up a set of felt flowers I had on hand and a felt butterfly. I felt really lucky to find this cute silver flower charm in my brad jar. Tied it on with some blue twine and stamped the "you're the best" sentiment. Lastly, I inked the edges with Tim Holtz Ranger "Soot Black" Distress Ink. I think this will make a great general Mother's Day card for Operation Write Home which means it can be used at any time, for any occasion and even for Mother's Day.

Next I'm going to work on a sketch challenge due today and then maybe some other card challenges to get caught up a bit and then if I have the time I may go sew on a few quilt blocks. Yeah, I know I've said that before and still didn't get to it but one of these days....

Houses for Birdy

2012-02-24T22:01:00.000-06:00

OWH Stars & Stripes Midweek Throwdown ~ Mother's Day Card
OWH Sketch #109

Hello night time crafters! I thought I'd share another card that I created this afternoon just before heading out the door to have Friday night dinner with my hubby at On The Border and a quick trip to Best Buy to buy a new microwave oven. Ours zapped it's last leftovers a few days ago and I've been having to adjust to cooking without that modern day convenience!

This week the Operation Write Home Stars & Stripes Midweek Throwdown Challenge is to create a Mother's Day card for the troops. Right now OWH has a challenge and prize drawing for us OWH card crafters to make half Mother's Day cards and the other half general occasion and to get them in to our shipper by the deadline.

I have been working on Mother's Day cards and will be taking them to the OWH card party at Cat's Creations Scrapbook store on the 1st to ship them out with other local card crafters.

So for the Midweek Throwdown Challenge and for the OWH Sketch #109 I created this card:

The birdhouse image is something I've had for a while. A fellow card crafter stamped it and gave it to me at a Copic class. I colored it with my Copic markers and have been saving it for a special card. I decided today that it was perfect for this card. I colored the flower with a Copic maker to make it resemble the flowers in the stamped image. I then added a corduroy brad for the center. The sentiment is an acrylic stamp.

This is the sketch I used which is being sponsored by Doodle Pantry Digital Doodles!

This will be the second Mother's Day that I no longer have a Mom here on earth to honor, but I'm happy to create cards for other Moms in her memory.

Have a blessed evening and here's hoping you get a chance to do some crafting this weekend!

Happy Birthday!

2012-02-24T16:10:00.000-06:00

Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge #20

Use It Tuesday ~ Birthday

Happy Friday! I love Fridays as I usually get to leave the home office of our construction business earlier than usual and sneak off to my crafty room to do some creating! Today's card is for two challenges I've had on my calendar and they are due today! (No worries...this is my normal routine. Ha, ha.) The digital image has been colored since last Saturday but it took several days for it to end up on my work desk for the final details. Anyway, I created this card for the Use It Tuesday Birthday challenge and for the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge. This cute little duck is a digi image that I got from Doodle Pantry which is a requirement for their challenge--use a Doodle Pantry Digital image. For the Use It Tuesday challenge the requirement is to create a birthday card using supplies from my stash.

From my stash, I selected a water wave looking printed paper and a pink printed paper. The flower is from my stash as is the brad in the center of the flower. I used some really, really old yellow fiber to create a tuft of feathers on the duck's head. For the sentiment I used two different acrylic stamps that I've had for a couple of years. The pink satin ribbon is new (I bought it on sale right before Valentine's day.) I colored the "Harold Duck" digital image by Doodle Pantry with my Copic pens and added a touch of glitter with a clear Spica pen.

Happy Birthday to Use It Tuesday and a Thank You to Doodle Pantry for the cute Harold Duck digi which is a freebie on their website!

P.S. Well, bummer. I went to the Use It Tuesday blog to enter my card and though it says link by Friday, February 24, the link thingy is closed. :( It doesn't give a deadline time so I assumed that by tonight some time would be it.) Oh well, I'll do better next time. But here's the card anyway and I did make it in time for the Doodle Pantry challenge! :)

Good Fortune Always!

2012-02-23T22:02:00.000-06:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Fortune Cookie

I'm a bit excited that this week I've created a project for the weekly Hambo Hoedown challenge a few days early instead of on the last day! I'm early with this because I became inspired by the digi image I received from Hambo this week and their challenge, "Anything Goes" and just couldn't wait to finish it! For this project I used the FORTUNE COOKIE - digital image and sentiment by Hambo Stamps and created this little Chinese Take Out gift box.

How about some tea and a fortune cookie? The little sentiment on the paper "fortune" says: "Wishing you good fortune always."

To create this, I searched online for a template for the take out box. There are several but I decided to use a pdf template file from Megan Turnidge. I printed the template on printed paper that I cut down to an 8.5" x 11" piece so it would fit in my printer. Then cut out the box, folded and assembled it. Next I punched holes on the sides for the ribbon handle. Added a strip of the reverse side of the printed paper, a lovely silk flower and blue pearl brad. I colored the fortune cookie digital image from Hambo Stamps with two shades of light brown Copic pens. Cut it out and added the "fortune" sentiment and attached it to the side of the box. A strip of yellow dot ribbon pull it all together. This little take out box measures about 2.5". Just perfect for a small jewelry gift, tea bags or real fortune cookies.

Here's wishing you good fortune and a bright future!

What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday

2012-02-22T16:17:00.000-06:00

WOYWW #142

Hello there! It's Wednesday again??! Ha, ha. That means it's time to share what's on my workdesk this week with the What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday challenge. Hmm....I did clean things up a bit last Friday and then did some major craft room cleaning over the weekend before starting on a few new projects. Right now, I 'm working on Mother's Day cards for Operation Write Home. Not sure if you can see them in this photo but I have a nice little stack of them started. Two are lying on my work area waiting for a sentiment and some ribbon. These are really simple little cards. I just picked out some lovely printed paper for the backgrounds and then added some felt flower stickers that I had. Bright and cheery. Sure to warm any Mom's heart, don't you think?

Today, just before going upstairs to my craft room, the postal carrier delivered a couple of packages for me. One contained a new spool of May Arts ribbon and some laundry pins. Yep, the old fashioned kind. A few weeks ago I saw on a blog or on Pinterest or somewhere this fab idea of organizing your loose ribbons with the laundry pins. So excited to give that a try and then toss them into a pretty basket. I'm tired of them getting all jumbled up. I'm hoping to work on that a bit tomorrow so maybe by next week I can report on if it's working for me or not.

Let's see...what else? Oh! That basket on the left. I bought that this morning at the grocery store. It's an Easter basket but I thought it was cute with the little flowers and pink trim. Right now it's holding my acrylic stamp blocks, stamp pad and score-it tape. Also, since last week; I dug out my unused, white Pampered Chef carousel organizer for my various tools, tape runner, rulers and such. I think that might help a little in keeping things handy but free up some of my actual workspace.

Here's a close up of the Mother's Day cards I need to finish up.

Okay, that's it for this week. Not sure if I'll share every week but I might. It's fun to share and to visit with others and see what they're doing and how they organize their workdesk. If you'd like to check it out or participate, head over to the Stamping Ground blog and become a follower. Have a great week!

Believe

2012-02-20T21:02:00.000-06:00

ABC Christmas Challenge ~ Charming

How about another Christmas card? I'm on a roll! This is card #3 for the 2012 holiday season. If I do every challenge in the ABC Christmas Challenge I should end up with around 25 cards all done by Christmas. This time the challenge is for the letter C which is "Charming" which means I needed to use a charm on my Christmas card. This is a pretty simple card, but I like it! I picked out two lovely Christmas papers from the Bo Bunny 6x6 Father Christmas Collection paper pad and matted one design to the top and one complimentary design to the bottom of the card. Then I added a red ribbon and cut out a matching circle for a tag and tied it along with a star charm to the ribbon bow with a bit of red/white twine. On the bottom edge of the card I stamped the word "Believe."

So, want to get a head start on your own Christmas card crafting? Join me in the ABC Christmas Challenge. You can join in at any time!

Ye Olde!

2012-02-20T20:32:00.000-06:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Silver or Gold

Hello! It's time for another project with the Hambo Hoedown Challenge! This week we were sent an adorable Dragon Digi and for the challenge the colors silver or gold were to be used. I chose silver. On this card I decided to go with Hambo's sentiment "Ye Olde...(Well, ye are!)" that came with the digi image.

From my stash, I selected a lovely pink floral paper for the background. Colored the Dragon Digi with my Copic markers using three shades of purple and two different pinks and matted him on purple card stock. I used a decorative corner punch on a lighter shade of purple card stock to create a medallion look for the next layer and added sliver with light pink rhinestone center brads on each end. Then I used a lovely silver ribbon and silver/grey tulle to create the bow, attached a tag with the sentiment, inserted a sliver medieval looking stick pin and finished it off with a matching silver brad in the center of the bow. I think this took on a charming princess/dragon look.

Hambo has a fun challenge every week and when you participate and upload a photo of your creation and email it to them, you receive the next week's digi image for free! I'm getting a nice set of Hambo digital images on my computer for card making. They post the new challenge on their blog each Wednesday and to get you started you can either buy your first digi or use one of the free ones on their website.

Thanks for stopping by and check back later for more of my challenge creations.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday

2012-02-15T15:16:00.000-06:00

WOYWW # 141

Found a new blog to follow and link up to today called "What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday" that can be found over on Stamping Ground blog. My workspace is a 3'x3' bar height table in the middle of my craft room. I cleaned it Monday morning after a weekend marathon of doing card challenges for Opeation Write Home. It stayed clean until late last night when I decided right before I went to bed to do a bit of what I call "Scrap It" card base creating. Here's what my workspace looks like this afternoon:

What I do when I "scrap it"....I take all the bits of scraps of paper leftover from my recent projects and cut them to cover white card bases (A2 size) that I later use to make cards for OWH. They are a bit like pieced quilts only with paper and for cards. I usually sand them a bit to distress them and when ready to make the cards I will add a sentiment, stamped images, flowers, ribbon and other doo-dads. No card is ever the same. Here are three that I've done so far from this past weekend's scraps:

Some of these I will put away until I'm ready to make Valentine's for next year.

Well, it's a beautiful, warm day here in Texas! Over 70 degrees....the outdoors and my camera are calling my name for a walk about--just as soon as I put a few more of these "Scrap It" card bases together!

Have an awesome day!!

OWH VCMP #12 & 13

2012-02-12T22:36:00.000-06:00

Here they are...the last two cards I created for the Operation Write Home Virtual Card Making Party! It was a blast! I hope they do another one real soon. Thanks OWH for a fun "party!"

Number 12 called for creating a card with a boat or ship image. Hmmm...I only have one digi image of a boat. A fishing boat and not an ocean type boat but a little row boat. However, I didn't have that image printed up and colored and since I was running out of time, I had to put my thinking cap on. So, this is what I created. Can you tell what it is??

If you guessed the porthole of a cruise ship, you would be correct. This is from inside the ship looking out. You can see the water with little fish swimming around, I guess this is a lower deck room. Ha, ha. And surely your cruise ship had lovely hot pink fringed curtains hanging above the porthole, right?

Challenge #13, Embossing I used a Cuttle Bug Embossing Folder to emboss the blue paper with lots of circles. I then picked a bold pink, orange & blue printed paper for the card background (the blue in the print matched the blue that I embossed). I then added an orange dotted paper behind the embossed paper. Attached a hot pink sheer ribbon and added a cute digi image of a little girl on a wonderful summer day that I colored with my Copic pens. I made a little tag out of the bold printed paper for the "Hello" sentiment and added a fun brad.

And that's a wrap for my participation in the OWH Virtual Card Making Party! Let me just say that I thought my craft table was in a huge mess when I posted a photo of it last week. BUT it was not. It is now though and will have to be cleaned up before I can even think of tackling another project! That is my work table below and there isn't an inch of free space to start anything right now.

Really! The whole room is a disaster! That white folded thing in the middle is my card photography background perched on my trimmer.

And this is just a small portion of my ribbons....

You should see my desk..I can't even find the cat!! Well that's all for today. It's time for bed. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to click on the "Home" link in the left hand sidebar to see all the blog posts pf my Virtual Card Making Party creations!

OWH VCMP #10 & 11

2012-02-12T22:10:00.000-06:00

Whew! I've been posting like crazy! Ha, ha! I think I might make it by the deadline! Yay!!

For the Operation Write Home Virtual Card Making Party, Challenge # 10 is a Vintage card. I love vintage papers and things. Seems so romantic for some reason. For this card I used three different vintage looking printed papers. Two cut in a half scallop edge and then each layered over the other. Then I stamped my current favorite stamp (I've used it on several cards in the last few days) a rubber stamp of a hummingbird and a trumpet vine flower with flourishes. It is an Inkadinkadoo stamp. I also used a Unity Stamp rubber stamp for the sentiment which says: "Sweet kind nice wonderful." I added a sheer beige stripe ribbon and dark green seam binding bow and a flower that I inked to make it look more vintage with a pretty brad.

Challenge #10 was the Rainforest Color Challenge, create a card using green and a splash of another color. I decided to use blue as my "splash of color" and created this "Thinking About You Today..." card. I again used my Inkadinkadoo hummingbird rubber stamp which was a birthday present I bought for myself on Friday. Hee, hee. I used my Copic pens to add a bit of blue color to the hummingbird and flower. Assorted blue flowers, ribbon and rhinestones finished it up.

I have two more cards for the card party to post. Which means I've done 12 of the 13 challenges and I did them all TODAY! I saved what I think might be the hardest for last and I'm not going to get it done before the deadline, so I'll give a try at creating a Funky Fold card on another day!

OWH VCMP Challenge #8 & 9

2012-02-12T21:39:00.000-06:00

This next card just might be my favorite that I created for the Operation Write Home Virtual Card Making Party! Challenge #8 is titled "Jungle Animals" and we were to create a card for a kid with a jungle animal. I cranked up the Cricut for this one and cut out a cute purple and pink Hippo! I also cut out the sentiment "Hip Hip Hooray". I used an adorable hot pink tiny hearts printed paper and the back side for the white lined paper strip behind the hippo. Added a sheer purple double ribbon and bow plus some rhinestones on the flowers. Then I cute two strips of bright green cardstock: one @ 1.5" and one @ 1" and then cut fringes for the grass and crumpled/curled it up.

