Merry Merry Christmas!

I should have called this posting a 'Christmas surprise' because it was a surprise to me that I actually made a Christmas card this year. LOL  This is for my daughter as she's one of my biggest cheerleaders & I love her so much.

As you can see........once again...........I used one of Krista's Saturated Canary darling girls.  My girls (daughter, daughter-in-law and granddaughters) all absolutely love, love, love Krista's cute girls & she has so many different personalities to choose from so it's usually my first choice for a girlie card.  

I cut out the sugar cookies from some Christmas DP and 'sugar coated' around them to make them more appetizing.  Good enough to eat?  Well I could sure go for one right now. LOL  (hhhhmmmm.....I really need to lay off the sweets after the first. Good thing I only make Rocky Road Fudge for the holidays.  LOL)

I'd like to enter the following challenges:
Creative Belli Blog:  #185 Christmas
Divas by Design:  Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon:  #217 Anything Christmas
The Paper Shelter:  Christmas challenge ~ Anything Goes
Simon Says:  Bling it on!
A Creative Romance:  Sparkle at Christmas
Craftitude:  #55 Anything Goes / Christmas Sparkle
Craftyhands Challenge Blog:  Season's Greetings/Winter Theme
Digi Haven:  tis the Colors of the Season ~ Red & Green (must use digi)
Fun with shapes & more:  #150 Bling Bling (must use a cut out ~ I cut out the cookies)
Jellypark Challenges:  Christmas
Sister Act Card Challenge:  #38 Anything Goes (must be a card)
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge:  #156 Last minute Christmas card (& boy was this one last minute)
Digi Design Challenge Blog:  Anything Christmas
613 Avenue Create:  #51 Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody:  #36 Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenges:  #72 Christmas
Hobby Cutz Challenges:  #30 Anything Goes
Pile it on:  #48 P is for (pink, paper, pretty, peppermint candy cane)
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra:  Extra December challenge

I hope you all have a Merry Merry Christmas with those you love & hold close to your heart.

Huggies & Sweet, Sweet Blessings to you  ~♥♥♥~

More Birthday Blessings

My one & only favorite daughter Kim celebrated her birthday yesterday. She's all about her tan & working out to keep in good shape so when I saw this Saturated Canary image I knew I wanted to use her for my Kim's birthday card. As you can tell I love, love, love Krista Smith's adorable girls. They always fit perfectly for my girl's cards.

The little sign I made is computer generated & fits her to a tee.  The crown is a punch that I layered up several times to give it some stability.  The glitter paper came in so handy for the cupcake & crown.  Kim also loves leopard print so I just had to go with this black print I found at Hobby Lobby.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Sister Act Card Challenge:  #36 Anything Goes (cards only)
A Gem of a Challenge:  #109 Anything Goes
All Sorts Challenge Blog:  #236 Anything but Christmas
613 Avenue Create:  #49 Anything Goes
Pile It On:  #48 "P is for" (Pink - Punch - Pumping iron - Pretty)
Scribble & Scrap Blog & Challenge:  #7 Anything Goes
Created with Love Challenges:  #70 Anything Goes
Paper Makeup Stamps:  #118 Sparkle (use a digi)
Stamp and Create:  December Anything Goes
Clear It Out Challenge Blog:  Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Challenges:  #8 Anything Goes

Thank you so much for visiting with me today. 

Huggies & Sweet, Sweet Blessings to you  ~♥♥♥~

All Grown Up

October was a very special month for my youngest granddaughter.  It was her 18th birthday!  Wow!  Seems like only yesterday that I was rocking her in my arms.  Such a beautiful girl!  And she just got her first job.  YAY!  I'm so very proud of her.