Challenge #9 was "Cut It Out!"...create a card using punches or die cuts. I chose to use heart punches to make the butterfly out of dot paper with bright colored trees and hot pink solid cardstock for the card base. Rhinestones make up the body and flight path of the butterfly. The "Friend Are Forever" sentiment is an acrylic stamp. I added a hot pink satin ribbon.

OWH VCMP Challenge #6 & #7 + Sketch #108

2012-02-12T20:59:00.000-06:00

I have this adorable pre-colored digi set on my computer (sorry, right now I can't think who I purchased these from, I had several already printed and ready to use), anyway for the 6th challenge of the OWH Virtual Card Making Party the theme was to make a card using "Sand & Sea" colors--Blues & Tans. I love how this card turned out. All papers are from my stash, pre-colored digi of the truck and sentiment. Added a textured metal brad.

OWH Sketch #108:

Next, Challenge # 7: CAS:Clean & Simple! Love clean & simple cards. So fun and quick to create. For this one I chose a lovely printed paper from my stash with lovely colors--flowers, a bird and heart. Then I used the back side of the paper for the beautiful, coordinated dots. (Double sided papers are great!) Stamped the little flower and "hello" sentiment with acrylic stamps.

OWH Virtual Card Making Party # 1 & 2 + Sketch 107

2012-02-12T20:36:00.000-06:00

For the Operation Write Home Virtual Card Making Party this past week, the first two challenges were lots of fun! The first one, "Hot Tropics" required you to create a card using hot pink, green & yellow--hot tropic colors! I decided to use the OWH Sunday Sketch # 107 for this card:

To create this card, I headed to my printed paper stash and picked out this cute green dot with little butteflies. For the yellow I found this honeycomb design and for the hot pink I added a sticker border with rhinestones and a stamped butterfly. Both the butterfly stamp and sentiment are acrylic stamps. I also added a hot pink ribbon and bow.Here's the OWH Sketch #107

For Challenge #2 of the Virtual Card Making Party, we were to create a "Masculine Nautical" card. Oh dear, I don't have ANY nautical stuff. So I created a compass and used some vintage, aged, papers that I think look like they might have been in an old ship. Now, don't look to closely at my compass as I made it by guessing and I know the markings aren't true. But at least I do have North, South, East and West! I even made a compass needle out of chipboard that I stamped with black ink and attached with a cool metal brad. The "rope" ribbon and bow are made from Hemp twine.

Happy Birthday Cupcake!

2012-02-12T19:28:00.000-06:00

MoJo Monday Sketch #227

Operation Write Home VCMP #5 It's a Party Birthday Card

Whew! I've made a BUNCH of cards today. Trying to do all the challenges for the Operation Write Home Virtual Card Making Party! I have two more to make, but need to photograph all of them and get them on the blog and linked up. For this OWH VCMP #5 "It's a Party!" Birthday Card, I decided to use the MoJo Monday Sketch Challenge #227 to create the card:

This was pretty a simple card to make. I selected some cute birthday printed papers...cupcakes, bright stripes and dots. Stamped the "Happy Birthday" sentiment with an acrylic stamp using teal and pink inks, cut the scallop oval with the Cricut and added a ribbon.Here's the sketch from Mojo:

Off to take photos of the rest of the cards and maybe get the last two made!

Tuesday Morning Sketches #132 | OWH Beachy Thinking of You

2012-02-12T18:57:00.000-06:00

For this week's Tuesday Morning Sketches Challenge #132, I created a card for Operation Write Home's Virtual Card Making Party: Beachy "Thinking of You" theme. For this card, I decided to go with sand colors, orange and shades of green. I picked out this orange wood print paper for the background, two-town green dots and small light brown dots. The clam shells, flip-flops, crab and starfish are stamped from acrylic stamps and colored with my Copic pens with shades of orange and tan or sand. I used a bit of hemp cord instead of ribbon to go with the beachy theme.

The Tuesday Morning Sketch:

Love and Chocolate

2012-02-11T22:06:00.001-06:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Candy Heart + Brads, Buttons or Bows
A few weeks ago I saw a project on another blog showing how to alter the heart shape Valentine candy boxes you buy at the store. I filed it away in my mind as something I wanted to do someday. Then this week as I was trying to think of something to create besides a card for the Hambo Hoedown challenge, I remembered the altered Valentine box. So yesterday I stopped at Walgreen's and picked up $4.99 box of chocolates. I figured I'd alter it up and make it cute and give it to my hubby for Valentine's day. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out! Now have you ever seen a box of Valentine chocolates look this good?

It's really easy to do. Here's how I did it: You can use any size heart shaped candy box. If giving it as a gift, don't eat the candy. Ha, ha. I bought a 7 inch box of chocolates. I only altered the lid. First I used Zip Dry glue to attach the pre-ruffled ribbon border. Then I traced the heart shape of the box on to Valentine printed paper, cut it out and attached that to the front of the box. Next I used Zip Dry glue and attached a string of craft pearls along the edge of the paper. Created a bow out of light pink and red seam binding ribbons, attached them with Zip Dry glue and then attached a Prima rose with the glue. Next I used the paper liner inside the box to trace and cut out a solid pink heart out of cardstock and then cut a smaller, same shaped heart out of a different printed Valentine paper. Next, I used my hole puncher and punched holes around the edge of the pink cardstock and then threaded red seam binding ribbon through the holes. I attached the smallest printed paper heart to the pink heart and then added a pre-printed "Love" sentiment sticker and red rhinestones. Then I used a cute digi from Hambo Stamps. The digi for this week's challenge with Hambo is actually the Candy Heart digi but I wanted something different to go on the Valentine box. You can use any Hambo stamp for the challenges, so I selected the Dino's in Love digi. I colored the cute little dinos with my Copic pens and then cut them out, backed them with chipboard and attached them to the candy box. I then used Spica glitter pens to add sparkle to their candy box and coated the dinos with Glossy Accents to give them shine and texture. This challenge required the use of brads, buttons or bows. I didn't use brads or buttons but I did use bows on the box with lots of ribbon.

Here's a closer view of the dinos. Adorable, aren't they.

Supplies Used:

7" Heart Shaped Box of Valentine Chocolates
Printed Valentine Papers
Pink Cardstock
Red & Pink Seam Binding Ribbon
String of Craft Pearls
Zip Dry Glue
Prima Rose Flower
Love sticker
Simplicity pre-ruffled wide ribbon, red
Hambo Dino's in Love Digi
Glossy Accents
Copic Pens: YG03, YG17, YG00, R00, R81, R83, RV06 and R29
Spica Glitter Pens: Lipstick Red, Blossom Pink and Sand

Happy that I've got my Valentine gift all done and ready to present on Tuesday. There's still time for you to alter your own candy boxes too!

Love

2012-02-11T20:42:00.002-06:00

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge ~ Valentine Colors

Operation Write Home Sketch #106
Lucky me! Just as I finished up a special Valentine project that I'll share later in a different post, I noticed on my calendar that tonight was the deadline for the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge! So I thought I'd create a quick card for that challenge using Operation Write Home's Sketch #106.This week, the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge required you to use Valentine colors in your creation, create a card for someone you love AND as always use a stamped image. Here's my card:

Here's the OWH sketch I used. I turned it on it's side for this card.

Card Supplies Used:

Operation Write Home Sketch #106
Printed Papers from my stash
Stamped Wording in Memento Gray Ink onto white cardstock and cut out circle, Recollections rubber stamp
Stamped Hummingbird image with Memento Black Ink, Inkadinkado rubber stamp
Love sentiment, acrylic stamp
Colored image with Copic pens: C2, C4, R22 and G21
Added glitter to image with Spica Glitter pen, Crystal
Sheer black ribbon and sheer light pink dot ribbon

For some reason it took me an insane amount of time this afternoon to alter a heart shaped candy box for a special Valentine project, but I'm pleased with the results and will be sharing it later tonight or tomorrow. Still hoping to do some of the fun challenges with Operation Write Home before the deadline tomorrow night!

Happy crafting,

Little Mermaid

2012-02-11T14:47:00.000-06:00

Creative Card Crew ~ Fantasy Creatures

Sketch Inspiration #306
It's Saturday! Time for some card crafting! I've been A.W.O.L. from the blog this week. Didn't mean to but work and life just got in the way a bit and I found no time for crafting! So I'm going to try and make up for it today, though I seem to be going rather slow right now. However, in my defense...this card was a bit more labor intensive but it's for a Fantasy Creatures theme for the Creative Card Crew! At least I did kill two birds with one stone by using the current Inspiration Sketch challenge that's due by midnight tonight!Fantasy Creatures. That was a hard one for me as I've determined that I have NO rubber or acrylic or digi stamps that fit the bill for "fantasy." You know...fairies, mermaids, etc. So I decided to create my own! First, I used Memento Bahama Blue ink to stamp the top half of a little girl with an acrylic stamp and then the lower half of a fish from a different acrylic stamp. I then colored the created image with my Copics and cut my little Mermaid out to create the card.

I had fun creating this card and added lots of extra stuff. Here's the Sketch Inspiration, Sketch #306 that I used for my card layout. These sketches are for 12x12 scrapbook page layouts and I convert them to card size. The above card is a 4.25" x 4.25" square.

Card Supplies Used:

Sketch Inspiration Sketch #306
Assorted printed papers from my stash
Acrylic stamps to create the little mermaid
Acrylic stamps for the crab, fish, clam shell and seaweed
Recollections rubber stamp for the flourishes
Seam binding ribbons, sheer yellow ribbon
EK Sucess Scallop punch
Memento inks in Tuxedo Black and Bahama Blue to stamp the images
Copic pens to color the stamped images: BG05, BG45, Y08, Y11, E000, R30, R20, RV13, G21 and R35
Spica Glitter Pens Blossom, Baby Blue & Clear
Clear Dew Drops
Assorted Small Flowers from stash

Okay, I'm going to see what else I can create today! I've a Valentine project I want to have a try at and then Operation Write Home has a TON of challenges from the week with fabulous prizes that are due by Sunday night! Maybe I can get a few of those done too!

Have a wonderful day!

Tail Wagging Birthday!

2012-02-06T13:01:00.000-06:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Bailey Cupcake + Birthday Celebration

Hello Monday. The day after THE game. Did you watch the Big Game? Are you happy with the winning team? What was your favorite commercial? Neither team was my favorite but for some reason I was silently cheering for the Giants, so I'm happy that they pulled off the win during those intense final seconds! It's hard for me to pick just ONE favorite commercial. My top three are 1) Volkswagen's Fat Dog getting in to shape (I can so relate to that one), 2) Doritos' Missing Cat with Dog bribing man not to tell and 3) Skechers' little dog racing the greyhounds. If you missed them, do a Google search and watch them (or click on my links to them). They are all three pretty cute. Hmmm...my favorites all have animals in them. Yes, I do love animals. Oh, I forgot the Geico pig commercial. "Piggy Meets the Street Luge." Was that a new one? I loved it too! Wee,wee, wee WEEEEEEE!!

Today I'm sharing my card that I made yesterday before the game for Hambo Hoedown's Birthday Celebration. It's their 1st year birthday for hosting challenges and they are celebrating with this super cute Bailey Cupcake digi. "Hope your birthday is tail-wagging good!" I used a sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketch to create this cute birthday card:

Card Supplies Used:

Hambo's Bailey Cupcake Digi
Tuesday Morning Sketch #131
Printed Papers, Six by Six by Mind's Eye "Everyday Flair" (Just picked up this pad Saturday at the LSS!
Copic Pens: E55 Light Camel, Y08 Acid Yellow, Y21 Buttercup Yellow, BG34 Horizon Green, BG45 Nile Blue, R46 Strong Red, RV06 Cerise, RV20 Blush and W5 Warm Grey #5
Spica Clear Glitter Pen to add sparkle to the cupcake frosting and Bailey's hat
Flower, brads and ribbons from my stash
Scallop border cut with my Big Shot

Off to work in the office for a bit and then maybe create a few more cards. Be sure to check out the current challenges for Operation Write Home!

And in closing I want to say....Happy Birthday Hoedown!!

Diamond & Pearl Love

2012-02-03T15:46:00.000-06:00

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #149 ~ Diamonds or Pearls

Happy Friday! I'm pretty excited! In just a few hours I'll be heading out for an evening of super fun at Cat's Creations Scrapbook store for a Murder Mystery Scrapbooking dinner and then back there again tomorrow ALL DAY for lots of fun classes! But before I drive off and yes, I've got everything all packed up, I wanted to share this card I created last night for the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge. The theme for this challenge is to create something using Diamonds or Pearls. How lucky was I to find something that had both of those! (Though I prefer diamonds!) This adorable bow with the heart of pearls with rhinestone center was pre-made and in fact, I bought the item that it was on just yesterday; however I didn't need the bow. I can't tell you what the item was that I bought because it's for my "character" at tonight's Murder Mystery. (Hint: My name is Bankroll Bertha.)

In case you can't read it, the verse on the card says: " And mine is the gentle song, that bears from soul to soul, the wishes of love, as a bird, that wafts through genial airs the cinnamon seed from grove to grove." This verse was cut from a page of a vintage book that a friend was using for a scrapbook project a few months ago. Lucky me, I was there and she gave me a few of the pages and this verse was right there on the top. Perfect to go with the little bird that was printed on the paper.

Card Supplies:

Paper with pre-printed bird & flower are from K & Company Designer Paper Pad by Brenda Walton
Pre-made Satin bow with heart shaped pearls & rhinestones
Extra rhinestones for verse and center of flower
Verse from page of a vintage book
Pink Cardstock
"Love" acrylic stamp

I've made several cards this week and have not cleaned up after each project! So...my work table in my craft room is a MESS! Good thing I've packed up and will be gone tonight and tomorrow. Wouldn't it be nice if the housecleaning fairy paid a visit while I was gone. Not likely. Ha, ha!

Have a wonderful weekend! I will be back (hopefully) on Sunday with another creation and maybe I'll share all the wonderful stuff I made at Cat's Creations. And if you're a Super Bowl ( or am I supposed to say "Big Game") fan...I hope your team wins! Me? I'll be watching and cheering for the commercials.

Stitched Heart

2012-02-02T07:00:00.000-06:00

Use It Tuesday #24 ~ Love

Stamps R Us ~ Love/Valentine Card

February. The month of love, cupid, chocolate candy, Valentine's Day and my birthday. It's no wonder that my favorite colors happen to be pink and red!Today, in honor of February, I created a Love card for two blog challenges: Use It Tuesday and Stamps R Us

The current theme for the Stamps R Us challenge is to create a Love/Valentine card.

For Use It Tuesday challenge #24 the theme was also Love plus you have to use one or more things on your project that you've been hoarding or bought and never used--something from your stash. For this card I first used an idea that I've been saving since 2008. It's from the Paper Crafts Magazine, February 2008 issue. This design was on a gift bag, but I thought it'd make a cute Love/Valentine card! I took white cardstock and lightly drew a big heart shape in pencil. Then I stitched around the heart with my sewing machine with dark pink thread and several types of zig-zag stitches and straight stitching. Then I added assorted pink buttons from my stash and even used thread from a Bazzill sewing kit that I got for Christmas several years ago. The sentiment is stamped in light pink ink with acrylic letters that I have never used before. I then attached the heart to some solid pink and printed Valentine paper from my stash to make the card. A true "Use It" creation!

I'm looking forward to a super fun weekend! I'll be heading west on Friday evening to my favorite scrapbook store, Cat's Creations in Mineral Wells, Texas, for a fun night of Murder, Mystery and Madness Dinner & Workshop. Then I'll stay over for the night at a hotel and return to Cat's on Saturday for more Murder Mystery fun and classes!

If I don't get to post again before Sunday, I wish you a fun weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Ahh February...Love is in the Air!

And the Winner Is.....

2012-02-01T10:05:00.000-06:00

EDITED 3/2/12: This prize was not claimed by the winner and has been donated to a local youth organization for their scrapbook projects. Thank you!

I've picked a winner! Using a random generator app, I picked a winner from those who are followers of this blog AND left a comment on my Hambo Blog Hop post. I had a lot more comments than I had followers. :( So the actual number of those qualified to win was small. Rules are rules and I follow them. I'm a bit bummed I didn't get more followers, but that's okay. It's a start and I'm happy to share the extra goodies that I snagged at the recent bag sale at my favorite scrapbook store.So the winner of my first blog candy giveaway is................luvmy2k9z!!!! Congratulations! I've sent an email notification via Friends Connect and as soon as I get a reply, these goodies will be on their way to luvmy2k9z!! Edited to add: luvmy2k9z, please contact me asap so I can send you your goody! Please contact me by noon (Central Time) March 1, 2012 to receive your gift. After that date, it will be sent to a charity scrapbook group. Thank you!

Thanks to every one who stopped by during the hop and commented. I hope you'll visit again!

Snow Bear!

2012-01-31T16:55:00.000-06:00

Mojo Monday Sketch #226

ABC Christmas Challenge #2 ~ Bears

If you're here for the Green Eggs and ....Hambo blog hop, please scroll down a couple of posts or if you arrived to this post, click on Home and then scroll down to find the blog hop post and be sure to leave a comment and click to follow my blog as I'm giving away some crafty blog candy on Wednesday!

Happy Tuesday to you! Wow! What incredible weather we're having today here in Texas...over 70 degrees for the last day of January! It's so warm I had to take my socks off and really restrain myself from wanting to turn the air conditioner on! Ha, ha!

Today I'm sharing a card that I created for two challenges: Mojo Monday Sketch challenge #226 and ABC Christmas Challenge #2.

On Mojo Monday we were challenged to make a card using the provided sketches to create either a round card or a square card. I went with a square. Normally I make the traditional A2 size cards. This card will still fit in an A2 envelope but it's a square, 4 1/4" square to be exact.

For the second challenge of 2012 over on the ABC Christmas Challenge we were told to create a card with one or more bears on it AND to use one or more embellishments that start with the letter "B" such as bunting, banners, buttons, brads, bows, blooms etc. I went with a cute Polar Bear digi stamp I bought online and Bling (rhinestones) on the snowflakes and a Bow.

Here's the Mojo Monday sketches:

Card Supplies Used:

Polar Bear Digi Stamp from Angels Landing
Echo Park's Holly Jolly Christmas papers from a 6x6 Paper Pad
Red & Green narrow Satin Ribbons for the bow
Felt snowflake ribbon
Clear Rhinestones
Copic pens to color the Polar Bear: R46 Strong Red, G05 Emerald Green, E29 Burnt Umber, R00 Pinkish White, R20 Blush, B05 Princess Blue (eyes) and B60 Pale Blue Gray (my favorite for coloring snow or white winter objects)
Clear Spica Glitter Pen to add a touch of sparkle on the hat pom-poms and the bear

And now I have two, count them TWO Christmas cards already made for the 2012 holiday season! Maybe this year I won't be scrambling around on December 20th trying to make a bunch of cards.

Off to enjoy the rest of this glorious day! Time to take a walk.

Have a Super Bird-Day!

2012-01-29T22:05:00.000-06:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Caped Chick + CASE

Hambo Stamps sent me the cutest, most adorable digi stamp this week for participating in the last Hambo Hoedown Challenge--Caped Chick. And the challenge was to create a project using the Caped Chick digi and CASE (Copy and Share Everything) a project out of the Hambo Gallery. Boy, that's a hard thing to do! Look through all the fabulous ideas and pick ONE to copy! I wanted to use some really bright papers with this caped SUPER chick and use the sentiment "Have a SUPER Bird-Day!" After going back and forth, I finally decided to CASE a card by Annika Ryan in the digi gallery over on the Hambo website. Here's my card:

And here's Annika's card that I CASED:

Supplies I used on my card:

Printed papers from Echo Park's 6x6 Paper Pad, Summer Days
Hambo's Digi Stamp Caped Chick
Sewing Machine Zig Zag Stitching
Pre-punched paper scallop borders
Twine
Green Felt Button
Copic Markers to color the Caped Chick: Y02 Canary Yellow, Y08 Acid Yellow, Y38 Honey, RV04 Shock Pink, RV06 Cerise, B01 Mint Blue and C2 Cool Gray #2

I enjoyed working with this week's digi stamp from Hambo Stamps. Did you know that when you participate in the challenge each week that you receive a FREE digi stamp by email for the next challenge! And it's easy to get started! You can either purchase your first digi stamp or use one of the free stamps they offer on their website.

Happy Crafting!

Thanks!

2012-01-29T14:32:00.000-06:00

Sketch Inspiration Sketches #304 + #305
Happy Sunday afternoon to you! How about some cards made with sketches? I'm calling this S ketch Inspiration Sunday as I'm making cards with sketches from Sketch Inspiration....I'm trying to do all the sketches this year that are posted on Sketch Inspiration. So far so good. I got a bit behind last week, today I played catch up and did two cards from two sketches! Now I've already done the sketch for this week that was released today!! Whoo Hoo!!! Both of these cards are thank you cards for Operation Write Home.

First, Sketch #304....my card:

The Sketch #304:

And my card using Sketch #305:

The Sketch #305:

Supplies Used for Both Cards:

Authentique 6x6 Bundle Papers "Gathering" Collection
Unity Stamps "Heart & Soul"
Memento Ink in Potter's Clay

Additional Supplies for Card Made with Sketch #304:

Anna Griffin "Calisto" Paper Tape Sticker Rolls
Prima Flower coated with Glossy Accents

Additional Supplies for Card Made with Sketch #305:

Memento Ink in Bamboo Leaves for the flower's stem
Butterfly sticker from my stash
Martha Stewart 1/2 inch Craft Seam Binding Ribbon
Acrylic "Thank You" stamp

I have one more card I'd like to make for today and then if I have time I really, really want to stitch together some quilt blocks that I've had planned for several month. The hubby would like for me to bake some Chocolate Chip Raisin Cookies....maybe I'll have time to do it all. It is only 2:30 in the afternoon. Have a wonderful day!

"The Secret Garden"

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

Hambo Blog Hop! "Green Eggs and...Hambo"

Blog Candy Alert! I'm giving away a prize for today's blog hop!!!

Welcome to "Green Eggs and ......Hambo" sponsored by Hambo Stamps! Today Hambo customers and the Bacon Bits Design Team are bringing you fun creations that depict book titles! It might be our favorite book, or just one that was fun to design. If you arrived here from Judy's Joy in a Jar you are in the right place! If not, you might want to start back at the beginning at the Hambo blog to make sure you are eligible for the hopper prize!A prize will be awarded to one participant whose book-themed creation tickles the Bacon Bits’ fancy in a hammin’ jammin’ way! Another prize will be awarded randomly to a hopper who comments on all the blogs along the way. The winners will be announced on the Hoedown blog, as well as on the Hambo company blog, Talk to the Ham, on Wednesday, February 1. To celebrate this blog hop, I'm also giving one commenter a prize from me! Details at the end of this post.

My card creation for today's blog hop was inspired by the book "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It's been a long time since I've read "The Secret Garden" but I remember that the little girl was an orphan and that she moved to a large manor with lots of rooms and gardens to live with her uncle. And that there was a secret garden that was locked. At one point, she made friends with a Red Robin who, I think, helped her to find the key to the garden--it was either buried or in a badger hole. And she also found a little boy that lived in one of the rooms of the mansion and they started playing and working in the secret garden. I'm sure the garden began to flourish with lots of blooming flowers, which is what I've put on my card and perhaps Mary would have also found a cute little Hedgehog like this digi stamp from Hambo Stamps and maybe she would have said...."So happy that I found you!"

Supplies & Tools Used:

Hambo Digi Stamp, Hedgehog
Printed Papers from Six by Six pad by My Mind's Eye "Vanity Fair"
Lilac House Brads by Fancy Pants
White Satin Ribbon that I colored pink with Copic Marker R85
Beige Ribbon from my stash
Green Velvet Ribbon Trim from my stash
Straight Stitch & Zig-Zag Stitch with my Janome "Sew Mini" Sewing Machine
Hot Pink Sewing Thread
Petaloo Flowers
Stickles, Crystal
Copic Markers to color the digi image R85 Rose Red, R83 Rose Mist, R39 Garnet, R00 Pinkish White, YG03 Yellow Green, W1 Warm Gray #1 and W5 Warm Gray #5
Copic Marker BG000 Pal Aqua to color the white flowers

Before you head off to the next stop on today's blog hop, be sure to leave a comment because not only will you be eligible to win a prize from Hambo if you comment on all the blogs in the hop; BUT if you leave a comment here on my blog AND become a follower you'll also be eligible for a prize from me! To put it simply, I need followers. When I first started my blog several months ago I didn't put the follower gadget on my sidebar, as a result I have very few official "followers." So click to follow AND leave a comment and you just might win this:

Winterland 6x6 Paper Pad by Fancy Pants Designs, Paper Whimsies "Via Air Mail" by Sassafras, Fancy Pants Lilac House Buttons & Brads and Sassafras Cardstock Stickers

One random winner will be selected from those who are a follower of my blog and left a comment for this post. Edited 1/29/12: Winner will be notified by email by noon (central time) on Wednesday February 1st and I will also post it here on my blog. Note: I changed the time of choosing my winner and notification to Wednesday to extend it through the full Hambo blog hop time frame. Thanks!

Now dance on over to Michele's Whimsical Creations for another great book!

Snow Flakey

2012-01-25T13:47:00.000-06:00

ABC Christmas Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Well, you know me....I'm a procrastinator and this time, that trait combined with thunderstorms, rain and lightning (because I had to shut down my computer and internet) caused me to miss a challenge deadline. But that's okay. I'm still going to share my card creation and then make sure that I do the challenge on time from now on!So, what was the challenge I missed? The first challenge of the ABC Christmas Challenge! I had checked out the site, knew I wanted to do the challenge and noted the date of the deadline. Except, there was a bit of confusion with that in their blog post. The deadline for the first challenge was stated as Wednesday, January 24th at 6 p.m. Except, on my calendar Wednesday is the 25th. Hmmm...typo? Maybe. Originated in another country? Could be. Perhaps I should have asked, but I didn't. Anyway I had it in my mind that just to be safe, I'd create the card and post to my blog and link up to ABC Christmas Challenge on Tuesday the 24th. And that's where the weather and my procrastination merged together. Now, if I'd just gone ahead and done the challenge over the weekend or last week all would have been fine, but no, I had to wait til the last day and that's when the weather moved in and I cannot afford to have my wireless internet radio that sticks way up in the sky to be on during Texas lightning storms. So it was off and I could not do my blog post. BUT I want to do this challenge and do all the Christmas cards if I possibly can so I made the first card anyway and I'm sharing it on my blog. It just didn't get linked to the challenge blog.Here's what I created for an "Anything Goes" Christmas card and in case you can't tell...that's the card in front of a couple of wood snowmen that sit in my window.

Supplies Used:

Paper from Echo Park 6x6 Paper Pads "Season's Greetings"
Noel & Snowflake Bo Bunny Brads
Lace, felt snowflake ribbon and red ribbon from my stash

The rain has finally stopped for now. We're expecting some light rain to continue for most of the day but the storms, I think, have moved on. The next challenge is up on the ABC Christmas Challenge blog...maybe I'll do it today, or tomorrow or this weekend.....

Stay warm and stay dry!

Shhh...It's a Secret

2012-01-23T11:58:00.000-06:00

I'm working on a special project for a blog hop and I can't share anything about it....yet. I started on it last night....selecting my theme and image, pulling out ribbons and brads and flowers and Stickles and all sorts of stuff for this card creation. It's for the "Green Eggs and....Hambo!" blog hop on Friday, January 27th! There are lots of other blogland crafters participating so I encourage you to go to the Hambo blog on Friday morning and start hopping from blog to blog to see all the great ideas and creations!