For her special birthday card I chose to use another Saturated Canary image.  This little cutie is called Starla.  Doesn't she look like a star.  I love the little mustache thingie she's holding too.  Those are so popular right now.  I thought the black striped paper behind her complimented her little tights.  I wish I had stars on my face too.  LOL

These are the card details:

Copics used:  Skin (E000, E00, R11), Hair (E31, E41, E35), Eyes (E35), Clothing (C0, C1, C7, B0000, B000, B00, B02)
DP:  DCWV "All Dressed Up matstack", American Crafts Glitter Paper 6x6 pad
Distress Ink 'black soot'
Other elements from my stash

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Craft-Dee BowZ:  Nov. anything goes with handmade bow
Created with Love Challenges:  #67 anything goes (with paper)
Make It Monday:  #167 anything goes (must comment)
Cuttin and Stampin Challenges:  #46 anything goes with numbers ("18")
Sweet Stamps Blog:  #144 anything goes
By LORi Designs Challenges:  #60 Use paper
Crafting by Designs:  Anything goes with a "birthday" twist
Creative Moments:  #30 Anything goes/CAS
Lady Anne's 8th Challenge:  More than one layer
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog:  #154 Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Journey:  Bling It Up

Thank you so much for visiting with me today. 

Huggies & Sweet, Sweet Blessings to you  ~♥♥♥~

Birthday Blessings

This card is for my daughter's best friend, Shannon.  I used another Saturated Canary image called Princess Rose Red.  I opted to crop out the cute little birdie that comes with this image.  (You can see it in the thumbnail below.)   I just love the sweetness of Krista's girls. 

Card recipe:
Copics:  Skin (E000, E00, R20), Eyes (E31, E35), Hair (E31, E41), Clothes (B000, B00, B02)
DP:   American Crafts Glitter Paper, DCWV - 'the Mariposa Matstack'
Diecut:  Sizzix 'Tags, Rounded'
Distress Ink:  Black Soot, Broken China
Ribbon & Bling from my stash

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Card Mania:  #33 Anything Goes
Craft-Dee BowZ:  November ~ include a handmade bow
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge:  Ribbon, Twine or Fibres
Lady Anne's:  #8 More than one layer
Lexi's Creations:  #102 Birthday celebrations
Love to Scrap Challenge Blog:  #17 ~ Anything Goes
Make It Monday:  #165 ~ must comment on other entries
MarkerPOP blog:  #34 ~Anything Goes but you must use markers
Simon Says:  Keep it clean & simple (this is always hard for me but I think hope it qualifies)
Pattie's Creations Design Challenge:  #79 Birthdays (must use an image)


Thank you so much for visiting with me today. 

Huggies & Sweet, Sweet Blessings to you  ~♥♥♥~

Christmas in July card

I recently participated in a Christmas in July swap and I included this Saturated Canary Christmas card in my partner's package. Her name is Nikki (click on the thumbnail below).  I just love Krista's cute little girls.  They are such fun to color with my Copic markers.  They've been feeling quite neglected lately. LOL

My partner loves aqua blue and kraft so this card just fit the bill.  I tried to keep it as simple as possible as that's her style as well.  I'm pretty happy with how it came out.  I really had to restrain myself from adding too much frou frou or blingity bling bling. LOL

Card details are as follows:

MME "Be Merry" 6x6 paper pad

Nesties:  round & scalloped round

Copics:

Kraft cardstock

Stash items:  Jute, Paper Doilies, Recollections bling

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Hiding in My Craft Room:  #108 Christmas in July

613 Avenue Create:  #30 Anything Goes

Eclectic Ellapu:  Anything Goes

Pile It On:  #30 Anything Goes

That Craft Place Challenge Blog:  It's a Girl Thing

Stamp with fun:  #217 "Celebrate"  (celebrating CIJ)

Tammy's Scrapin Corner:  #73 Use a Digi

Use Your Stuff:  #95 Twine

Deep Ocean Challenge Blog:  #57 Christmas in July 

Die Cuttin Divas:  #126 Anything Goes with a Die Cut

Party Time Tuesdays:  #131 Anything Goes 

Crafting for all Seasons Challenge Blog:  #57Christmas in July 

Crafts And Me Challenges:  #139 Anything Goes 

Lady Anne's Challenges:  #10 Must stamp (I used a digi) 

Little Red Wagon:  #196  Christmas in July

Simon Says:  Anything Goes
Craftin' Boutique Challenges:  #1  Anything Goes
Milk Coffee Challenge:  Show us those coloring skills!
Paper Crafting Journey:  Punches and/or Die Cuts
Jellypark Challenges:  Christmas in July
Sister Act Card Challenge:  #18 Anything Goes

Huggies & Sweet, Sweet Blessings to you  ~♥♥♥~

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

As stated in my previous post our Clear It Out challenge blog is having a super special challenge for the whole month of December.  I already told you about our FABulous sponsor........Krista from Saturated Canary who is offering the winner their choice of 2 of her amazingly cute images.  The other special surprise is my teamie Laura is giving a TON of prizes & goodies to those who enter (as many times as they choose) but there are certain qualifications in order to win.  The rest of the details can be found at Clear It Out.