Here's a sneak peek of my work table. Can you guess my theme? Probably not so come back on Friday for all the details! I'm thinking of giving away some blog candy for the hop. If you leave a comment on MY Friday post AND become a follower of my blog you might be a winner!

Happy crafting!

Never Fade Away

2012-01-23T11:19:00.000-06:00

I Feel the Love ~ January 2012
I've already shared this card in an earlier post. I made it after making another card for a challenge. It was one of my "Scrap It" cards where I use the scraps of paper left over from creating one card to make another. At the time I made it I thought the sentiment would be nice for a sympathy card and I put it in my personal card collection for when I might need it. Then I read a recent blog post and email from Funky Cards and their project for this month is to make and send in a thinking of you or sympathy card for a sweet family that lost one of their precious twin daughters in December. The family's little angel is Olivia. She was 4 1/2 months old when she passed away. You can read about her on the Funky Cards blog. I think the sentiment on this card is perfect for Olivia's family...."those who bloom in the hearts of others never fade away."

Supplies Used:

Remaining scrap of hot pink card stock, and square of Delight, Free Bird line by Authentique
Sentiment stamp by Unity Stamps
Scroll paper embellishment & paper flower from the Francesca Collection by Ana Griffin (This was in my Christmas stocking!)
Light green Spica pen to add a bit of sparkle to the flower
Hot pink button from Lost & Found sets by My Mind's Eye

Blessings to all of you and if you have the time to create and send a card for Olivia's family by the end of January it would be greatly appreciated.

Lots of Puppy Love!

2012-01-22T12:22:00.001-06:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Bailey + Kid's Card

Send a Smile for Kids

Sketch Inspiration #303

Stamps R Us ~ Just Kidding Around

Happy Sunday! I'm sitting at the dining table enjoying the sun shining through the window. It's a little cool and windy outside this morning but I think it's supposed to really warm up this afternoon! We may take in a movie this afternoon. I think the hubby wants to see "Red Tails." It's about World War II and airplanes.

Today I'm sharing a card I created for the Hambo Hoedown challenge. The challenge was to make a kid's card using Hambo's Bailey digi What a cute pup! The digi and the real Bailey!! As a part of the Hambo challenge, I'm sending this card to Send a Smile for Kids!

I decided to use the Sketch Inspiration sketch #303 to create the card and to also enter it in the Stamps R Us blog challenge "Just Kidding Around!"

Here's the sketch I used which is really for a 12x12 page layout but I converted it down to an A2 card size.

Supplies Used:

Sketch Inspirations sketch #303
Hambo Stamps Bailey-digi
Double sided paper from Six by Six by My Minds Eye "Vanity Fair"
Red Ribbon
Love Sentiment
Copic Markers E02 Fruit Pink, E55 Light Camel, BG32 Aqua Mist and R27 Cadmium Red. I also used the Copic Blender pen to take away some of the color on the pups' fur to make the dots.

Have a wonderful Sunday! If we don't go to movies, I hope to make a few more cards or maybe even sew on some quilt blocks I've been wanting to start on.

Winter Birthday Wishes!

2012-01-16T20:48:00.000-06:00

MoJo Monday Sketch #224

Use It Tuesday #23 ~ Winter

Good evening! It's been a lovely January day here in Texas. The weather was perfect--temps in the 70s! I even managed to get in two walks today in the great outdoors and now I'm finishing the day in my craft room creating a card for two challenges. One card = 2 challenges.

First, I used today's MoJo Monday sketch to create the card (Sketch #224). And I made it a winter birthday card so it could also be for the current Use It Tuesday challenge #23--"Winter." For the Use It Tuesday challenge I found the "wishes" sticker in a stash of old leftover embellishments that I bought either last year or even the year before. The lovely snowflake has been hanging around for quite some time too. Can't even remember when I bought it but it worked perfectly for this card!

Here's the MoJo Monday Sketch #224

Supplies Used:

Bo Bunny 6x6 papers from the Snowfall Collection
K & Company Deck the Halls snowflake from my stash
"Wishes" sticker from my stash
"birthday" acrylic stamp

And there it is...a lovely Winter "Birthday Wishes" card. Happy Birthday to all who have a Winter birthday!

Inflation!

2012-01-15T17:41:00.000-06:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Inflation + Circles

Another fun challenge from Hambo Stamps this week! This time there was no image BUT there was a cute sentiment and the instructions to create a project with at least two different size CIRCLES. My mind could see a card covered with lots of circle shape "balloons" in assorted fun prints and colors and strings! Strings that "tie" the balloons together. Punching out lots of circles from my scraps of paper made for a fun afternoon. Once I had them all stuck down on the card, I added the sentiment that I also cut out in a circle. Then I had the idea of cutting a piece of acetate from some packaging to cover the sentiment and also to punch some tiny circles from the various colors of the paper. This made a faux "shaker" of sorts. It looks like a shaker but so that the tiny balloon circles don't cover up the words of the sentiment and so they don't all clump at the bottom, I stuck each one down with a glue pen. Then I tied and added assorted colors of strings to give the illusion of lots of balloon bouquets! I think this would make a really cute birthday card.

"Know why balloons cost so much? Inflation."

Supplies Used:

Hambo Stamps sentiment "Balloon Cost"
Sew Easy Fancy Floss by We R Memory Keepers
Circle Punches (Assorted Sizes)
Acetate from packaging
Assorted scraps of printed and solid papers

I enjoyed creating this card on a lovely Sunday afternoon. And have added it to my stack of cards for Operation Write Home. Hope you are having a lovely day as well!

Somebody Squealed! + More Scrap It! Cards

2012-01-14T14:21:00.000-06:00

Sketch Inspiration

Wow! Where has the week gone?? Before we know it January will be gone. Goodness. I'm happy to report that I did get my Christmas trees and decorations all packed up and put away before the 10th of the month. That's a good thing! Ha, ha.

Each week of 2012 I'm going to try to create either a card or scrapbook page layout using the weekly Sketch Inspiration sketch, post it to their website AND post it to the facebook page of Cat's Creations Scrapbooks. That will be a total of 52 if I can stay focused and not forget one week! Whew!! The pressure is on! So far, so good. This is week 2 and yes! I've done two sketches--last week and this week.

Here's the card I created this week from the sketch. I went with a birthday card and this cute Hambo digi stamp that I had on my computer. The sentiment says..."Somebody squealed...that it's your birthday."

Supplies used:

Jillibean Soup "Blossom Soup" 6x6 papers
Hambo Stamps "Pig Inmate" Digi image & sentiment
Bo Bunny Petals Ribbon
Green beads for center of flowers
Punched flowers from the "Blossom Soup" paper
Copic Markers to color the images: R85 Rose Red, R20 Blush, R89 Dark Red, G24 Willow

And here's the sketch:

And then..after creating the card for the sketch challenge, I once again had some usable paper scraps to create two more cards! To do this, I use one of my favorite techniques that I call "Scrap It' and created the cards (with no sketch) by piecing the scraps of paper on to a white cardstock card.

First, here are the scraps I had to work with that were leftovers from three 6x6 pieces of paper that I used on the card above.

I was able to create these two cards from the above scraps. The flowers are punched from the paper and I used Copic markers to color the solid white backs of the flowers to get flowers that worked with these papers.

Even the bow on the card below was made from two short pieces of leftover ribbon.

And when I was done, these are all the scraps I had left which I tossed into the trash can. I think I did pretty good using the scraps and felt I could happily toss these!

It's a gorgeous January afternoon outside. I think I'll make myself a bit of lunch and then go outside and take a walk around our property. I wonder if I can convince any of the cats to tag along. Probably not...they seem to all be napping right now.

Don't Go Changing!

2012-01-08T21:25:00.001-06:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Reptile + Sentiment + Something New!

Here it is! The first Hambo Hoedown challenge for 2012! Appropriately titled "Happy Newt Year!" This time our challenge is to create a project using the "Reptile" digi stamp and one of the sentiments AND something new (in the last three months-besides Reptile). Reptile is designed to be a newt, chameleon, gecko or any type of lizard--whatever your creation needs. So....I chose for him to be a chameleon on my card and as the sentiment says: "Don't go changin'...I love you just the way you are!"

My new item on this project is the button...I bought several sets of the "Lost & Found" one of a kind buttons by My Mind's Eye just last week. I'm loving those buttons! My little chameleon has changed his colors to "blend in" with the color wheel he is standing in front of--green & purple! I added the orange for a bit of extra pop.

Supplies Used:

Bazzil Sanding Cardstock for the card base
Purple Cardstock
Orange plaid & light green printed papers from my stash
Copic markers YG00 Mimosa Yellow, YG03 Yellow Green, BV000 Iridescent Mauve, BV02 Prune & C1 Cool Gray
Sander to distress the edges of the papers
Reptile Digi stamp & sentiment from Hambo Stamps
Orange button from Lost & Found set by My Mind's Eye
Green floss thread to tie on button

I really had fun creating with this week's digi stamp. Thanks again Hambo for your fun and creative images! And here's hoping every one is having a very "Happy Newt Year!"

Three Cards

2012-01-08T13:20:00.000-06:00

Sketch Inspiration #301
Happy Sunday afternoon! I'm so thrilled that I have been able to stay up since yesterday afternoon and create cards! I think there is hope for my back problems and leg pain after all. :) I'm really enjoying some crafty time here in my little room.

The scrapbook store that I love and frequently shop at-- Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells always shares the weekly Sketch Inspiration scrapbook layout sketch on her facebook page. And this year she has challenged us to do the sketch EVERY week and share it on her facebook page and if you do them all she'll host a celebration party at the store! Sweet!! Her parties are always great! So this is week one and I'm so glad I was able to participate. Okay, now to just make sure I do the other 51 sketches! Cat also gave me permission to make cards of the sketches as I like to make cards even though now and then I will do a scrapbook page. The challenge with this is converting a 12x12 layout sketch to a 5.5" x 4.25" card!!!

For this challenge I created a Happy Birthday card. I also posted this in the gallery over in Sketch Inspiration for the weekly challenge over there. Here's my card...

Supplies Used:

Authentique 6x6 papers, Free Bird--Delight and Poised (double sided papers)

My Mind's Eye Lime Twist Twine

Acrylic Flower Stamp, stamped on the Delight paper and cut out, attached with foam tape

Hot pink card stock for circle behind stamped flower, edges crumpled and for small strips of paper

Fine tip black pen for "stitching"

Happy Birthday sentiment stamp by Unity Stamps

Hot pink button from Lost & Found set by My Mind's Eye

And here's the sketch:

Since I had useable pieces of scrap paper from this project, I decided to create more cards and was able to get two more just from the scraps! Wow! I made THREE cards from two little 6x6 pieces of paper! (double sided)

Using a technique I've decided to call "Scrap It"--I take the left over scraps lying on my craft table and start covering a card base much like you would piece a quilt. I love doing this! Then I take a small sander and distress the edges a bit and then stamp a sentiment, add embellishments, ribbon and such. This one is a "I miss Seeing you" card:

Supplies Used:

Scraps of paper from the Authentique 6x6 papers, Free Birds, Delight & Poised (double sided)
Sheer pink dotted ribbon
Eyeglass stamp & sentiment stamp by Unity Stamps
Assorted buttons from Lost & Found sets by My Mind's Eye

I looked down on my table and saw a couple more useable scraps! So I made a third card, "those who bloom in the hearts of others never fade away." This will make a nice sympathy card for my stash of cards to have on hand.

Supplies Used:

Remaining scrap of hot pink card stock, and square of Delight, Free Bird line by Authentique
Sentiment stamp by Unity Stamps
Scroll paper embellishment & paper flower from the Francesca Collection by Ana Griffin (This was in my Christmas stocking!)
Light green Spica pen to add a bit of sparkle to the flower
Hot pink button from Lost & Found sets by My Mind's Eye

And there they are...three cards made from minimal paper AND I used up every useable scrap of papers. There were only little teeny bits left, not even enough to create anything! So, if you make cards and get tired of all the bits of scrap paper piling up, use this technique---Scrap it! When you finish your first card, go ahead and see how many cards you can make right then with your scraps.

Have a wonderful afternoon and I hope you find time to make something crafty!

Happy New Year & Shopping Bonanza!!

2012-01-01T18:28:00.000-06:00

Here I am with my bag of goodies!

Well 2011 is gone and it's a brand new year! I'm a bit late with this post because yesterday my back decided to really act up, causing me quite a lot of pain and I've been in bed for over 24 hours. Actually it was Friday morning when this started up again.... I was a bit stiff and sore but by Saturday morning I thought is was better so I got in the van and drove over to Cat's Creations Scrapbook store for her end of the year Bag Sale! When I got out of the van I knew my back was getting worse but since I'd drove all the way over there I figured I'd just "grin and bear it" and I'm so glad I did! At Cat's Bag Sale you buy a bag for $50 and then you get to shop and fill the bag with stuff that's out on the sale tables. My bag was overflowing and Cat's husband was nice enough to carry it out to my van for me. Today I totaled it all up and I was able to get $1,136.40 worth of stuff in my bag!!! Awesome! I got acrylic stamps, Just Rite stamps, Technique Tuesday stamps, brads, stickers, die cuts and paper! This will all come in handy when I get back to making cards for Operation Write Home.

I'm still a bit bummed that I didn't get to do all the crafty stuff I wanted to this weekend. I had high hopes of making cards, finishing up some scrapbook projects and sewing on some quilt blocks. Instead, I slept a lot. My back is still bothering me but I am at least able to sit up in a comfy office chair and blog.

I hope each of you have had a wonderful weekend and are looking forward to 2012!

A {Crafty} Year in Review BLOG HOP!

2011-12-29T14:10:00.000-06:00

Welcome!

Well, another year is winding down. Soon we'll be saying hello to 2012! Really? 2012 already??? Seems like just yesterday we were worrying about 2000 and if our computers would really work when the clock rolled past midnight. Boy, was that a false alarm....everything turned out just fine.

I stumbled upon a blog that mentioned another blog and so on and that Karin over at With an "i" for Paper was hosting "A Year in Review Blog Hop" today through December 31st. Any craft blogger can join in...just pick out your favorite cards or craft projects you've done this year and post photos of them on your blog. Then go over to Karin's blog and enter your name in the Linky and link back to yourown blog so others can hop over and look at your 2011 favs. Karin does ask that you limit the number of cards/projects that you showcase to just 12 plus she asks you to shareher blog hop button (that cute typewriter up above) in your post and link back to her blog.

I just started doing my craft blog a few months ago and making cards for Operation Write Home. It was hard to just pick out 12 favorite cards as I like a lot of them! Also, so as to not have a super long post, I put my favorite cards that I have made this year (some have been featured here on my blog, some have not) into two collages. You will only see parts of some of the cards or should I say...my favorite parts of them.

Be sure to visit all the other participating blogs for great inspiration and ideas! Have fun and enjoy! And Happy New Year!!

P.S. I'm pleased to announce that since September 1, 2011 I have made and shipped 216 cards to Operation Write Home for the troops!

My Mother's Peanut Brittle

2011-12-28T21:46:00.001-06:00

I started this post on Christmas Eve then got busy with holiday activities and never got back to it. I know it's rather late to share a Christmas recipe, but perhaps you can bookmark it for next year though candy is good any time of the year!

It just doesn't feel like Christmas until my Mother's Peanut Brittle is made. On the Friday before Christmas I finally found the time and felt like making a batch so I could send it to my brothers. My Mother's Peanut Brittle is the best. I've tasted some made from other recipes and it's just not the same. It's either too hard, too sticky, the peanuts seem "raw" or something else isn't quite right. The recipe that my Mother used was always labeled Aunt Mabel's Peanut Brittle. Some thought that it was a recipe my Mother created as her name was Maebell but really the recipe was from an uncle's wife on my Dad's side of the family. But anyway, my Mother perfected it and in my mind it is now her recipe. I have shared it with others but something seems to get lost in the "translation." The secret to this peanut brittle was to have been able to make it with my Mother and learn from her which is was very lucky to be able to do--learn from her. However, I'm going to go ahead and share it here. Just remember, that if it doesn't turn out right, you'll just have to keep trying. Experience makes perfect and then sometimes you will goof up.

My Mother's Peanut Brittle Recipe (With Tips Added in by Me)

Before measuring the ingredients, prepare a cookie sheet by buttering it well on the bottom and sides and place it in a warm 190 degree oven (the oven trick is something I learned and added to this recipe. It makes the hot candy mixture spread easily in the pan.) Also butter a large spoon and lay it aside. You will need this to spread the candy in the warm cookie sheet. Also, take a small bowl of water and add a couple of ice cubes. This is for testing the candy to see when it is done. Pre-measure 2 teaspoons of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of vanilla and put each into separate little bowls and set them near your stove so you will have them ready to add to the hot candy mixture at the proper time.

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
3 cups raw shelled peanuts
1 cup Karo syrup
Piece of butter (the size of an egg, which is about 2 or 3 teaspoons)
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt

Put all of the above ingredients into a saucepan.

Cook until it turns a reddish brown color (about 30-35 minutes). Stir frequently. After about 25 minutes cooking time, you will need to start testing a drop of the candy in a small bowl of ice water. You want the candy to get to a brittle stage. You will know it is ready when the drop of the mixture into the cold water is easy to break after it cools and it not sticky when you eat it. The peanuts will also taste done. This is the only way to know when it is ready for the next step.

When ready as described above, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla first and then add the baking soda and stir well. It will get foamy.

Quickly spread the mixture into the warm, buttered cookie sheet and spread it out as thin as you can with the buttered spoon.

Let it cool and then break the candy into pieces. Store in an air tight container. Do not store with other candies.

I bag mine up to give away and only keep a piece or two for myself, otherwise I'd eat it all. Christmas just isn't Christmas until I've made my Mother's Peanut Brittle.

I hope you've had a wonderful holiday week and have a very Happy New Year! I hope to do some card crafting or quilting this weekend to ring in the new year.

Twas the Monday Before Christmas...

2011-12-19T16:16:00.001-06:00

And all through my craft room were cards that I made on Saturday waiting for envelopes, addresses and postage! I decided last week that on Monday I would get the last of my cards addressed and in the mail. I have a nice stack ready to take to the post office when I go in to town. Most are handmade cards that I created from scraps of scrapbook paper and left over stickers and other embellishments that I've collected over the years from creating layouts of our Christmas photos. A few have stamped images that I colored with my Copic pens and glittered up with Stickles and Spica glitter pens. I'm pretty pleased with how they all turned out and that no two were alike. My favorites ended up being made from several scraps of different printed Christmas papers pieced together much like you'd make a quilt.

This Christmas has been a bit different than years past. Because of my back I decided to not put out ALL my decorations and limited myself to just two Christmas trees. Yes, two. I usually have four or five. I know...overkill but I do love decorated trees and all the different ornaments I've collected through the years. We also did not put out any lights or decoration outside this year. And my kitchen seems a bit bare without all my snowmen. I've also not done any baking or candy making, but as the 25th nears I've got this urge to pull out the recipes and make just a couple of things. All this to say that maybe we try to do too much around the holidays and that it's okay if you don't put out all your decorations or bake a lot or wrap every gift or even if your holiday cards are late--arriving after the holiday (which may very well be what happens to some of mine) but that in the end it's the joy and spirit of Christmas that matters the most and that you are happy and rested and can enjoy it.

I'm thinking that I may not be doing any card challenges until after the holidays or even any card making though I will be getting my Operation Write Home Valentine and love cards (they are ready to go) in the mail tomorrow or Wednesday so they'll arrive before the OWH deadline. So, just in case I have nothing new to share before Christmas....I wish each of you a wonderful, blessed and Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Sorry a setting on "Comments" was incorrect so the comment section for this post is not available. If you'd like to comment, just scroll down to the next post, I'll receive your comment via email. Thanks!

My Blog Siggy and Other Blog Stuff

2011-12-13T15:01:00.001-06:00

I've had blogs before (still have them). Specifically a photography blog with a Prophoto template, self hosted Wordpress blog and a free family blog with Wordpress. It took me a while but I learned how to do stuff with each blog and like what I'd set up. Then I decided to get a blogger "blog." A free one for my crafty stuff. This blog "Sandy's Crafty Creations." I started out basic and then began to add stuff--cute backgrounds, headers, links and badges in the sidebar. It's different from Wordpress, so I had to learn.

Now the main reason for this post is....I finally learned how to add a pretty colored script signature to each post that will automatically be there every. single. time. I post. Awesome! And I wanted to do a post to see how it worked/looked. How did I learn to do it? I was afraid you'd ask that. Hmmm....well, whenever I need to learn something for my blog or otherwise, I simply Google it. And nine times out of ten I will find some easy to follow, fabulous instructions from someone who has already done what I'm wanting to do. And so it was with the signature thing. I think I Googled "Blogger Post Signatures."

To make this post worth your time in reading it, I'm going to post a few links to sites that really helped me to learn how to do different things for my blog. While most things can be done right in your "Dashboard" of your blog, there are some extra things you might want or need some instruction on how to do. And you can find those on other blogs and sites.

Here's what I have to share:

First, my snazzy, creative, cute blog background and header. Which I like to change seasonally or every other month. All done super quick and super easy. You just need to go to Leelou Blogs and click on Freebies>Blog Designs>Templates and then find one you like and click on it and then follow their instructions. And did I say...it's free??

Next, my signature. I used Photoshop to create the signature and uploaded it to Photobucket. (You have to have an online photo host site like Photobucket for this to work. Photobucket is free.) If you don't have Photoshop there are other programs you can use to design your signature. After that, you can go to The Cutest Blog on the Block then click on Secrets>#5 How to add a signature to your blog post (updated) follow the instructions and tada! You have your signature. One thing I did learn on my own--when doing a new post, you need to click on "Edit HTML", put your cursor at the front of your signature HTML coding and click return a few times to get the space above your signature for actually typing your post. At least that's what I've had to do. After you've done that click on compose and do your post as usual. Also, the Cutest Blog on the Block site has other blog how to tips AND free blog backgrounds/headers so check those out too.

And then....those thumbnail photos with links to my previous posts that show up at the bottom of each post. Those are done with Linked Within. It's super easy! You just need to enter your email address, blog web address and install the widget to your blog. It's automatic and the thumbnails show up randomly. under each post to encourage readers to visit other posts on your blog.

And that's it, I think. If there's something you have a question about or wonder how I did it, just leave me a comment and I'll see if I know or can find the answer for you!

Ohhh! I'm loving my new signature!

Use It Tuesday Challenge #21 | Holiday!

2011-12-13T11:22:00.000-06:00

Do you have lots and lots of paper that you've bought but haven't used yet? Scraps of paper in boxes, bags and totes? Left over embellishments, stickers and die cuts or even some that you bought but have never opened the package? Hmmm? Yeah, well...me too. Ha, ha. I've discovered that making cards is a great way to use up some of this stuff and I've been having a great time making cards and sending them to Operation Write Home for the troops overseas. And I've decided it's a great way to make Christmas cards too...each one different from the other. No matchy, matchy for me this year. So if you're on my Christmas card mailing list, hopefully I'll get these made in time for you to get one of my handmade, "use it" cards. If not, there's always next year.

Which leads us to the Use It Tuesday Challenge #21 theme: HOLIDAY! Yay! Since I've been making Christmas cards anyway, I can totally participate in this challenge. In case you're not familiar...the Use It Tuesday challenges require you to use "your hoarded supplies" and to tell what you used. I couldn't decide on just one card to share, though "officially" the first one here is my entry for the challenge...anyway I've posted four Holiday cards that I made totally from hoarded supplies.

Card #1: I headed to my stash of card stock and printed papers (of which I have a lot!) and chose this Santa paper and a green solid for the center and then I rummaged through my Christmas embellishments and came up with these adorable felt "stickers." I can't remember if they came together or not but the tree and wrapped gift worked really well together with this paper.

Card #2: I really like this one! I found this lovely printed paper with the stack of gifts--this may be a new paper I bought this year but I'm not really sure. It was among my stash of Christmas papers. But the Santa sticker and the "Ho, Ho" I'm pretty sure I've had a year or so.

Card #3: This one is made from some lovely light aqua dotted paper that was in my scrap stash and some die cut stickers that were left over from a scrapbook page I made. The "Under the Mistletoe" sticker is from a completely different sticker set and was a left over too.

Card #4: These adorable felt stockings were in the leftover embellishment box too and I thought they looked really cute with this scrap of Christmas stocking paper.

Four cards made really quick and I used up some of my leftover stuff! Not bad. Not bad at all. Thanks Use It Tuesday for encouraging us to use up our stuff!

Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho! This "elf" needs to get back to work.
Have an awesome day!
~Sandy

Let it Snow!

2011-12-12T22:30:00.000-06:00

MoJo Monday Sketch # 219

So glad I remembered to pop over to the Mojo Monday blog and take a look at this week's sketch! It was perfect for a Christmas card I was working on. A bit of lovely printed paper, felt snowflake ribbon, a Just Rite Snowman stamped image, Copic pens, sketch #219 and I had this quick and easy card.

Here's the sketch:

Click over to the Mojo Monday blog and check out this sketch and past ones too. I have several Christmas cards made to send out but need to make more. If you're needing to finish up on your own, sketches are great for inspiration!

Just noticed the time! Must go to bed as the alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m. Yikes! Have a good night!

~Sandy

Supplies Used:

Just Rite Snowman Stamp
Copic Markers: R81, BG45, YR07, BG000, G24, R22, RV14 and B60
Spica glitter pens Blossom pink and Clear
Printed papers from Echo Park's Holly Jolly Christmas 6x6 paper pad
Green cardstock for card base
Felt snowflake ribbon
Pre-punched hot pink paper scallop border

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-12T21:04:00.001-06:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Anta Claus + More Than One Fold

Capital "A" for adorable is all I can say for this week's Hambo Digi Stamp for the challenge--Anta Claus. Using this digi stamp, we were challenged to create a card with more than one fold. I created one with 4 folds and a bonus gift with the card--a Anta Claus bookmark! I've seen these really cute bookmarks here and there but couldn't find the directions for the type I wanted to make, so I winged it. Once the bookmark was done, I had to figure out a way to incorporate it into a card. I designed a card with two folds that meet in the center and made the card to a size that the bookmark would slip over one corner and also create a means to hold the card shut. I'm probably not explaining that too well. Maybe the photos will help--or not. Email me or leave a comment if you have any questions or would like instructions.

Here's the card closed with the bookmark on the left upper corner:

The inside of the card, opened:

And the bookmark off of the card and on the page of a book

Now to decide who to send the card to. Hmm...needs to be someone who likes to read. Any ideas?

But first, I think I better go write down my own instructions so I don't forget because once the card is mailed, I won't have it to look at. Ha, ha.

~Sandy

Supplies Used:

Hambo Anta Claus Digi Stamp
Copic Markers RV09, G24, BG45, BG000(for the shadows around the images), E55, N10 & R27 plus the Copic blending pen to create the dots and stripes on the packages of the images.
Spica glitter pens in Lipstick Red and Clear (for Anta Claus's beard and fur on hat)
Zig Glue pen (to attach the small parts of the images after cut out and the little trees cut from the printed paper)
Memento Lady Bug Red Ink for the stamped sentiment
Printed papers from Echo Park's Holly Jolly Christmas 6x6 Paper Pad
Sheer Red Ribbon
Hot pink pre-cut paper scroll
Red pre-cut paper scallop border

Love + Hearts

2011-12-10T16:17:00.000-06:00

Operation Write Home Stars & Strips Sketch #97

Yes, I'm behind a bit on the Operation Write Home Sunday Sketch challenge. Their blog is on #98 and tomorrow I think #99 will be posted but hey! I did get a card done for OWH, a another Love card created from scraps of Valentine papers from my stash, a few heart stickers, sheer black dot ribbon and my current favorite "love" acrylic stamp for the sentiment. Loved that sketch! It helped me to create a quick, yet lovely card.

Here's the Sketch, #97. Create your own Love card and click here to share over on the OWH Sketch challenge.