Our theme for the December challenge is CHRISTMAS using any stash item of your choice in your paper creation.  If you don't celebrate Christmas then we ask that you please use the colors RED, WHITE and/or GREEN in your project.  As you can see......I've used ALL of the above in my DT card.  LOL

Krista so generously gave us our choice of which image we wanted to showcase.  Boy was that a tough challenge.  LOL  I love ALL of her digis!  Anywho.......since it was Christmas I chose this adorable little cutie with her cute little friend popping up out of the bag called Christmas Nutcracker.  You can find it HERE at her Saturated Canary shoppe.  The stash item I chose to use is from that big pad of Christmas paper that I used recently.  I cut the paper so that the big Christmas tree was behind my image.  I love the little snowman & angel hanging from the tree & you can see a little candy cane peeking out below my image.  It's all just too too cute!  (You can see the other deets about my card design below.) 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I would love to see your paper creations on the Clear It Out blog.  :)  (By the way......my card won't go "live" on the CIO blog until Tuesday Dec. 11th.)

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Lady Anne's Stamp Challenge:  Anything Goes (must stamp digi or rubber)
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog:  #105 Anything Goes
Color Throwdown:  #221 red, tan, green & black (cording on lights)
Crafts and Me Challenges:  #113 Anything Goes with optional ornament
Creative Card Crew:  #25 Star (Christmas tree star in background paper)
Deep Ocean Challenge Blog:  #40 So this is Christmas
Die Cuttin Divas:  #94 Holiday Spirit (must include die cut)
Sarah Hurley Challenge Blog:  #75 Christmas
Jingle Belles:  December to Remember ~ Anything (Holiday) Goes
QKR Stampede:  #16 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps:  #93 Christmas
2 Sisters Challenge Blog:  #120 Christmas Sparkle
Catch the Bug Challenge Blog:  December Anything Goes
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge: 101 Make it Girlie
My Sheri Crafts:  #99 'Tis the Season
Papertake Weekly Challenge:  Anything Goes
The Stamping Boutique:  #61 Holiday Cards
Thru the Craftroom Door:  #47 Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday:  #91 Christmas
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge:  Bingo (Christmas tree/free/gold)
The Crafty Bloggers Network:  #6 Anything Goes
Crafty Boots Challenges:  Anything Goes
Critter Sketch Challenge Blog:  #144 Christmas Anything Goes
Made Especially for You:  Christmas card with a die cut
Paper Pretties:  #235 Christmas inspired
Tammy's Scrapin Corner:  #39 Anything Christmas
The Pink Elephant:  #177 Make it Girly
Paper Cupcakes:  Sparkle, Sparkle, Sparkle
Paper Makeup Stamps:  #65 Digi tic tac toe (sparkle, word art, designer paper)
Pile it on:  #49 Pile on the Embellishments
The Ribbon Girl Blog:  December ~ Christmas 

Copics used:  

• Skin:  E000, R11 
• Reds:  R35, R37, R39 
• Hair: E31, E41, E50 
• Eyes:  E34 
• Bag: E41 
• Tin Soldier:  R35, R37, Y15, YR24, E000, E00, R11, R20, C3, C5, C7 
• Ground shadow:  W00, W0, W1 

Supplies used:

• DP:  K&Co "EB Visions of Christmas" and Kraft cardstock
• Dies: Nesties 'Labels Four' and 'Curved Rectangles'
• Digital Stamp:  Saturated Canary “Christmas Nutcracker” 
• Inks:  Distress Ink 'Brushed Corduroy'
• Martha Stewart 'Cottage Christmas Stocking' sticker & Christmas tape
• Vintage pearl button
• Misc. Stash:  Light garland, baker's twine, ribbons
• The "Merry Christmas" was computer generated using the "Adine Kirnberg-Script" font

Until next time............I want to wish you all a happy & joyous holiday season.  Enjoy your family & friends.


Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

CIO Challenge & new Sponsor

It's time for another Clear It Out challenge.  The challenge theme for the month of December is CHRISTMAS and the stash item is ANYTHING GOES.  We want to help you get those Christmas cards or projects made.  And as always.........we're all about helping you clear out the stash items that we all have laying around unused (hence our name...."Clear It Out").

I'm so very excited to reveal our special Sponsor for December.  It's the amazing.........and incredibly talented.......Krista from Saturated Canary.  I think you'll agree with me that her images are some of the cutest ones out there. Krista is giving away 2 digital images to the lucky winner.  Yippee Skippee!!!  Amazballs!

It's Team A's turn to dazzle you with their projects so hop on over to Clear It Out & take a looksie.  We would love to have you join in the fun & have a chance to win some of Krista's cuuute digis.  Ya gotta be in it to win it!  :)  I'll be posting my card soon so watch for it.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Happy Happy

My youngest granddaughter's 17th birthday is coming up and I wanted to use one of Krista's sweet Saturated Canary girls for her birthday card.  Krista's girls are just the cutest & have so much personality...........just like my granddaughter.  (She can be a pistol.....lol)  This one is called Pack Light.  She's actually sitting cross-legged on top of her luggage but I just wanted to use her cute little face.  Her beautiful long hair is just like my Shaye's.  Just darling as can be.  Happy Birthday, Shaye!!! (btw.......YAY.......she loved her card....especially the hair......lol.....I knew she would........lol)

I've colored her with my Copics & used lots of gray DP from a new MME paper pad that I hadn't used yet.  I also used a new diecut rounded tag set from Sizzix that I got for my birthday recently. It comes with 8 dies. The larger ones look like big arches that would be perfect for main images on a card. I'll definitely be using a lot of these dies.  The sentiment came from Create with TLC.  Paulette is always so very generous with her sentiments & graphics.

I used this beautiful sketch from The Sweet Stop.  They also added a spin to the sketch challenge.........tell what movie or book inspired your card.  Well the first movie that popped into my head is one of my favorites..........."13 Going on 30".  That describes my granddaughter to a tee.  (Although she's really 17 going on 35.......hahaha)

 I'd like to also enter this card in the following challenges:

Saturated Canary Challenge Blog:  #28 Dark colors
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog:  #98 Girls, Girls, Girls
One Stop Craft Challenge:  #201 Anything Goes
One Stitch at a Time Challenge Blog:  #136 Use a Digi
Creative Inspirations Paint:  Anything Goes
Natalie and Amy Challenges:  #2 Birthday bling
Clearly iStamp:  #62 Ribbon or Twine
The Poodles Parlour:  Anything Goes
By the Cute and Girly:  Birthday
Cards Galore Challenge Blog:  October ~ Anything Goes
The Squirrel and the Fox:  #29  Use Ribbon
Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge:  October ~ Birthdays
Oozak.com Blog:  #7 Die Cuts
Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge:  #74 Anything Goes
Hotshot Craft Blog:  #12 Bling it on
SJ Crafts:  #10 Birthdays & optional circles (dotted DP)
Lollipop Crafts:  #92 Happy Birthday
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge:  #186 No Rules!
Whimsy Stamps Challenge Blog:  #52 All Things Sparkly

Supplies used:

• Copics: Skin: E000, E00, R11, R20 ~ Hair: E31, E35 ~ Top & Earrings: R11, R20
• DP: Black cardstock, MME "Breeze" 6x6 paper pad
• Dies: Spellbinders"large labels", Sizzix Framelits "tags, rounded"
• Digital Stamp:  Saturated Canary "Pack Light"
• Sentiment from Create with TLC
• Inks:  Distress Ink "black soot"
• Martha Stewart's glittery"Silver Chrysanthemum" sticker
• Misc. Stash:  Black ribbon, Recollections glitter dots, glittery black ribbon flower

Thanks so much for visiting me today.  I always look forward to reading your lovely comments.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

A Steampunk Birthday Card

My oldest granddaughter Alexis "Lex" is turning 22 years old tomorrow.  OMGosh........where do the years go?  I remember when she was born..........what a beautiful baby she was.  And she's still beautiful!  She loves the Steampunk style and purple and black is her FAVorite color combo so it came together nicely on this card.  This is my first time using a Saturated Canary image.  She's called "Gothica" and is a creation of the talented Krista Smith. 