Now to decide what I'd like to do for the rest of the day. Hmmm...my options are 1) take a nap, 2) clean up my craft room {again}, 3) Put out a few more Christmas decorations, 4) Package up and wrap the few Christmas gifts I've purchased, 5) Create tags for said gifts or 6) Make more cards for OWH or even Christmas cards for myself to mail out. Decisions, decisions.
~Sandy

Love Birds in a Cage

2011-12-10T15:57:00.000-06:00

Seems A Little Sketchy Challenge #1

Wow! Where has the week gone? I made this card for the first Seems a Little Sketchy challenge LAST Saturday. But I'm just now getting it posted here on the blog. It has not been a good week for me. It will be a month this coming week since I slipped in hubby's shop and strained my ankle and SI joint. Ugh. Some days I can sit and some days I can't. And some days I can stand and some days I can't. Some days I think I'm getting better and some days I think I'm not. Have been taking meds for inflammation, seeing the doctor and doing stretches but still....I want this over with! I want to enjoy the holidays! Thanksgiving was already a bust because of this. And I'm only putting out half of my Christmas decorations. But anyway, enough about me and that tiny violin that's playing in the background. Ha.Ha. On with this challenge! Friend and fellow cardmaker Allison is on the design team for Seems a Little Sketchy and I follow her blog, Allison's Creations. So I was excited to see that the sketch challenge had gone live!

For this first sketch I created a Love card for Operation Write Home, so I changed the size to an A2 card to be within the OWH card making guidelines. The card is made entirely of scraps of Valentine papers from my stash. Even the cute love birds in the cage. Oh, and some diecut stickers I had lying around and a bit of sheer ribbon.

There's still time for you to play along on this first Seems a Little Sketchy Challenge. Just click on over to their blog for the details. Here's what the sketch looks like:

Sketch #1 {Seems a Little Sketchy Challenge}

Here's hoping you have a wonderful Saturday!
~Sandy

Peace!

2011-12-05T21:24:00.001-06:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Snowball Fight + Dry Embossing

Happy Monday evening to you! It's time for another Hambo Hoedown challenge. This time we used the Snowball Fight digi stamp from Hambo and dry embossing.

Here's what I came up with:

I created this while at the crop on Saturday at the LSS, Cat's Creations. Which afforded me a chance to use some new papers and ribbons. I dry embossed with my Big Shot and an embossing folder on light blue vellum paper and used a "Peace" stamp for the sentiment which seems to work for a "snowball fight." Ha, ha.

Today we had a bit of snow here where I live in North Texas. Not enough to stick but there was a little on the trees. And about 30 miles northwest of here they had lots of snow, so it's seems appropriate that this card has a snow theme.

Stay warm if it's cold where you live and have a good night!
~Sandy

Supplies Used:

Hambo "Snowball Fight" digi stamp
Copic Markers E000, R20, Y15, BG000, BG02, BG05, BG07
Little Yellow Bicycle "Snowy Window" paper
Little Yellow Bicycle "Ski Sweater" paper
Light blue vellum paper
Black Double Organdy Cord {Creative Impressions}
Texas Teal Seam Binding "Hug Snug"
Dot Embossing Folder
Metal snowflake brads {from my stash}

Giving Thanks

2011-12-02T13:13:00.000-06:00

Use It Tuesday Challenge #20 ~ Giving Thanks

Yes, I know it's Friday and not Tuesday but that's okay. I also know it is the last day of this challenge, but I think I made it just in time! Have only been planning on doing this card for the Use It Tueday Challenge # 20 "Giving Thanks" for almost two weeks now---that's the way I roll sometimes though. Last minute. Anyway, I was thrilled to find the Use It Tuesday blog and their challenges which along with the theme, you are to use stuff you already have. That's usually what I use to create cards for Operation Write Home so this really was right up my alley.

Here's the card I made for this challenge "Giving Thanks." The papers are fairly new in that I got them a few weeks ago but the flowers came from my "jar of flowers" that I rarely dig into and have had for years! Ditto with the brads. The twine is from my kitchen and I inked around the sentiment, another thing I've had for many years and have only used once in a while.

I am "So Thankful" that it is Friday. How about you? Looking forward to the weekend! Hope you have a good one too!
~Sandy

Supplies Used:

Jillibean Soup Papers from the Blossom Soup 6x6 minim pad
Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot {Ranger}
Kitchen twine
Assorted Silk Flowers
Brads

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe

2011-12-01T09:33:00.001-06:00

Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown ~ Use a Digital Image

Happy December the 1st! Are you almost ready for Christmas? Ha, ha. Me either. So I'd rather make cards.

This week the Midweek Throwdown challenge for Opeation Write Home is to make a card using a digital image. Some how I've acquired a pretty good collection of digi stamps. Many I haven't even used yet! I have both pre-colored and un-colored digi files. It was hard to chose a digi for this challenge but I decided to go with "Under the Mistletoe" from TLC Creations. I love the vintage look of this image!

Pretty happy that it's Thursday because it means the weekend is almost here and I'm planning on spending Saturday at my favorite scrapbook store, Cat's Creations, creating cards at a crop.

Here's wishing you a wonderful day and may you not stress out too much about it being December 1st.
~Sandy

Supplies Used:

Under the Mistletoe digi from TLC Creations
Copic markers (sorry, I forgot to write down the colors I used but I know it was a nice Christmas red and evergreen color and then brown for the wood floor)
Green cardstock
Red Rhinestones
Ranger inks for distressing the edges of the image

Sending All My Love

2011-11-28T20:25:00.004-06:00

Awesome! This card won the Hambo Hoedown Best in Show! Thanks Hambo!! http://hambochallenges.blogspot.com/2011/11/let-it-snow.html

Hambo Hoedown ~ Computer Digi + Soft Wares

What an interesting digi file we had for our Hambo Hoedown challenge this week. We were to take the Computer digi stamp from Hambo and add some "Soft Wares" and create something. So...since I'm working on Love and Valentine cards for Operation Write Home, I decided to do a "love" theme.

Here's what I came up with:

First, after printing up the digi stamp image, I cut out the computer screen and replaced it with clear acetate and then printed up and added the sentiment "Sending all my love" behind the acetate. You can't see it well in the photo but it gives the appearance of a glass computer screen. Then I colored the image with my Copic pens. I colored two images of the keyboard and cut out one and attached it over the first one with FOAM TAPE (my first "Soft Ware" item--foam tape is soft.) I used a circle cutter to cut out the image and then punched out a bunch of pink hearts. I added a scalloped strip of paper from my stash and pink dot RIBBON (my second "Soft Ware" item).

And there it is...an adorable love card using a computer image!

How's your Monday after Thanksgiving going? Hard to get back into the normal groove, isn't it? Especially after several days off, lots of yummy food and time spent with friends and family.

Make it a good evening,
~Sandy

Supplies Used:

Copic pens C1, C3, C4, B60, B93, R83 and Y08
Different shades of pink cardstock
Fine black pen for "stitching on circle and hearts
Creative Memories mini heart punch
Foam tape
Sheer Pink Dot Ribbon

Making Cards on Steroids! | The Results

2011-11-27T12:14:00.001-06:00

I think it was Monday night that I could not sleep (again) because of the steroids I was taking for my leg and back pain. I remember I woke up at around 1:00 and could not sleep so Portia cat and I went in to the craft room and spent several hours (until 3 or 4) making cards (Portia actually slept in the computer chair). When I finally went to bed, I stacked the cards up in a little box and have not looked at them until today. These are all for Operation Write Home which I will be sending out hopefully tomorrow or Tuesday so that the love cards arrive in time for the OWH Archway Cookie and Love Card Challenge!

Looks like I started out fairly creative. This first card was inspired by a floral thank you card in the January 2009 Card Maker magazine {page 88}. I liked the instructions for creating the little secret envelope.

To make the envelope, I punched out four 2" circles from printed paper, scored and folded each one in half. I then cut a 2" square of cardstock and applied adhesive to just half of each circle on the back and adhered them to the square at each side, aligning the folds with edges of the square. On the inside of the envelope I attached a 1 3/4" piece of printed paper. Inside this envelope I attached more of the lovely butterfly diecuts and a butterfly charm and tied it up with a bow. The stamped sentiment says "wishing you a Beautiful Day", the butterfly is a diecut I found in my stash and I added Spica glitter pen on the wings and attached it with foam tape. Hopefully the recipient of this card will open up the little envelope and will find the hidden surprise.

Next I made a simple Thank You card using an layout idea again from the January 2009 Card Maker Magazine {Page 33}. I used a strip of striped paper from my stash, some lovely flower stickers left over from another project, punched out the scallop circle and a white circle for the stamped sentiments. Added a pink dot bow.

Found another lovely butterfly diecut in my stash for the next card. Some lovely printed paper for the background, an Oriental diecut from a prior album class, stamped the word "Beautiful" to the top, added the green bow and the butterfly diecut with foam tape. I also colored over the butterfly with Spica Glitter pens.

For the next several cards, I just went to my embellishment leftover stash to use up diecuts, stickers and such and used various printed papers to create these love cards.

And then for the last card I did something I'd never done before--created my own background "paper." Actually I took a large doily rubber stamp and inked it with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink (Ranger) and stamped all over the front of the card. Then I used Pine Needles Distress Ink to ink the edges of the card. The flower is created from four printed paper circles cut into graduating sizes and then crumpled with a button added for the center. The stem and leaves are tied ribbon. Stamped "Happy Birthday" sentiment. It's different. I think it's growing on me.

And there you are. Nine cards I made in one night while on steroids!

Have a lovely November Sunday. It's cold and windy here.

~Sandy

You're a Hoot + Love Butterfly

2011-11-26T17:43:00.000-06:00

Seems like forever since I made cards or something crafty here in my room and posted on this blog, but looks like I was on here on Monday. Hmm...it's been a "downhill" sort of week for me. A week and a half ago I strained my back and that caused major pain in the lower left leg. A trip to ER found it to be an inflamed sciatica nerve. Ouch! I thought it was getting better and I think it was but I did have a few very painful days. Namely Thanksgiving day and yesterday. Is it true that things get worse right before they get better? Anyway, today I've felt much better and have been up 90% of the day doing things in my craft room. Organized my acrylic and rubber stamps, finally! And then I made a couple of cards for Operation Write Home.

I got my inspiration for these two cards out of a magazine. While I was resting in bed for a few days, I went through all my old magazines and tore out photos of cards or sketches that I liked. These two cards were both on the same page of the January 2010 Creating Keepsakes magazine {page 106}.

For this first one "You're a Hoot!" the instructions called for different sizes of punches. But I didn't have all of them and/or mine were the wrong size so I improvised. First I cut out an approximate 2" square of yellow/gold cardstock and then I used a 2" circle punch to cut out the top of the owl and rounded the bottom corners. I hand cut the green dot leaves for his wings, and the pink heart. The eyes were punched from a small circle punch. I inked the edges and added the googly eyes. I machine straight stitched around the outside of the dotted paper with pink thread and stamped the sentiment.

The next one used a heart punch to make a butterfly. I used black rhinestones for the body and hand drew the antenna and path. "Love" is a stamped sentiment. I used a ruled printed paper and matted to black printed paper for contrast. A quick simple card and fun way to make a butterfly out of pretty printed paper.

That's it for today. Think it's time to quit for the day and rest. Don't want to over do it that's for sure! Tomorrow I'll share the cards I made one night when I could not sleep because of the steroids I was taking and the pain in my leg. The cat and I spent several hours crafting that night until I could wind down. Haven't looked at the cards again just yet so I'm curious to see how they turned out!

Enjoy your weekend. No Black Friday shopping for me even if I was feeling up to par. How about you? Do you shop on Black Friday and the weekend after Thanksgiving?

Later,

~Sandy

I {heart} You!

2011-11-21T18:09:00.000-06:00

Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge ~ Use a Doodle Pantry Image (Not Just a Sentiment)

Happy rainy Monday to you! Not sure if we're getting a LOT of rain, but any rain is welcomed in this drought part of Texas. The ducks in the pond down the road are pretty happy too!

This is my first time to participate in a Doodle Pantry Challenge. But it's not my first time to have and use their totally cute digital images! I have quite a few in my stash and have happily printed them up to use on my cards for Operation Write Home.

This challenge asked us to create a project using a Doodle Pantry Image (Not just a Sentiment) so I used both. I used one of my favorite Doodle Pantry digi stamps (it was hard to choose just one) and created a love card since Operation Write Home is paired up with Archway Cookies for a special campaign for the troops. Troops need lots of cards AND cookies this time of year! Check it out HERE if you'd like to help out. It's a special mission! 4,000 Valentine/Love Cards = 4,000 cookies!!! But hurry, there is a deadline! (And be sure to check the OWH card making guidelines before you create and send them in.)

And here's my card for the challenge, "I ♥ You" (please note: The card looks taller on the top than it really is. It already has the envelope tucked with it to send to OWH and part of the envelope is showing. I didn't notice that until just now.)

Hoping for more rain this evening and maybe a chance to do another challenge if I get my Thanksgiving grocery shopping list done. Which means I'll be shopping tomorrow and I've already heard it is crazy busy in those grocery stores!!
~Sandy

Supplies Used:

Heart printed paper from my stash
Light pink cardstock to mat the digi image
Doodle Pantry's Heart Sheep Color Digi Stamp
Sheer pink ribbon
Memento pink ink to color the background of the sentiment

OWH Any Occasion No Sentiment Challenge | My 60 Second Card

2011-11-20T18:22:00.000-06:00

One more quick card for this fine Sunday evening then I'm quitting for the day and tidying up the room a bit. Every week I save the email about the current OWH Challenge and then life gets in the way and I end up not making the card. But this week...this week I'm getting it done and in 60 seconds! That's right a 60 second card! Didn't plan on it being such a quick card but it is and what a great way to make a lovely card when you need one like right now! But this one is for Operation Write Home and I hope one of our troops will think it a lovely card to send home.

Okay..the challenge was to create an Any Occasion Card with NO sentiment so it can be used for...any occasion. I was inspired to make this card from a similar one I saw in the March 2009 Cardmaker magazine. Love to CASE cards don't you? Actually mine is nothing like theirs but theirs did inspire me and give me the idea. Here's how I made it in 60 seconds. My card bases are already folded and ready to go. I took a piece of lovely light color paper with a bit of vintage lettering on it. Stamped a flourish in the right hand corner and a butterfly. Did a partial stamp of a flower in the left top corner. Added a bit of ribbon and a few rhinestones for bling. And since I didn't have to fret and think of what sentiment to use. The card was done.

I won't do every card that quick and that way, but I do like this style. And I'm pleased as I can be that I got the challenge done this week! Whoo hoo! Why don't you head over to the blog post about the challenge and give it try too? I challenge you to do the challenge AND do it in 60 seconds!

And that's a wrap for today! Good night, all.
~ Sandy

Supplies Used: (Not much to list!)

Idea CASED from Cardmaker Magazine, March 2009 issue, Page 12
Lovely piece of My Mind's Eye Stella Rose paper from the Mabel Papers 6x6 pad
Acrylic stamps from my vast collection that I don't keep the names and packages for
A bit of sheer black with white dots ribbon for the bow
Clear rhinestones

Rawr Means I Love You

2011-11-20T17:15:00.004-06:00

Sketch Inspiration #247

I've been a member of Sketch Inspiration for quite some time. Found through my favorite scrapbook store Cat's Creations in Mineral Wells, Texas who re-posts the sketch each week on her Facebook wall. But I've been a sketch participant flunky in spite of the fabulous prizes you can win by participating each week. For the past many months I've not been scrapbooking that much, I'm focusing on making cards right now for Operation Write Home so I figured the sketches wouldn't work for my cards. However, today I decided to give it a try and see if the sketch could be sized down into a card and I'm please to say that it worked out beautifully!

Here's my version of Sketch Inspiration #247, I made a card titled "Rawr Means I Love You":

Okay, now to head over to the Sketch Inspiration website and link up my creation. Maybe I'll be lucky and win the prize! You can join in on the fun too and maybe you'll be the one to win!

Here's the sketch:

Have a great week! I hope to be back in a few days if not sooner with some more creations. Still need to share some photos of my quilt blocks I've stitched up!

~Sandy

Supplies Used:

Printed Papers in pink and green from my stash plus solid pink cardstock
Flower punch and circle punch (two sizes)
Adorable pink and white flower ribbon from my stash
Dinosaur acrylic stamp (can't remember the company or designer but I bought it at Cat's!)
My Mind's Eye Lime Twist twine in hot pink & white
Polka Dot button and solid pink button from my button jar
Copic pens to color the stamped image. I used YG03, Y06, E00, E000, R20. And then I used the Copic blending pen to put the dots on the dinosaur!

Happy Turkey Day!

2011-11-20T15:44:00.002-06:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Wee Henry Turkey - Tag

Awesome! This tag won the Hambo Hoedown Best in Show!

This week for the Hambo Hoedown we were asked to create a project incorporating a tag with the super cute Wee Henry Turkey digi stamp. I decided to make a hostess gift tag.

I love how it turned out! Here's a close up shot of it:

Now I just need to decide who to give it to or maybe keep it for myself. Ha, ha. It does look cute sitting on my dining room table!

I'm enjoying this Sunday afternoon doing a bit of crafting...tags, cards, challenges etc. Hope you're having an awesome day too!
~Sandy

Supplies Used:

Papers - Apple Cider 6x6 Paper Pad Collection by Imaginisce
Kraft Card Stock inked with Tim Holtz Distress "Tea Dye" behind Wee Henry & for the sentiment
Creative Imaginations Art Warehouse Die Cut Fall Leaves
Karen Foster Scrapper's Spools in Suede & Pine colors for tying the tag on the bottle
Image colored with Copic pens in E000, E00, R20, W5, W7, E97, C4 and C5

Thanks For All You Do

2011-11-19T17:00:00.002-06:00

MoJo Monday Sketch #215

I love sketches for creating cards! They give so much inspiration and get your creative mind working. So I was super excited on Monday evening to find the {MOJO} Monday Sketch Challenge blog! I saved the sketch on my computer, selected my papers and flowers from my stash and set it aside to work on. I ran out of time Monday evening but knew I'd be back the next day or so I thought. On Monday afternoon I slipped in my husband's shop and luckily I didn't fall but I did pull or strain my back which reared it's head in full force on Tuesday morning and it caused major pain in my leg---seems it did something to that nerve that runs down your leg from your back. You know the one...that sciatic nerve. Ugh. So I've been to the ER and the chiropractor and finally today I feel more like working on something CRAFTY...I decided to finish this card sketch!

So here it is...my first card for {MOJO} Monday! I picked papers and flowers inspired by the color scheme of the bouquet of flowers in my craft room that I placed the card in when I snapped the photo. I added pink zig zag stitching with the sewing machine and a Lime Twist twine bow to pull it all together.
This card is for Operation Write Home. Oh, and here's the sketch if you want to create your own card from this great layout.

Hope you're having a great Saturday. I'm happy that I at least feel up to making a few cards. Have to stand up most of the time, but still...it's better than being in bed!
~Sandy

I Need You To Focus!

2011-11-14T21:46:00.004-06:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Camera Guy Digi + Frame It!

It's time to dance again with the Hambo Hoedown Challenge! This week we are to use the adorable Camera Guy Digi Stamp and create a project with a frame. (A mat is not a frame! MAT: BEHIND; FRAME: ON TOP/IN FRONT.) So I cut a frame with the circle cutter, colored Camera Guy with my Copic pens G82, G85, G94, W7, W5, E37, B60, C1, B06 and E00. I made the card from scraps of paper in orange, black with a touch of blue, green and white and used up the last of that green ribbon.

"I need you to focus...on having a great day!"

Hope you've had a great day!

~Sandy

Thinking of You!

2011-11-13T22:07:00.001-06:00

Operation Write Home Stars & Stripes Sketch #95

It's been a busy weekend. I've been cleaning out closets, the Harry Potter Room (big closet under the stairs), the pantry and the kitchen cabinets. Throwing some junk out and setting aside a few things for a garage sale this weekend at my daughter's house. Early this evening I decided it was time to do something a bit more fun so I headed up to my craft room to make a few cards for Operation Write Home. But my craft room was a total wreck so I had to do some cleaning and reorganizing first. Then I made some cards. Well, only three. But three is more than none. Right? My first card was for this week's Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge #95.

Here's the sketch:

And here's my card:

I used some paper scraps from my stash. The flowers are a Just Rite Stamp that I bought a few weeks ago. Stamped with Memento ink and colored with my Copics R81, R83, R46, Y02, Y06, YG00, YG03, YG06 And E000. I then added a touch of Spica pen in Blossom pink and Mint green. The "Thinking of You" sentiment is a Cloud 9 Clear Epoxy sticker.

Since I had my stuff out I decided to make a few more cards for OWH.

This is another Just Rite Flower stamp that I stamped on a pre-cut scallop oval. I colored the flowers with my Copics using Y02, Y06, R81, R8, YG03 and YG00 then I added Spica Blossom Pink and Buttermilk Yellow for just a touch of sparkle on the flowers and bow. I then stamped the scallop border around the flowers with Memento Angel Pink ink. Added pink rhinestones to the corners and the "You are special to me!" Cloud 9 Clear Epoxy sentiment sticker.

The third card I made this evening was quick and easy.

"Sending Hugs" is made up of a scrap of paper from my stash, an adorable pre-colored digi stamp from Fred, She Said called "I Love You This Much", Cloud 9 Clear Epoxy sentiment sticker, assorted pink polka-dot flowers, rhinestones and a sprinkling of heart stickers for the "hugs."

Now I'm out of time for this evening. My craft room is in a wreck again. Ha, ha. But tomorrow I hope to work on the Hambo Hoedown challenge so check back.

Hope your weekend was all you hoped for and that you got to check out the blog hop for Veteran's Day.

~Sandy

Operation Write Home 11-11-11 Blog Hop!

2011-11-11T11:18:00.000-06:00

Today is 11-11-11 a very unique date on the calendar but also Veteran's Day. Operation Write Home is hosting a 11-11-11 blog hop today to honor our veterans! Check it out!! Eleven blogs celebrating Veteran's Day the crafty way!

To start the blog hop, click HERE! And be sure to leave comment love to all the blogs you visit. Some may be offering prizes!!

I hope to find the time later today to make cards for Operation Write Home. You can join me. It's easy. All the directions can be found on the Operation Write Home blog.

I also want to share this photo that I took on Veteran's Day back in 2008 when I was first learning to use my cameras. It is still one of my favorite flag photos. I've shared it on Facebook and on my photography blog too today and have given permission to friends to re-post it as well.

Thank you to all of the men and women who have served and are serving our country and the families at home waiting for them. I truly appreciate everything you do for our country.
~Sandy

Hambo Hoedown | Raking in the Techniques!

2011-11-07T21:37:00.000-06:00

Goodness! Where does the time go??? Last Wednesday I picked out the technique I wanted to use for the Hambo Hoedown challenge. Printed up the instructions and well...time got away from me and now here it is less than 30 minutes to challenge deadline! Yikes!! But I got it done. Whew!

A few details: The Hambo Hoedown challenge asked us to use their super cute Snail Rake digi stamp and a technique from the Split Coast Stampers Gallery. I chose the 3"x3" Notecard box by Laurie Schmidlin.

Some fall color cardstock and an autumn print makes an adorable box for 3"x3" notecards and the Snail Rake digi that I colored with Copic markers is perfect. A brown bow adds a finishing touch. You could also fill the box with candies for a cute hostess thank you gift.

Happy Fall!

~Sandy

Operation Write Home Sketch # 93

2011-11-04T14:35:00.003-05:00

Last night I attended a OWH card party/workshop at Cat's Creations in Mineral Wells, TX. With all the talking, laughing and having a great time, I only completed 6 love cards for the box we are sending in this month. However, I had pre-made 20 love cards to donate so I didn't do too terribly bad I think. The first card I made last night was for the Operation Write Home Sketch #93 Challenge.

Here's my card. I love using a sketch for a card. It's quick and easy. Cut some scrap paper to the sizes in the sketch and add a stamped sentiment and some heart stickers and you have an anytime love card for OWH.

This is another card I made using stamped hearts that I colored with Copics and pink/red paper scraps and rhinestones around the "I Love You."

Feels a bit odd to be making love and Valentine cards this time of year but if you're going to make the deadline for OWH this is what you should be working on.

Have a great weekend...we're going camping!

~Sandy

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T14:55:00.000-05:00

Hare Raising Holiday!

2011-10-24T21:35:00.000-05:00

Hambo Hoedown #38 ~ Zombie Bunny + Sketch

Finally! My card for this week's Hambo Hoedown #38 challenge is done and it's very close to deadline time!

We were sent an adorable Zombie Bunny digi stamp from Hambo and challenged to create a card using this sketch:

I colored Zombie Bunny with my Copics using W5, W7, C1, B21, YR18, YR07 and Y35. I added a bit of sparkle with the At You Spica glitter pens Lipstick, Peach, Baby Blue, Buttermilk and Pitch Black.

Using the sketch as a guide, I selected three different Halloween paper prints from my stash then added a Jolee Haunted House sticker and flying witch moon to add dimension to Zombie Bunny's background. The sentiment is one of three that comes with the digi stamp.

Halloween will soon be here! Have a wonderful week and and a hauntingly happy Halloween and may you have lots of candy for your trick-or-treaters!

~Sandy

Operation Write Home Fundraiser Blog Hop!

2011-10-21T21:00:00.022-05:00

Welcome to our Operation Write Home Fundraiser blog hop! If you’ve arrived at my blog from
Julie at Handmade by Julie you’re on the right track. If not and you’d like to start at the beginning your can start here at Jan's "She's Gone Digital" blog

These are a few of the cards that I've made this week from the adorable digi stamps that you can buy from KnK Designs! When you buy these stamps this week, all of the proceeds go to Operation Write Home (less Paypal fees)! It's a win-win for you and Operation Write Home! If you don't need any more digi stamps, then please consider donating a few dollars to Operation Write Home for their shipping costs this holiday season. We want to make sure that all the troops who request them receive cards!

The first card is made from KnK's Patriotic Pickles digi stamp using Bo Bunny Blue Dots paper and Crate Paper's Orbit Collection}Galaxy paper, Copic colors Y26, Y15, Y23, Y19, R22, R29, B95 and B24.

The next card is the For Owl You Do digi stamp by Deedee Anderson, also available from KnK Designs. Sei Park Buddies (Dog Run) paper and Copic colors E37, E57, E55, Y26, Y17, Y32, B95, B24, R46, C3 and C1.

During this blog hop, K'nK Designs is giving away a prize package to 2 lucky winners!! All you need to do is comment on the blogs in this hop, and your name will go into the drawing! The winners will be announced on Monday October 24th, so be sure to leave some love along the way as you hop along!

October 24, 2011 Update: The Winners have been announced!

From Brenda's blog random.org picked Cinnamon Sally and from Shannon's blog random.org picked Rhonda Miller! Congratulations Cinnamon & Rhonda!!

Thank you for joining our blog hop today! And thank you for your support for Operation Write Home.
~Sandy

The next stop on our hop is Katlyn at Splashes of Joy.

Christmas is on it's Way!

2011-10-19T11:16:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year! Time to get the Christmas cards in the mail. Well, the Christmas cards for Operation Write Home that is. The deadline to get Christmas cards to the OWH shippers is October 31st. I've been making Christmas cards since September and decided that today was the day to send them on their way. In this Priority Mail shipping box I have packed in 44 Christmas cards, 13 General Occasion cards, 9 Birthday cards and 7 Love cards--all handmade by me. This is my first year to send off Christmas cards for Operation Write Home. I had so much fun creating the cards and adding embellishments from my stash. Most of the cards were made from papers left over from when I created scrapbook pages. I will confess that I did buy a few new Christmas papers specifically for card making as they were just too lovely to pass up. The two cards shown in this post are just a few of the designs that I created for OWH. I did both classy and whimsical cards for an assortment for the troops.