I was so happy to complete this card in time for her birthday.  It's been a crazy "whack-a-doodle" week around here.  Remember my daughter Kim had spinal fusion in March?  Well she had a NECK FUSION on Tuesday.  Poor baby girl!  She is in so much pain.  She said it's much more painful than spinal fusion.  I sure wish I could take the pain from her but all I can do is pray that the Lord helps her with it.  Your prayers would be so appreciated.  Thank you so much.

Well back to the card.  I wasn't sure it was going to happen in time for Lex' birthday but PTL I did finish it in time.  YAY!  I hope she likes it.  **UPDATE:  She loved it & said it was her favorite card I've ever made.  aaww sure made my heart sing.

I used these Copics to color my Saturated Canary image:
Face:  E000, E00, R20, R11
Eyes:  E31, E35
Hair:  C1, C3, C5, C7, E50, Y000
Clothing:  BV00, BV11, V17, C1, C3, C5, C7

Embellies:
Tim Holtz Embossing folder "Steampunk"
Tim Holtz Alterations Die "Elegant Flourishes" (swirls)
Tim Holtz Film Strip Ribbon, Tiny Attacher, Adornments (wings & star), Sprocket Gear, Trinket Pin.
Ranger Distress Stain "Picket Fence"
Nestie "Labels Two" & Circle
Bead Landing "Found Objects" (clocks), Chain & jump rings
Recollections 'Paper Tickets' ("be original")
Black cardstock & glitter paper from my stash

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days:   Pick a number (numbers on the clock embellies)
Prairie Fairy Fridays:  #78 Inspirational photo
Creative Craft Challenge2:  Anything Goes
Joyful Stamper:  #57 Anything Goes
Polka Doodles:  Week 18 De-stressing
The Poodles Parlour:  Anything Goes
Simply Create Too:  #12 It's about Time (clocks)
The Stamp Man:  FAVorite technique (embossing)
Stampin' for the Weekend:  at least 4 layers
Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps:  Distressing
Catch the Bug:  Anything Goes (won #2 ~ YAY)
CMC Copic Challenge Group:  Celebrations (Birthday)
Catered Crop:  "B" (birthday, black, be original)
Delightful Challenges:  Distressing
Digi Doodle Shop:  #107 Bingo (Film Strip RIBBON ~ Something New (SC image) ~ Distress INK)
Dutch Dare Card Challenges:  #164 Birthday Fun
Paper Crafting Journey: #9 Black plus one color (purple) (won top spot ~ YAY)
Shelly's Images:  "Happy" challenge (this image made me smile so much that she made me happy)
The Paper Shelter:  Anything Goes
Scrapbook Sisters:  Card Challenge # 83 'Off Center'
Truly Scrumptious:  #80 Anything Goes
Whimsy Stamps Challenge Blog:  Add Dimension
Craft-room challenge:  Emboss It
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT:  #60 Anything but a Square
Oldie but a Goodie:  Die Cuts & Punches (my 'oldie' is the purple & black diamond Cardstock from last Halloween)
Craft Your Passion:  #109 Torn or Distressed Edges (I distressed the silver card base with a 'black soot' Distress Ink pad)
Always Crafting:  #7 Anything Goes
The Corrosive Challenge Blog:  #148 The Man, The Myth, The Legend......anything by Tim Holtz (I used a steampunk embossing folder, trinket pin, film strip ribbon, tiny attacher, Elegant Flourishes diecut, wings, star, sprocket gears, Distress Ink & Distress Stain)
A and T Challenge Blog:  #23 Anything Goes

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~