So now that the Fall, Halloween, Christmas card making season is past for OWH; what will I be working on? Valentines of course! Lots of hearts, words of love and sweet sentiments! And birthday cards and hello, thinking of you cards which are always needed for the troops to send home to loved ones, family and friends.

I also want to remind you that this week there is a fund raiser for Operation Write Home over on KnK Designs. All of the proceeds from sales of a collection of digi stamps that you purchase this week (less Paypal fees) will go to OWH to help with shipping expenses. It is estimated that to ship the cards needed for the troops during September, October and November will top out at $13,000 or more! Even if you don't make cards and don't need any digi stamp, you can help out by heading over to the Operation Write Home website and clicking on donations.

Thanks so much! And have a wonderful week!
~Sandy

Operation Write Home Benefit Week!

2011-10-17T01:00:00.003-05:00

Hello friends! Today is a special, special day because it kicks off a benefit for Operation Write Home!! For those of you who aren't familiar with Operation Write Home, they are a non-profit group that collects handmade cards (over a million, so far!!) to send to our soldiers deployed overseas. Some of them are Any Hero cards that we write in to say "thanks for serving!", but most of the cards are left blank so the soldiers can send them back to their families and friends stateside. It's a fantastic organization!! But, in order to send the thousands of cards that will go out during the holidays, they could really use some extra funds for shipping, and that is where two digi designers would like to help. Katlyn, of KnK Designs has teamed up with Deedee Anderson to offer 7 digi sets that are perfect for your OWH cards - or any cards, for that matter! All of the proceeds for these sets (minus the paypal fees, of course!) will be donated to OWH. Every bit of it! You can buy the sets separately or in a bundle - Go check out KnK Designs for all the details!!

It's going to be a fun week ending with a blog hop on Saturday! This cute card I made with one of the digi stamps you can get from KnK Designs.

I colored the cat and stars with Copic Markers:

Y26 Mustard
Y15 Cadimum Yellow
Y23 Yellowish Biege
Y19 Napoli Yellow
R22 Light PRAWN
R29 Lipstick Red
B95 Light Grayish Cobalt
B24 Sky

The paper is Bo Bunny's Blue Dots and Crate Paper Orbit Collection}Galaxy. Added a few dark blue rhinestone stars, red fiber/thread for the bow and a strip of red punched cardstock.

Have a great week and if you get the chance make a card or two for Operation Write Home, just be sure to check their website for important card making details and where to send your cards. You can also donate toward the cost of shipping OWH cards (more info on their blog) or shop this week with KnK Designs! Thanks for stopping by!

~Sandy

All Wrapped Up!

2011-10-16T22:24:00.002-05:00

Hambo Hoedown #37 ~ Mummy + Sentiment + Purple + Orange + Black + Green!

This time the Hambo Hoedown challenge asked us to use their Mummy digi stamp and one of the sentiments with purple, orange, black and green for the main colors. Those just happen to be my favorite Halloween colors and when I saw the adorable Mummy digi stamp, I knew I'd be making a Halloween card!

I chose a green cardstock for the base of the card, added a black and white print, then an orange print of Halloween words, and used a purple solid to mat the Mummy on. I added one of my favorite ribbons ( what will I do when I run out!?), a sheer green dot. The mummy is attached with foam dots and the cute bats were from my Halloween stash. The sentiment says: "Hoping your day is wrapped up in fun!"

To color the Mummy, I used Copic pens in the following colors:

E00 Skin White
C1 Cool Gray No. 1
B12 Ice Blue (for the eyes)
G24 Willow (His feet under the mummy wrappings)
Y04 Chrome Orange
YR07 Cadmium Orange
Y06 Yellow

This was a fun card to create and I loved the digi stamp! Thank you Hambo!

Time is ticking away this October. Halloween will soon be here and I still have decorations I want to put out! How about you? Are you ready? I have not bought any candy yet as I'm hoping to eat a lot less of it this year!
~Sandy

Take Time to Smell The Flowers!

2011-10-10T11:52:00.001-05:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Flower Monster + The First Letter of My Name

This week the digi stamp for us to work with for the Hambo Hoedown was an adorable Flower Monster! The challenge was to use the Flower Monster digi AND create a project that uses an item that starts with the first letter of your first name. My first name starts with the letter "S". For the challenge I used Stripes (in some of the paper), Stitching or Sewing on the paper squares and Spica glitter pens on the flower.

To color the digi stamp, I used Copic pens:

G24 Willow
Y35 Maize
Y38 Honey
Y04 Acacia
B21 Baby Blue
B02 Robin's Egg Blue
B05 Princess Blue
W05 Warm Gray No.5

Loved the sentiments that came with the Flower Monster! I decided to use " Take time to ~~eat~~ smell the flowers!" for this card.

I have a hard time doing cards in more masculine colors for Operation Write Home. I think this one will work with the orange and blue colors and the more neutral colors of the background.

If you want to get in on the Hambo Hoedown fun and get a free digi stamp each week, click on over to their blog for all the details. The deadline each week to do the challenge is 10 p.m. Monday (central time).

Have lots of fun things I hope to accomplish this week! Hope you have a fun one too!

~Sandy

I Want to Make a Quilt!

2011-10-04T21:23:00.000-05:00

I came across this quote the other day......"Crafts forever - housework whenever!!" I like it! And this..."Nothing good comes from boredom. It's said that idle hands are the devil's workshop, an old saying dating at least as far back as Chaucer in the twelfth century who called idle hands the devil's tools." Nope, I'm not one to ever be bored. I like to have many hobbies and interests. I've always loved quilts. And I'm the proud owner of quilts made by my Mother and Grandmother. I have made baby quilts but never a "big" quilt. I got to thinking about piecing a quilt when I visited a dear friend in January and saw her lovely quilt projects. Then I put it to the back of my mind until I went to a scrapbooking retreat at a quilting facility. Lots of lovely quilts hanging on the walls, fabric, patterns, quilt kits. So I bought a new sewing machine at that retreat. I've always had a sewing machine but my current one has been giving me problems and hubby said I could get a new one. And when they say buy something, well...you do it! Ha, ha. Which leads us to today...I just happened to leave the office early for lunch in town and since it was early, I had some extra time and I was right across the street from a quilt shop. Hmmm...must go see what they have. I was pretty excited by all the kits, lovely fabrics, classes, workshops etc. I bought me a kit which comes with the fabric and the pattern. It's a pretty spring looking quilt. Maybe I can have it pieced by the Spring. We'll see. One of the ladies that owns the shop designed the pattern and kit. It's called "Cotton Candy." The name of the shop is Quazy Quilt Shoppe (love the name!) located in Weatherford, Texas.

Now, when will I start on this quilt. Not sure. Maybe in a few weeks, a month, first of the year?? Or as soon as my sewing room is set up? Yep, going to have me a sewing room AND a craft room (for cards and scrapbooking). Hubby said he'd help make me a cutting table. Thinking of using a cabinet base and having a counter top made. Then I need to find a desk for my sewing machine and get another desk chair. The co-owner at the quilt shop says to sew on your quilt piecing 15 minutes a day and before you know it you have your quilt top ready to be quilted. Great advice!

So....what do you do to never be bored? Maybe you'd like to join me in this quilt piecing adventure.
~Sandy

P.S. This is a photo of the quilt kit and on the front is a photo of the finished quilt. So bright and cheery!

Dragonfly

2011-10-03T21:10:00.000-05:00

Hambo Hoedown ~ Dragonfly + CASE

Let's do this right! I'm back from out of town, father-in-law is doing great! Surgery went well on Wednesday and he got out of the hospital on Sunday and is back home and didn't have to go to rehab! Thanks to everyone who sent well wishes for him. Now, since I got back home from our trip with time to spare...I thought that I would "re-do" my card for the Hambo Hoedown ( I failed to CASE a card that was part of the challenge requirement ) and get my card posted and linked by the 10 p.m. (central time) deadline and a photo of it emailed to Hambo so I can get my free digi stamp this week!

For the challenge we were to CASE (copy) another designer's card that is in the Hambo Card Gallery. I chose a card in the Digital Download Gallery by Isabelle Mung, "Easter Basket."

Here's Isabelle's card:

And my CASEd version:

Coral cardstock background, light green dotted paper, solid light green for scallop edge, brown ribbon with green dots, attached the Hambo Dragonfly Digi to matching coral cardstock, solid light green and brown cardstock. The dragonfly digi stamp is lightly colored with Copic pens G20 Wax White, G40 Dim Green and YR65 Atoll. Added Glossy Accents to the wings to add depth and attached two clear rhinestones to the body that I colored with the YR65 Copic.

I enjoyed CASEing Isabelle's card. It makes a great all occasion card to send to Operation Write Home for the troops.

~Sandy

OWH: World Cardmaking Day Bloghop 2011

2011-10-01T01:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome OWH Blog Hoppers! Procrastination is sometimes the bane of my existence! I signed up over a week ago to participate for this blog hop. I intended to make a new holiday card this week so I could post the list of the supplies I used in the card BUT....things happened. My father-in-law fell and broke his hip and had surgery and my husband and I have had reservations for a weekend trip for over a month. So I've been rushing around packing and doing last minute stuff and going up to the hospital. Which means no new card created but I do have a holiday card that I made a few weeks ago to share.

This is a slider card and the part that makes it slide is a piece of Ziplock sandwich bag! I followed a You Tube video tutorial by Obsessed With Scrappin to make the slider part of the card and then attached it to the front of a white A2 card for OWH so there's plenty of white space inside for writing.

Here's the slider part of the card closed...

And when you pull on the metal snowflake brad at the top, the top and bottom slide out, like this:

The sentiment is on the top slider and you can add a photo or writing on the bottom slider. I used snowflake paper to make the slider, Tim Holtz snowman stamp set, felt snowflake ribbon from last year's after Christmas sale, Lime Twist twine (aqua color) by My Mind's Eye, shades of blue & aqua Copic pens to color the snowman and snowflakes, then added a snowflake charm.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Blog Hopping!

~Sandy

Thinking of You!

2011-09-29T11:09:00.000-05:00

Operation Write Home Stars & Stripes Sketch #88

It's been a hectic week! My father-in-law fell and broke his hip. He had surgery yesterday and is doing great! But you know how it is when someone is in the hospital--many trips to visit, hours sitting and waiting and nothing at home gets done! And I'm packing for a trip to New Mexico this weekend (leaving in a few hours) so...last night around midnight I decided to make a card using the oh so cute Dragonfly-Digi from Hambo Hoedown this week but I totally forgot to go back to their blog to see what this week's challenge was. Arrgggh!!! I was supposed to CASE someone's card from the Hambo Hoedown Gallery. But I didn't. Last night I grabbed the OWH Sketch Challenge #88 and made a card using that sketch and the Dragonfly-Digi. It wasn't until just now when I went to do this blog post that I realized that I didn't do it right and I don't have time to make another card. Anyway, here's what I did make:

I used a lime green cardstock for the base of the card, Yellow cardstock for the first paper section, then two different coordinating prints from my scrap paper. Colored the dragonfly with Copic pens BG02 New Blue, BG32 Aqua Mint and BG34 Horizon Green and added pink rhinestones to the center. I put the "Thinking of You" sentiment on another scrap of printed paper and added larger pink rhinestones to the corners. Finishing touch was a sheer dotted green ribbon tied into a bow.

For those doing the sketch, here is #88 from Operation Write Home:

And that's it. Hopefully next week I'll have my act together a bit better and will do the actual challenge for Hambo Hoedown.

I'm out of here for the rest of the week and this weekend! Have a wonderful weekend and check back Saturday, October 1st for the Operation Write Home Blog Hop!

~Sandy

CASE-ing Charlise for OWH Birthday Bash!

2011-09-24T17:00:00.000-05:00

This is my card that I created CASE-ing Charlise's Card

Today, OWH Stars and Stamps blog announced another challenge for their Birthday Bash. All you had to do was pick one of Charlise's beautiful cards showcased on Stars and Stamps and CASE it for a chance to win a $15 gift certificate from Clear Dollar Stamps. Okay...I'll do it! But which card? Love them all. Hmmm....I think I'll pick the last one. I have some similar flower stamps, a butterfly stamp and a cartridge on my Cricut that will cut a lacy circle. Ready, set....go! First I picked some solid pastel card stock in pink, purple and yellow. Stamped my flowers and cut them out. I decided to go with a pink-purplish solid background for my card. I picked a circle to cut with the Cricut from the Lacy Labels cartridge and set it to a size 3. I cut that from a white piece of card stock. Then I chose a paper scrap with an off white background of small checks and did a zig-zag stitch all around the edges with my sewing machine using dark pink thread for the strip under the flower and lacy circle. Then I assembled the flower on the lacy circle. To give the flowers more depth, I used my Copic pens to shade the edges and center of each petal and the yellow center of the flower. I stamped small leaves on a green dotted paper, cut them out and added them to the back of the flower. Next I stamped the small butterflies by the flower with purple Memento ink. Added a sheer purple dot ribbon, created the small tag from scraps, stamped the word "Love" with the same purple Memento ink, added rhinestone brads and attached to the card with 3M foam tape. Then I cut a 1" square from white card stock, stitched it with a smaller zig zag setting and stamped another butterfly to the square before attaching it to the lower corner of the card.

Then...for the finishing touch! Since one of OWH's rules is NO GLITTER (go read on their website about why it is SO important that there is no loose glitter on cards), I lightly painted Glossy Accents on the center of the flower and along the edges of the flower petals. This makes the flower shiny in places. I also use Glossy Accents to paint over any Stickles or Spica Glitter pens (which are usually okay for OWH) to seal in any possible loose glitter before sending cards to OWH. So if you like a bit of sparkle on your cars you might try this trick with the Glossy Accents. Oh, one more thing...to make the white lacy circle show up better, I also lightly colored the edges with a E000 Copic pen.

I really like this card and glad I chose it to CASE. Thank you Charlise for such a beautiful card inspiration!

If you'd like to CASE one of the cards, click here to go to the blog post and be sure to link a photo of your card from either your blog or flicker account. And get it done before the deadline on Sunday night (Sept. 25th)

~Sandy